What To Know Before Sailing on Sun Princess
Sun Princess is the ship that changed what a Princess cruise looks like. She debuted in February 2024 as the first of the Sphere class, the largest ships Princess has ever built, and she introduced a glass-enclosed Dome, a three-deck Piazza wrapped in windows, and a top-deck activity zone the line had never tried before. Princess kept the pieces regulars care about, the Medallion, the Sanctuary, Movies Under the Stars, and put them on a much bigger canvas. I book Sun Princess for clients sailing the Mediterranean and the Caribbean, and this is what I tell them before they go.
If you are pricing her, start with the current Princess Cruises offers. Sun Princess carries a $5 a day premium on the Plus and Premier packages, so the fare sale is where the savings live.
Key Facts on Sun Princess
Detail | Sun Princess |
Cruise line | Princess Cruises (premium tier) |
Ship class | Sphere class, first of the class |
Maiden voyage | February 2024 |
Size | About 177,900 gross tons, roughly 1,133 feet long |
Guest capacity | About 4,300 at double occupancy |
Crew | About 1,600 |
Staterooms | About 2,160 across ten decks |
Signature spaces | The Dome, the Piazza, Park19, the Sanctuary Collection, Wake View |
2026 to 2027 sailings | Mediterranean from Rome, Barcelona, and Athens in summer; Caribbean from Fort Lauderdale in winter |
Package pricing | Plus $70 and Premier $105 per person, per day |
Sun Princess Itinerary and Homeports
Sun Princess splits her year between Europe and the Caribbean. Summer runs 7 to 21 night Mediterranean itineraries from Civitavecchia for Rome, Barcelona, and Piraeus for Athens, with the Greek Isles and the Western Mediterranean the two core loops. Winter brings her to Fort Lauderdale for 7 night Eastern and Western Caribbean sailings, plus longer Southern Caribbean voyages. I cover port planning for both in my Mediterranean cruise guide and my Eastern Caribbean cruise guide.
Transatlantic crossings connect the two seasons in spring and fall, and those 14 night sailings are the quietest way to experience the ship, with sea days to work through every venue.
Booking Tips for Sun Princess: Plus, Premier, and the Medallion
Sun Princess and her sister Star Princess are the only ships where Princess charges more for the packages, $70 a day for Plus and $105 for Premier. The extra $5 reflects the larger specialty dining lineup, and on this ship Premier is easier to justify than anywhere else in the fleet because there are more restaurants to use it on. My Plus vs Premier comparison walks through the math.
The Medallion works the same way it does fleetwide: it unlocks your door, pays for drinks, and lets crew bring food to wherever you are sitting. On a ship this large the wayfinding in the app is worth setting up before you board. Order the Medallion shipped to your home if you are in the United States so you can skip the pier pickup line.
Pro Tip: Book the sailing with the current Princess Cruises offers and add the package before final payment. Princess occasionally raises package prices midyear, and the rate you lock at booking is protected.
Things to Do on Sun Princess: The Dome, the Piazza, and Park19
The Dome is the space that defines the ship. It sits high on the forward decks under a glass roof, with a pool and terraced seating by day and an aerial show by night. Sit on the upper terrace in the afternoon and it is the best sea-view lounge on the ship. The Piazza is three decks tall and, unlike the older ships, wrapped in floor-to-ceiling glass, so the atrium looks out at the ocean instead of inward at itself. Live music runs most of the day.
Park19 occupies the top deck and packs in a ropes course, a rollglider ride that swings out over the side of the ship, a jogging track, and a splash zone. It is aimed at families and it works, though on sea days it fills up by mid-morning. The Sanctuary Collection is the adults-only retreat, and on Sun Princess it is tied to a cabin category rather than sold by the day, so plan on booking a Sanctuary Collection stateroom if that deck is a priority.
