Review: Princess Cruises Sun Princess
Table Of Content
Next door to the International Café was the Gelato café, where eight different flavors tempted us. A three-scoop dish was $2.75, including toppings such as brownies, peaches, M&Ms, etc. Another section was devoted to tapas, and included such fare as king crab cocktail, a chili and lime crab margarita, and Italian pollastrini sardines (all $6). We also found Balik brand smoked salmon from Russia ($15) and poached Maine lobster tail ($10), as well as a chilled sampler platter that seemed like the best value—$20 for two.
Amenities Onboard Sun Princess
The suites offer between 440 ft² / 41 m2 and 682 ft2 / 64 m2 of space and can accommodate up to 4 guests. Royal Princess features three types of suites; Penthouse suites located on deck 14, Premium Suites on deck 9 – 12 and Owners Suites on decks 8 – 15. Sabatini's serves Northern Italian cuisine created in collaboration with Chef Angelo Auriana. A private exclusive dining experience located in the centre of the dining room surrounded by a curtain made of lights around the table. The experience begins with a galley tour accompanied by hors d’oeuvres and champagne followed by a multi-course dinner designed by celebrity chef Curtis Stone.
Amenities
Extra charges include the Sanctuary, excursions, the spa, speciality restaurants and drinks. Balcony cabins offer more space than an inside but are still smaller than most other cruise lines. There is no sofa or armchair to relax in, only the chair from the desk. This can be uncomfortable if you want to watch tv but don't want to sit in bed. It feels very tight with the balcony furniture so keep that in mind.
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Soup of the day was abondigas, and despite one little meatball it was tasty, faintly spicy (this was also the soup of the day at the buffet upstairs). Our vegetarian sandwich was thick with iceberg lettuce, but also a few thin slices of avocado; the bread had been toasted and the edges sliced off. We were offered a side of potato chips, French fries or coleslaw; we chose the latter but found it to be heavily lathered in mayo and didn’t finish it. Our favorite of these was Crooners, a Princess institution offering an inviting martini selection, but the Wheelhouse Bar is another good place for live piano and cocktails. Most of the other venues have familiar names, but a new one is the SeaView Bar, which has a see-through walkway on one side, for gazing down onto the waves. On select nights of each cruise, there are two different special meal offerings conducted in the main dining rooms.
Dining Venues Onboard Sun Princess
There were two sink stations available for washing hands near the entrance to Horizon Court buffet, which we applaud. Held just prior to disembarkation, room keys were scanned when we arrived for the Muster Drill. All passengers were required to bring their life vests for the Muster Drill, and instructions for wearing them were provided. Serving the Retreat Pool, this outdoor bar on Deck 17 was generally quieter and less bustling than the Outrigger Bar.
For Guests with Limited Mobility
Still, the roster of free entertainment on-demand was impressive, most of it offered in high-def presentations. There were about 100 movies available on-demand, split between theatrical releases of the previous year and big titles from the 1970s and 80s. There were no pay-per-view charges, and the TV’s interactive features were easy to operate. There are 38 accessible staterooms (1 suite, 6 mini suites, 23 balcony cabins, and 8 inside cabins) designed for guests with mobility disabilities. In addition to full wheelchair-turning radius, these staterooms feature a roll-in shower equipped with grab bars and a fold-down bench seat, an easy-access closet, and accessible writing desk. Guests who are hearing or vision impaired can be accommodated in any stateroom.
This set the stage for an informal meal, a bit like a clambake, perhaps. There were also plenty of sweet treats, such as pistachio pudding, chocolate cream puffs, mocha truffle tartlets, orange short cake etc. In front of our balcony, a lifeboat was off to the side, while other contraptions rose above the railing to block most of our view. As you can see from the photos, our view was quite obstructed, especially when we were seated. Snub-nosed yet sleek, Royal Princess carries 3,560 passengers, about 16 percent more than Princess’ next largest ship. Weighing in at 142,449 tons, Royal Princess launched as the ninth-largest cruiser.
Ship and Deck Details Onboard Sun Princess
There’s also a decent selection of complimentary room service options. Royal Princess is a large cruise ship with a maximum capacity of 3,560 passengers, but crowds are usually not an issue here. If you’re wondering just how big Royal Princess is, the answer is 1,083 feet long (exactly the length of 3 American football fields) and 260 feet tall. In the Concerto Dining Room we found the meals above average compared to our other Princess cruise experiences. There were no menu surprises, but almost everything hit the mark. Among the starters we especially enjoyed the creamy asparagus soup which, rather than being creamy was light and refreshing and included an oddly appealing dumpling of poached salmon.
There was poor communication between ground staff, with conflicting information about where to go. The process exceeded 80 minutes, and we weren’t seated for any of it. The first launched in 1984 and was christened by Diana, Princess of Wales—it now sails under the name Artania for a German tour operator. Fittingly, it was Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge—Princess Kate, to those in the know—who handled the naming honors for the new Royal Princess.
The MedallionNet internet, billed as strong enough to stream, was inadequate to download email. The hotel director told us the system works better outside Alaska, but at least passengers on our sailing seemed to enjoy wearing the Medallions, even if they eschewed pulling out their phones. Also reprised onboard are the Crown Grill traditional steakhouse and Sabatini’s for Italian cuisine. New onboard offerings include Umai Teppanyaki (where clients will find a typical hibachi-style dinner show), Umai Hot Pot and Makoto Ocean (in collaboration with Edomae-style sushi master Makoto Okuwa). Cruise Critic is not a booking agent and does not charge any service fees to users of our site. When you book with one of our partners, please be sure to check their site for a full disclosure of all applicable fees as required by the U.S.
Furthermore, the Ocean Medallion opens cabin doors automatically as you approach your stateroom. Find out more in our Guide to Ocean Medallion by Princess Cruises. Instead of a regular promenade deck encircling the ship, Deck 7 is an abbreviated exterior deck with a terrace-like feature that extended from the Piazza area.
Perfect for celebrating an anniversary or milestone, or just making your cruise vacation even more amazing. We had fun sampling some of the many bars on board, notably Bellini’s cocktail bar, Crooners and Club 6 (a disco and bar). Club 6 is configured in such a way that you can have a drink in one area and dance in another, so the music doesn’t drown out conversation. Whisky aficionados will enjoy the special tastings at the Wheelhouse Bar, which also serves a range of draught beers.
We chose the Royal’s Mixed Steamer, a metal bowl loaded with snow crab legs, jumbo shrimp, clams, mussels and kielbasa, along with a half-ear of corn on the cob and a few new potatoes. It was a scrumptious and messy feast—fortunately a plastic bib was provided to protect our clothes. The meal finished with a cheesecake swirled with caramel—it was okay, but not as special as what had preceded. Mini-Suite with BalconyThe Premium Mini-Suite offers a spacious cabin with an extra-large balcony. The cabin features a separate seating area with a sofa and the bathroom offers a combination tub and shower. Creating a new “class” of ship is not something a cruise line takes lightly.
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