Sun Princess - Spellbound question

[Sox Fan Cruiser]

I know I became a real pessimist about this whole thing but we went tonight and LOVED it!  Off to bed as it was a full evening experience but I’ll write about it tomorrow. Totally worth it!

[555]

11 hours ago, Sox Fan Cruiser said:

I know I became a real pessimist about this whole thing but we went tonight and LOVED it!  Off to bed as it was a full evening experience but I’ll write about it tomorrow. Totally worth it!

And how were the people dressed? Very formally or just Princess casual?

[Sox Fan Cruiser]

Okay, here we go.  I will only be describing the  logistics without ruining the "magic" of the night.  I don't want to ruin the experience for all but help people understand what the night entails.

 

So in general, it's not really advertised very well.  Like all things Sun Princess, they are relying on word of mouth more than anything else.  As I said before, we went to the suite lounge on the first day and asked about it saying that we didn't have either a tie nor a blazer.  They said it was fine to just dress "nicely".  We then received our invitation a day or so later (picture attached after this post) with the words "Dress Code:  Cocktail Attire".  

 

We went to the 8th floor of the Horizon Dining Room as instructed at 8pm and there was a sign marked Spellbound.  The host had us sit with the others waiting for the festivities to begin.  The attire of the participants was varied with some folks in suits, women in dresses but also men with a blazer not tie and some in just dress pants and a nice collared shirt (me!).  I think as long as you look nice, it was acceptable.

We then were escorted to a back part of the dining room where it was just us.  We there then served a 4 course dinner that took about 2 hours.  I was shocked as it didn't seem like that long and we had a nice time getting to know our fellow magic enthusiasts.  

 

Then it was time to go behind the black door...

[Sox Fan Cruiser]

Damn!  I finished typing the second half when my work computer didn’t like being on the ships internet and I lost the post. I’ll try again later. 

[Sox Fan Cruiser]

So we proceed through the black door and enter the bar area.  It’s a normal bar area (fully decorated in the magic theme) with plenty of tables to sit.  There are waiters who bring the special drink menu but there is also a full bar so you can order any drink you want including any alcohol-free things that you would like.  The specialty drinks are loaded with alcohol so I don’t think there is any way to make them virgin style.

 

We spent around 30 minutes in the bar area which gave us time to have a bathroom break and consume a few cocktails.  We did notice that there were people in the bar area that weren’t with us at dinner.  That’s when I found out that once the show is over, you can hang out there until the bar closes at midnight!  So these other people were at the early show and still here having more cocktails.  All the drinks are free while in Spellbound and don’t go towards your drink package maximum. So some of these people have been here for a while. 😊  That helps with those that need to justify the $150 per person charge of Spellbound.

 

After about 30 minutes they called us into the room where the magic happens.  It’s a small intimate space that only holds a maximum of 30 people.  The show is very interactive with plenty of laughs.  I am still amazed at some of the magic that we saw. 

 

Not sure how long the show was because I was so immersed in it that time flew by.  After the show, the magician led us back to the bar where we had another round(s) of cocktails and hung out with our new friends we met over dinner.  The magician even came over to us and we talked with him for a while.

 

It was truly a wonderful experience and I completely forgot that I was even on a ship.

 

Let me know if you have other questions but again, I am not going to reveal too much as I want you all to experience it for yourself.  I highly recommend it.

[whitcruising]

3 hours ago, Sox Fan Cruiser said:

So we proceed through the black door and enter the bar area.  It’s a normal bar area (fully decorated in the magic theme) with plenty of tables to sit.  There are waiters who bring the special drink menu but there is also a full bar so you can order any drink you want including any alcohol-free things that you would like.  The specialty drinks are loaded with alcohol so I don’t think there is any way to make them virgin style.

 

We spent around 30 minutes in the bar area which gave us time to have a bathroom break and consume a few cocktails.  We did notice that there were people in the bar area that weren’t with us at dinner.  That’s when I found out that once the show is over, you can hang out there until the bar closes at midnight!  So these other people were at the early show and still here having more cocktails.  All the drinks are free while in Spellbound and don’t go towards your drink package maximum. So some of these people have been here for a while. 😊  That helps with those that need to justify the $150 per person charge of Spellbound.

 

After about 30 minutes they called us into the room where the magic happens.  It’s a small intimate space that only holds a maximum of 30 people.  The show is very interactive with plenty of laughs.  I am still amazed at some of the magic that we saw. 

 

Not sure how long the show was because I was so immersed in it that time flew by.  After the show, the magician led us back to the bar where we had another round(s) of cocktails and hung out with our new friends we met over dinner.  The magician even came over to us and we talked with him for a while.