Sun Princess Entertainment and Nightlife
The Princess Arena replaces the traditional theater with a venue that rotates its seating and staging for different shows, and the production shows here are a step up from the fleet. Spellbound by Magic Castle is a ticketed magic parlor that sells out on most sailings, so book it in the app the day you board. Movies Under the Stars, the Vista Lounge, Crooners, and the Wake View bar at the stern round out the evenings, and the Dome's nighttime aerial show is free.
Dining on Sun Princess: The Named Venues
This is where Sun Princess separates from the rest of the fleet. The main dining room, Horizons, spans three decks with a different menu personality on each. The Eatery replaces the buffet with a marketplace of stations. Alfredo's and O'Malley's Irish Pub are included. The specialty lineup is the largest on any Princess ship: Crown Grill for steak, Sabatini's for Italian, The Catch by Rudi for seafood, Love by Britto for a tasting menu, Makoto Ocean for sushi, Butcher's Block by Dario for a shared beef experience, and Umai Teppanyaki and Umai Hot Pot for Japanese. Premier covers a specialty meal every mealtime, which on this ship is a real perk. My Princess drink package guide covers what the bars charge.
Pro Tip: Book The Catch by Rudi and Love by Britto before you sail. Both are small rooms and both fill on embarkation day.
Sun Princess Deck Plan and Best Cabins
Balconies dominate the ship, and the midship decks 10 through 14 are the ones I recommend for couples who want a short walk to the Piazza and quiet nights. Mini-suites add a sofa and a bigger bathroom. The Cabana Mini-Suites on Sun Princess come with access to a private cabana deck, and they are the sweet spot for a splurge that does not reach suite prices. The Signature Collection suites and the Sanctuary Collection cabins come with their own restaurant and sundeck. My balcony vs suite guide covers how I decide between the tiers.
Avoid cabins directly under Park19 and the Dome if you are a light sleeper, and look for a room with a cabin above and below rather than a public space.
Embarkation, the Medallion, and Captain's Circle
Embarkation in Fort Lauderdale and Barcelona is smooth thanks to the Medallion, with most guests walking on in under 20 minutes at their assigned arrival window. Captain's Circle tiers apply exactly as they do fleetwide, and Elite members receive the same perks. Crew appreciation is $18 to $20 a day depending on cabin, and both packages cover it. Details are in my Princess gratuities guide.
Pros and Cons of Sun Princess
Pro: the largest specialty dining lineup in the fleet, and a main dining room that feels new.
Pro: the Dome and the glass Piazza are the two best public rooms Princess has built.
Pro: real family features in Park19 without turning the ship into a theme park.
Con: the ship is big, and the Piazza and pool decks get crowded on sea days.
Con: packages cost $5 a day more than on the rest of the fleet.
Con: the Sanctuary is tied to a cabin category, so day passes are not an option.
Who Should Book Sun Princess?
Sun Princess suits couples who want the newest ship in a premium fleet, families who need more to do than the older Princess ships offer, and foodies who will use Premier. Guests who love the smaller, quieter Princess ships such as Island Princess or Coral Princess may find her too busy. If you are choosing between the two Sphere-class sisters, my Star Princess guide covers where they differ.
Frequently Asked Questions
How big is Sun Princess? About 177,900 gross tons and roughly 4,300 guests, the largest ship Princess has built.
Where does Sun Princess sail? The Mediterranean in summer from Rome, Barcelona, and Athens, and the Caribbean from Fort Lauderdale in winter, with transatlantic crossings in between.
Does Sun Princess have the Sanctuary? Yes, as the Sanctuary Collection, which is tied to a set of cabins with their own sundeck and restaurant rather than sold by the day.
What is the Dome? A glass-roofed forward deck with a pool, terraced seating, and a nightly aerial show.
Final Thoughts on Sun Princess
Sun Princess is the ship I recommend when a client wants Princess service on a new ship and is willing to trade some calm for more choice. Check the current Princess Cruises offers for her Mediterranean and Caribbean dates, and if you want help choosing between a Cabana Mini-Suite and a Sanctuary Collection cabin, book with Jackson Jetsetting. My quotes are free and I can often add onboard credit.
