Sun Princess - Original

[dides]

I've tried to do a marked up version with the decks and main aft venues (where are have all the experts gone who did this?). 

 

 

Note that Princess stated as part of their PR yesterday that there is a cantilevered restaurant on deck 17 aft provisionally called Altitude

 

It seems to me that very few balcony staterooms will look directly down onto the sea as most seem to be inset so will just look down over the Promenade deck (like P&O Iona/Arvia) but at least the lifeboats will be hidden underneath.  

Some notable exceptions might be:

- the balconies in the middle of the Spheres - the upper balconies may just overlook the lower balconies because of the curve.

- the Cove balconies under the promenade

- the forward balconies overlooking the bow 

- the central aft facing Accessible deluxe balconies on decks 10 to 14 will look down on the Wake View Terrace (much like the Virgin Voyages ship design). These do look enormous though!

 

 

.

[talkorpi]

Any speculation on what they're going to name the second ship?

 

My money's on either Moon, Star, or Sea Princess (probably in that order).

 

Just hope to God it's not Sphere Princess but with current PCL leadership I wouldn't count it out 😂

Edited March 9, 2023 by talkorpi

[snoozecrooze]

1 hour ago, dides said:

Further details have been included in an article in Seatrade News

Interesting comments here as well: "'Many cruise ships look like condominiums on barges. We wanted to soften the ship. Princess is a very feminine brand,'

 

Ironically, I think the recent ships from Fincantieri all look even more like condos on barges than what they've produced before. I'm thinking of Virgin Voyages, MSC Seaside-class, Norwegian Prima-class, etc. -- all with the inset cabins, low aft terraces, vertical afts, etc. The one thing they haven't done with the Sun Princess that replicates those ships is the parabolic bow, which is the 'in' design of these "next-generation" ships being produced now.

 

Also: "Parker said there will be a black door on Deck 8 leading to a new, immersive experience but gave no further clues."

Any chance this is really just the Teppanyaki restaurant that has been placed on the deck plan already? If not, then there is that other leaked deck plan that has a space called the "Magic Hour Bar".

 

Overall, Sun Princess isn't really groundbreaking in most aspects (many features already seen elsewhere) but as long as they execute well what they're trying to emulate, then I have high hopes. 

[dides]

10 minutes ago, snoozecrooze said:

Also: "Parker said there will be a black door on Deck 8 leading to a new, immersive experience but gave no further clues."

Any chance this is really just the Teppanyaki restaurant that has been placed on the deck plan already? If not, then there is that other leaked deck plan that has a space called the "Magic Hour Bar".

The black door picture is on post #64 in this thread and could fit either space. I would go for Magic Hour Bar over Teppanyaki.  Of course, Sabatinis holds the circular immersive room on Discovery and Enchanted and that is on deck 8 I notice there are two doors there too but it doesn't seem big enough.

[EDVM96]

23 minutes ago, snoozecrooze said:

Any chance this is really just the Teppanyaki restaurant that has been placed on the deck plan already?

'Immersive experience' indicates something similar like the 360 Dining Experience. I think it will be a fancy bar with the immersive LED walls, beamers, etc. So Magic Hour Bar sounds realistic.

The 'Immersive experience' thing is a hype throughout the travel / restaurant industrie at the moment, not just cruise lines.

Edited March 9, 2023 by EDVM96

[nasa1974]

dides,

Thank you for all the information you are passing along about the Sun Princess. The pictures are fantastic.

I remember being involved when the Royal Princess was introduced. It had quite a following. I hope this thread does as well.

[dides]

2 hours ago, nasa1974 said:

I remember being involved when the Royal Princess was introduced. It had quite a following. I hope this thread does as well.

Oh yes, all that speculation on a new class! We managed to get on a 2 day preview cruise of Royal out of Southampton and the excitement was palpable!

[rmsmith]

It's a bummer than many of the balconies would seem to not look directly over the ocean.  Although I am hoping the reserve cabanas on deck 9 will look directly over to water - at least those not behind the cabana deck space.  I enjoy being right at the water.

[dides]

11 hours ago, rmsmith said:

It's a bummer than many of the balconies would seem to not look directly over the ocean.  Although I am hoping the reserve cabanas on deck 9 will look directly over to water - at least those not behind the cabana deck space.  I enjoy being right at the water.

Hopefully the reserve cabanas will look directly over as you say. The full ship rendering does show them having the same high blue screens as the Cabana deck so hope you will be able to lean over and see the sea like on a normal balcony! 

 

 

Edited March 11, 2023 by dides

[rmsmith]

really hoping that is the case, we're booked on the Sept 2024 tranatlantic in a reserve cabana just ahead of the cabana deck area.  looking forward to seeing how this ship shapes up and how Princess runs a large ship.  Went on the NCL Breakaway a year before the covid shutdown and didn't care for it.

 

But to be fair to NCL, it was a Christmas cruise and the ship sailed at near max capacity.