 

It was truly a wonderful experience and I completely forgot that I was even on a ship.

 

Let me know if you have other questions but again, I am not going to reveal too much as I want you all to experience it for yourself.  I highly recommend it.

Thank you so much! We purchased tickets for our cruise in June and I love hearing your report!

[KLM3164]

Can’t wait to experience it in November!!! 

[mikemonster]

Thanks Sox great summary/review

Sailing in 19 Days,

Now, I can cancel my Amazon order for a sports coat 😉and have less to pack

 

We have the "8:30PM" reservation with 2hrs eating and 1/2hr in the bar before the show,  it sounds like a late evening.(we're also celebrating one of our groups 60th BD that evening, (we'll be sure to let the magician know),  Fortunately, we have a sea day the next day to recover

 

Mike

 

Edited April 12 by mikemonster

[JimmyVWine]

5 hours ago, Sox Fan Cruiser said:

Let me know if you have other questions

Does the dinner include wine and/or cocktails?

[Shaver John]

Has anyone in a suite received this as a suite benefit without payment?

[Sox Fan Cruiser]

2 hours ago, mikemonster said:

Thanks Sox great summary/review

Sailing in 19 Days,

Now, I can cancel my Amazon order for a sports coat 😉and have less to pack

 

We have the "8:30PM" reservation with 2hrs eating and 1/2hr in the bar before the show,  it sounds like a late evening.(we're also celebrating one of our groups 60th BD that evening, (we'll be sure to let the magician know),  Fortunately, we have a sea day the next day to recover

 

Mike

 

You actually meet at 8:00pm even though it says dinner at 8:30. You start dinner much closer to 8. 

[Sox Fan Cruiser]

58 minutes ago, JimmyVWine said:

Does the dinner include wine and/or cocktails?

Yes. There is a welcome cocktail and then red or white wine. Once you actually get to Spellbound is when the cocktails really start flowing. 

Edited April 12 by Sox Fan Cruiser

[Sox Fan Cruiser]

54 minutes ago, Shaver John said:

Has anyone in a suite received this as a suite benefit without payment?

We are the first cruise to have Spellbound so no.  They were doing it for suites as a courtesy while they where practicing but it didn’t include dinner. 

[MissP22]

20 hours ago, Sox Fan Cruiser said:

All the drinks are free while in Spellbound and don’t go towards your drink package maximum. So some of these people have been here for a while. 😊  That helps with those that need to justify the $150 per person charge of Spellbound.

A much better value for those without a Package. 

[LittleTinker]

Dining options have only just become available to me, and on a couple of the restaurants, there is no picture, just a greyed out space and they show no available time slots at all....on any day,

Am i to assume Spellbound and Sabatinis are all fully booked up for the whole cruise?

 

[555]

2 hours ago, LittleTinker said:

Dining options have only just become available to me, and on a couple of the restaurants, there is no picture, just a greyed out space and they show no available time slots at all....on any day,

Am i to assume Spellbound and Sabatinis are all fully booked up for the whole cruise?

 

No, they just won't let people book those restaurants before a certain number of days before the beginning of the cruise.

I believe it's 40 days?

[LittleTinker]

4 hours ago, 555 said:

No, they just won't let people book those restaurants before a certain number of days before the beginning of the cruise.

I believe it's 40 days?

Hmmmmm.......I go in 23 days   lol

[Sox Fan Cruiser]

We were never able to book ahead of time but did so when we got on the ship. It wasn’t a problem. It’s not advertised too much so if you know about it, just book when you get on the ship. 

[LittleTinker]

2 hours ago, Sox Fan Cruiser said:

We were never able to book ahead of time but did so when we got on the ship. It wasn’t a problem. It’s not advertised too much so if you know about it, just book when you get on the ship. 

I hope so.
Id really love to go.....but am afraid itll be booked up.

[mikemonster]

4 hours ago, LittleTinker said:

I hope so.
Id really love to go.....but am afraid itll be booked up.

Keep checking your Personalizer “dinners” we were able to book at 20 days before our cruise sail date ( May 3). 
 

note: I’ve noticed Princess has been doing the web updates around 9:00AM PST for changes on our cruise
 

mike

[LittleTinker]

7 hours ago, mikemonster said:

Keep checking your Personalizer “dinners” we were able to book at 20 days before our cruise sail date ( May 3). 
 

note: I’ve noticed Princess has been doing the web updates around 9:00AM PST for changes on our cruise
 

mike

Did you have some available and some not?

Most venues are available for me to book except 3 of them......Sabatinis, Spellbound and OMalleys.