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What it's like on Sun Princess, the world's newest mammoth cruise ship

April 29, 2024 - 2.44am

I am not usually much of a swimmer.

But when there's a shimmering aqua pool literally hanging over the edge of your cruise ship as it glides through the Mediterranean, you have to jump in.

The WakeView infinity pool is one of five on the Sun Princess, the world's newest cruise ship.

The WakeView pool on the Sun Princess cruise ship hangs over the sea. Supplied

And with views from the glass-encased edge straight down into the ocean below, it's definitely most spectacular dip I've ever taken.

Officially just 'named' in Barcelona by Ted Lasso's Hannah Waddingham, the ship marks a series of firsts for the cruise giant

What Sun Princess is like

Sun Princess is the company's biggest ship yet, and bosses have really splashed out on the billion-dollar vessel.

You'll spot the aptly named The Dome perched near the front of the ship, the first in the fleet to use a more eco-friendly fuel than normal.

It's a glass-enclosed, climate-controlled lounge where we saw a jaw-dropping acrobatic show by Cirque Éloize.

Cirque Éloize performs in The Dome on Sun Princess. Supplied

(Beware, though there's no ticket system even with premium packages, and we saw passengers lining up for up to two hours to get in to see it).

Another dazzling feat of engineering is The Sphere.

Basically a giant bubble on the ship's side, it lets you look out over and above the ocean from the huge floor to ceiling windows. So much glass makes the ship feel really open.

And despite there being 4300 passengers aboard, it was easy to find a quiet spot.

The Sphere sticks out the side of Sun Princess. Supplied

Sun Princess Food and Drinks

There are 30 bars and restaurants on board, with Princess dubbing it the "greatest foodie destination at sea".

We'd agree with that because our clothes are now A BIT TIGHT.

Celeb collaborations are a big thing for cruise ships these days, and Princess has packed in so many it's impossible to list them all.

Our favourite restaurant was The Catch by Rudi, AKA celeb chef Rudi Sodamin.

The starter, the Seafaring Stew, came in a VERY Instagrammable crab bowl, while our main, the catch of the day, branzino, was melt-in-the-mouth perfect.

Seafarers stew was served in a Crab on Sun Princess. — Seafaring Stew was served in a crab on Sun Princess. Supplied

And we just about managed to squeeze in the croquembouche dessert, named Chantilly Lace.

Meanwhile, meat eaters must try by The Butchers Block by Dario, named after Italian celeb butcher Dario Cecchini.

Another offering is the dinner and show Spellbound, which is part of a collab with the secret LA venue Magic Castle.

It costs an extra $230, but is a memorable experience.

Another new restaurant, created with pop artist Romero Britto, Love By Britto, has just been unveiled as well.

Yet another must-do is Teppanyaki spot Umai, where the chefs cook (and sing!) in front of you.

We were thrilled when we caught the piece of omelette tossed into our mouth by our nimble chef.

One thing we noted was even when restaurant reservations were unavailable on the Princess app, which is the easiest way to book everything, the crew managed to fit us in.

And booze fans will be spoiled for choice, with no less than 200 extra cocktails created for this ship alone.

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To access most of the speciality dining it's best to buy a package, which costs from $90 a day.

For that you'll also get most drinks as well as WiFi and crew tips.

Without it you'll be missing out - however, places included in your fare like The Eatery buffet and Horizon's dining room are still top notch.

Sun Princess cabins

We had one of the mid-range staterooms, a deluxe balcony, set up as a twin.

READ MORE: Best way to get a cheap cruise

The décor was modern and chic, with a giant wall-mounted telly, big sofa, USB ports for charging and, thank heavens, a decent hair dryer.

Like on all Princess ships, the company's Medallion device takes care of all payments and even opens your cabin door as you approach.

We also got to peek our head into the more lavish staterooms.

The best is the Sky Suite, which has two bedrooms, a kitchenette, dining room, living room, mega balcony and two bathrooms - and costs tens of thousands to book.

If you're not a millionaire but still want to splash out, look at the Cabana Mini Suites which come with access to their own private deck.

Also coming soon is a 'ship within a ship' offering, the Sanctuary Collection.

Guests will be allowed to use the ship's top deck retreat, private dining and relaxation areas, as well as other extras.

Sun Princess Verdict

While not breaking any size records, there's no denying Sun Princess is a mammoth ship.

Thankfully, cruise bosses have still managed to keep the intimate spaces, old favourite restaurants and amazing service the company is known for.

They've also added some dazzling new features which are much-needed to compete in the current 'more is more' trend.

There were 400 Aussies on board our cruise, proving it has fast become one of the most sought-after ships for sailors from down under.

Sun Princess is sailing the Mediterranean and will then head to the Caribbean.

Sister ship, Star Princess, is on the way next year with Alaska among its destinations.

The writer travelled as a guest of Princess Cruises.

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