Although 20 years old, the Sun Princess has been at the forefront of innovation until today. When launched, the vessel was the largest ship in the cruise industry, and outfitted with a range of features and amenities that have been copied on newer vessels. Sun Princess, with a passenger capacity of 2,010, is no longer considered huge, and is marketed as “the big ship choice with the small ship feel”.
In 2007, Sun Princess commenced her Australian deployment. Itineraries include Fremantle departures to Africa via Singapore and the Maldives, Sydney and Brisbane departures to the best of Asia, plus cruises to New Zealand and the South Pacific. Apart from the fantastic destinations, Sun Princess passengers appreciate the welcoming feel of the ship and attention to detail from the ship’s crew.
Arrival onboard a huge cruise ship can be disorientating for first time cruisers, but on Sun Princess you will be greeted on the stairwell by helpful staff guiding you to your cabin. The small personal touches lacking on larger ships are evident on Sun Princess, such as fresh fruit on request and terry-cloth robes for relaxation comfort. Room attendants provide chocolates as part of their turndown service, and traditional wooden deck chairs with steamer blankets are available on request. Often it’s the small touches that make the biggest impression on travellers.
As a pioneer of the cruise ship industry, Sun Princess was outfitted with a good number of balcony cabins for enjoying pristine vistas and appreciating the indoor/outdoor trend in cruising. Recent upgrades have ensured the vessel is in keeping with passenger expectations, including a variety of well appointed cabin choices.
Sun Princess Cabins and Suites
Sun Princess cabins are designed with comfort in mind. According to your choice, additional perks are available for suite passengers to make your journey extra-special. Suite passengers receive priority check-in and reservations, complimentary laundry and shoe shining, use of the Lotus Spa, exclusive breakfast service, exclusive lounges, a complimentary flower corsage, preferred dining reservations and much more.
Additional amenities for suite passengers: upgraded balcony furniture and loungers, complimentary mini-bar, CD/DVD player and DVD library, luxury bed linens, luxury robes, fresh flowers, special bath products. Select suites also have a hot tub, wet bar and fireplace.
Suite with Balcony: expansive and luxuriously appointed with a large balcony. Separate bedroom, seating area and sofa bed, walk in closet, full bathroom, sun-loungers, floor to ceiling glass doors.
Premium Mini-Suite with Balcony: Separate lounge area with sofa bed, rear facing balcony, bathtub and shower, floor to ceiling glass doors.
Mini-Suite with Balcony: Slightly smaller than the Premium Mini-Suite, with separate lounge area plus sofa bed for a third passenger, balcony with patio furniture, floor to ceiling glass doors.
Balcony: This smaller suite still comes with all the luxuries including a private balcony for great views. Some Balcony Cabins have additional beds for a third and fourth person.
Premium Oceanview: Double bed, luxurious features, picture window.
Oceanview: Similar to above but slightly smaller in size.
Interior: Smallest of the cabin choices but still retaining the signature wood panelling and every comfort required.
All cabins also contain quality amenities that include a vanity, desk, seating, closet, flat-screen TV, safe, direct-dial phone, mini-bar/fridge, air-con, complimentary 24-hour room service.
Dining on the Sun Princess
Cruise ship cuisine has come along in leaps and bounds, with more options introduced every year. The Sun Princess refurbishments heralded in a new era of culinary artists serving the finest meals. Traditional cruise ship dining options are available in both the Regency and Marquis Dining Rooms. Here you can enjoy a huge range of foodstuffs for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Meal times are set in the dining rooms, with service provided by attentive wait staff.
For those wanting to splurge and experience all the best dining onboard Sun Princess, there are several speciality restaurant choices available.
Stirling Steakhouse: Voted one of the “Best Cruise Ship Steakhouses” by USA Today, this is the traditional American Steakhouse venue of choice.
Kai Sushi: Extremely popular, especially on Asian itineraries, Kai Sushi offers fresh sushi and seafood delights created by master chefs. Open for dinner for passengers wanting to experience the best of Japanese cuisine.
Ultimate Balcony Dining: Why go out when you can enjoy a private meal on your own stateroom balcony. This experience is unique to Princess, and very popular on the Sun Princess. You can host your own cocktail party with fresh flowers included, while indulging in a four-course meal with champagne. An alternative option is to begin your day with a romantic breakfast of pastries, fruits and additional treats.
Of course, not everyone wants to sit down to a major meal, and options are available for every group, including families and kids. Try a take-out meal, dine by the pool, or grab a quick bite to eat at choice onboard venues.
- Horizon Court buffet
- International Cafe
- Wine bar
- Swirls ice cream bar
- Trident Grill for burgers and hot dogs
- Verdi’s Pizzeria
- Afternoon tea
- 24-hour room service
Entertainment on Sun Princess
When the sun goes down, it’s show time on the Sun Princess. Passengers are awed by stage shows, serenaded by talented musicians, and entertained by the latest movie offerings. The major venues feature comfortable seating and great sound quality for a first-class experience. The Princess Theatre and Vista Show Lounge are the largest venues onboard, featuring engaging entertainments on a nightly basis.
Other popular destinations include the Grand Casino, where you can participate in the action, or watch and learn how to play the various gambling games. Movies Under the Stars is a recent addition, courtesy of the upgrades. Here you can relax with your partner or friends and enjoy big screen entertainments with an outdoor ambience. Night clubs featuring live bands and house music are also extremely popular, and great for singles who want to mingle.
Sun Princess also has several iconic bars and lounges for winding down at the end of the day, or winding up for a big night ahead. Popular options are the Wheelhouse Bar, Shooting Stars and Crooners Martini Bar. There really is no excuse for boredom on the Sun Princess.
Activities and Enrichment
Every passenger is different. Some people want stimulation while others require entertainment. Sun Princess covers all bases, from inspiration to education and everything in between.
- Pools & Spas: Riviera Pool (including 2 hot tubs). Lotus Spa Pool (including 2 hot tubs)
- Sports: Lotus Spa, gym and fitness centre, jogging track, basketball, paddle tennis, shuffleboard
- Enrichment: art collection, art auctions, enrichment classes, library, writing room, 24-hour Internet Cafe
- Boutiques: duty free boutiques, clothing, gifts and designer brands with up to 30% off
With exciting destinations, flexible itineraries for short and long cruises, plus all the onboard appeal of a floating resort, the Sun Princess is sure to tick all the boxes and remain popular with cruisers for a long time to come.
Sun Princess Stats
| Capacity | 2,010 passengers |
| Crew | 924 |
| Decks | 15 (10 passenger) |
| In service | 1995 |
| Tonnage | 77,441 GT |
| Length | 857.3 ft / 261.31 m |
| Beam | 105.8 ft / 32.25 m |
| Draught | 26.6 ft / 8.10 m |
| Cruising Speed | 22.4 knots |
| Installed power | Diesel-electric 28,000 kW |
Sun Princess Deck Plans
Download the Sun Princess deck plans from here or click on the image below.
Photo credit: Sun Princess in port photo by Froschmann
when was Sun princess last refurbished?