Edited March 11, 2023 by rmsmith

[antsp]

Am I right in understanding that the cabana balconies have zero pricacy from other cabana balcony passengers

 

[snoozecrooze]

1 hour ago, antsp said:

Am I right in understanding that the cabana balconies have zero pricacy from other cabana balcony passengers

I think you're partially right. From my understanding of the deck plan, only the midship "Reserve Collection" (formerly Club Class) cabana cabin balconies on deck 9 have essentially no privacy. The rest of the deck 9 "Reserve Collection" cabana balconies are better, as are the other non-"Reserve Collection" cabana cabins on the other decks.

 

(For a UK comparison, to me it's like the new P&O conservatory cabins that hang right off of the promenade)

Edited March 12, 2023 by snoozecrooze

[dides]

1 hour ago, snoozecrooze said:

I think you're partially right. From my understanding of the deck plan, only the midship "Reserve Collection" (formerly Club Class) cabana cabin balconies on deck 9 have essentially no privacy. The rest of the deck 9 "Reserve Collection" cabana balconies are better, as are the other non-"Reserve Collection" cabana cabins on the other decks.

 

 

 

 

Yes The Points Guy mentions this in his interesting article on the design after his shipyard visit:

'After seeing the spaces that the Cabana mini-suites that open up onto the Cabana decks will occupy (still heavily under construction), I think they are a great choice for passengers who love spending time on their cabin balconies. You'll have oodles of deck space both within the outline of your room and just outside it for lounging in the sun.

That said, some cruisers who cherish privacy may not like the idea of other passengers being able to walk in front of their balconies — something that will happen as Cabana mini-suite guests access the Cabana decks.'

 

I also like his point about Princess not really delivering a full ship-within-a-ship experience for suite guests in that their venues are spread around the ship.

Edited March 12, 2023 by dides

[AlaskainJuly]

I've been following the discussion since we booked a cruise next June on Sun Princess. Thank you @didesfor the great photographs and the links to articles. The Points Guy mentions that the different levels of the Main Dining Room will reflect different levels of formality. I can imagine choosing more formal when I don't care about the evening production and want to enjoy a slower paced meal and the less formal option when I have plans for the evening but still like the dining choices in the MDR. If they manage it right, I think it would produce happy diners all around.

[Buckeye10640]

13 minutes ago, AlaskainJuly said:

I've been following the discussion since we booked a cruise next June on Sun Princess. Thank you @didesfor the great photographs and the links to articles. The Points Guy mentions that the different levels of the Main Dining Room will reflect different levels of formality. I can imagine choosing more formal when I don't care about the evening production and want to enjoy a slower paced meal and the less formal option when I have plans for the evening but still like the dining choices in the MDR. If they manage it right, I think it would produce happy diners all around.

I was just going to comment about the Points Guy article, which  mentioned that each of the 3 levels of the MDR will have different levels of formality. It will be interesting to see which level they find to be more in demand.  Thanks to those who posted the pics and observations. I am still a little on the fence about booking it, but looks to be a beautiful ship!

Edited March 12, 2023 by Buckeye10640

[ED49404]

Thanks to everyone who posted the photos, and we like reading all the observations and comments.  We are still hesitant to be on such a large ship, we are also thinking about booking a 7-day cruise just to see and have the experience of being on such a large cruise ship.

[seacruise9]

Hi, 

 

Thanks for posting the updates and photos of the Sun Princess. As a big Princess fan, I am very interested in the design of this new ship. The Landing looks nice and is very reminiscent of the Destination Gateway on the new Celebrity ships (which I like). I intend to cruise aboard this ship during its first year of service. 

 

Chuck 

[snoozecrooze]

Alanna Zingano, a cruise YouTuber, was one of several travel folks invited to the Sun Princess float-out ceremony in Monfalcone last week.

 

She posted this video here: 

Note that the subtitles she has included are completely automated so there are quite a few chunks where it's incoherent.

 

I'll list the points she shows from her tour:

• Piazza - It will have raked seating to allow for the productions they want to host there, as well as a movable and reconfigurable LED screen. The center is also a stage that can rise up from the floor.
• Coffee Currents - new coffee bar for new coffees not offered at the International Cafe
• Elevators - All will be "smart elevators", meaning you will choose your destination first on a touchpad and then you'll be guided to the elevator car that will take you. [Example seen here on Carnival Panorama]. The aft-most elevators are also glass.
• Reserve Collection Restaurant - the design is inspired by a jewelry box opening up; the palate is inspired by yacht dining
• Wheelhouse Bar - built to be the main anchor point of deck 7 aft, with a compass-inspired showpiece and design
• Horizons Dining Room - Deck 7 is the main entrance. The overall design invites in the views from the aft (with the two-deck high glass aft wall) but the restaurant itself is also broken into many nooks so that the size of the facility is not as obvious or jarring. There are also 9 private meeting areas, with conference facilities, TVs, microphones, audio, etc. (I'm imagining for things like wedding receptions, for example).
• Wake View Terrace - Open to all guests. The centerpiece is the glass infinity pool cantilevered on the aft. Also has hot tubs and a bar.
• Unnamed sushi restaurant - (The representative said it will be a sushi restaurant ($), replacing the style seen on the existing Ocean Terrace sushi bar, but the Sun's deck plan also says "sushi bar". Make of that what you will.)
• Crooner's - 1950s-inspired design
• Alfredo's - al fresco dining offering continues on the Sun, but with new heaters to allow the area to be used during cooler temps
• World Fresh Marketplace buffet - decided to place on deck 9 in order to dovetail with the promenade space just outside for new food outlets
• Promenade - no 360 views but it will be unobstructed by lifeboats because they're hidden under the promenade
• Cabana deck - the cabana cabins on deck 9 right in front of the private cabana deck "have direct access" to it (as discussed in above posts)
• Casino - the ceiling is higher to allow for a wider variety of games; there will also be numerous LED screens to promote jackpot winners
• Princess Arena - no pillars or visual obstructions and the whole venue is reconfigurable; it can be a traditional layout ("proscenium") or you could have a stage in the center (as shown in the renderings)
• Good Spirits at Sea - new enclosed design for capacity of ~50 people, with new technology on the walls and tables to "enhance the experience"
• Princess Live - "outwardly facing venue" (meaning the stage is against the wall), with a lot of design cues drawing your eyes towards the stage
• The Dome - the space spans decks 17 and 18 and is fully climate-controlled; while a lounge space in the day, it becomes an entertainment venue at night (just search "P&O Iona Sky Dome show" for similar examples of entertainment). The public renderings that you see is an image from the forward (the stage) looking aft at the seating. The pool is an indoor-outdoor combo, meaning you can enter the pool indoors and swim forward until you reach the Seaview Terrace, which is outdoors and in the front of the ship. The pool will be covered to be the stage at night. The "tulip-like" decorative structures are intentional for storing wiring, sound/lighting equipment, etc.
• The Landing - the ship is designed with more embarkation/disembarkation points than before, and the 3-deck high doors are equipped with their own gangways; the intent is to always enter the ship on deck 4 when in port (thus the location of The Landing). Tenders will also embark from here. It'll have the usual security, new seating areas, and new grab-and-go kiosks for things like beverages (no food) for going ashore. It can also be a multi-use space when the ship is at sea. See pictures of a similar area on the Celebrity Edge for reference of a similar concept.

[dides]

8 hours ago, snoozecrooze said:

Alanna Zingano, a cruise YouTuber, was one of several travel folks invited to the Sun Princess float-out ceremony in Monfalcone last week.

 

Wow, it's as if she was on a different shipyard tour to the rest.  So much more detail and I love hearing how enthusiastic the designers are! Thanks for posting.

 

Edited March 14, 2023 by dides

[c-boy]

I want one of those jump suits .. 😉

[Vic The Parrot]

Thanks, Dides, for the updates and photos of the building progress.

 

However, I've noticed that the bow badge is missing. On the other newbuilds, the blue paintwork would split and the badge would be seen in the white middle part.

 

Doesn't she get one? 🤔

[cr8tiv1]

Decisions Decisions Decisions: Where toplace this link.  It includes the "cabana like cabins'' and the Coffee Pots.

 

This is "how" the cabana cabins on a different cruise line (already in service works)...."

 

 

The Sun Princess isnot for me.  Considering I won't cruise on the Royal Class ships, it is even more doubtful that I will sail on the Sun Class ships.

 

DIsclaimer.  It is dreary and raining today so have spent a good portion of my day cruising the internet.  Enjoyed videos by Canadian Don and other interesting YouTube.

[dides]

7 hours ago, cr8tiv1 said:

This is "how" the cabana cabins on a different cruise line (already in service works)...."

Yes, we stayed in one of these cabins on this ship but one deck higher up. Would never stay in one of these again:

• Disliked being so far from the sea and the balcony being overlooked by all the upper decks  - obviously not the same level of privacy issues as those on the prom deck 😀
• The room and bathroom size was identical to a normal cabin except for the cabana room yet you are paying a premium price
• The cabana room itself had no electrical outlets or TV which would have made it a more useful breakout area. 

Edited March 15, 2023 by dides

[capriccio]

I am surprised that Alfredo's will have al fresco dining.  We were on a 10 day Caribbean cruise on the Enchanted Princess last spring where Gigi's and Bistro Sur la Mer 'offered' al fresco dining that we never saw in use because of wind and sun when the ship was underway (the explanation from the staff at the Bistro) and sun and heat when the ship was anchored in port (the explanation from the staff at Gigi's).  On that cruise at any rate, it was a wasted use of space.

[jwattle]

6 hours ago, capriccio said:

I am surprised that Alfredo's will have al fresco dining.  We were on a 10 day Caribbean cruise on the Enchanted Princess last spring where Gigi's and Bistro Sur la Mer 'offered' al fresco dining that we never saw in use because of wind and sun when the ship was underway (the explanation from the staff at the Bistro) and sun and heat when the ship was anchored in port (the explanation from the staff at Gigi's).  On that cruise at any rate, it was a wasted use of space.

They say that they'll have heaters outside on the Sun to mitigate the cold... 😄