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Princess Cruises have entered mega-ship cruising with the launch of their 4,300-passenger Sphere Class ships, Sun and Star Princess. Hearing it was totally different to their other ships, reading very divided reviews, and seeing many asking if Princess were abandoning loyal guests to attract a different type of passenger, I had to test it out for myself. And this is the good and bad news I found. And I will reveal, as past frequent Princess cruiser, if I will I cruise on these ships again….or not.
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0:00
Princess cruisers have entered mega ship
0:01
cruising with the launch of their 4,300
0:04
passenger sphere class ships, Sun and
0:06
Star Princess, hearing it was totally
0:09
different to their other ships. Reading
0:11
very divided reviews and seeing many
0:13
asking if Princess were abandoning us
0:15
loyal guests to attract a different type
0:17
of passenger, I had to test it out for
0:20
myself. And you're about to hear the
0:22
good and the bad news that I found. and
0:25
I will reveal as a past frequent
0:27
Princess Cruiser if I will cruise on
0:29
these ships again or not. Welcome
0:31
aboard. I'm Gary Benbridge. As always,
0:33
to ensure an unbiased and balanced
0:35
review, I booked and paid for my seven
0:37
night Sun Princess Mediterranean cruise
0:39
to test this all out at the usual fair
0:41
through my travel agent. Before I get
0:44
into the negatives, let's start with the
0:46
positives. The first positive is the
0:49
overall ship design and decor. The ship
0:52
looks pretty good, especially for a mega
0:54
ship, and has pleasant decor throughout.
0:57
Although, it did feel it uses the rather
0:59
generic cruise decor I'm seeing across
1:01
many lines these days. Inside, it looks
1:04
and feels like the recent Norwegian
1:07
Prima class of ships. Had elements of
1:09
Kunard Queen Anne and touches of
1:11
Celebrity Edgeclass ships. Pretty
1:13
generic look and feel. They've discarded
1:16
the traditional glitzy gold richness
1:18
used on the rest of the fleet for a
1:20
lighter, more neutral look and color
1:22
palette. From the outside, this massive
1:25
ship has a few design features that
1:27
makes it look a little bit less like a
1:29
big clunky floating mall at sea. First,
1:32
the glass spheres midship either side of
1:35
the ship that give this class its name.
1:37
These multidex spheres mean that unlike
1:39
other Princess ships, the design
1:41
connects passengers more with the sea.
1:44
Within the spheres is the multi-deck
1:46
atrium called the patza as on all
1:49
princess ships. Unlike on other princess
1:51
ships from here you can actually see the
1:53
sea outside on either side and it's
1:54
filled with natural light. Other
1:57
features continue this better connection
1:59
with the sea like the massive multi-deck
2:01
glass dome at the front of the ship with
2:04
a tiered entertainment space and an
2:06
adult only covered deck and pool. Unlike
2:09
other Princess ships, they've tried to
2:10
connect passengers much more with the
2:12
sea in other ways, making this clearly a
2:14
ship designed for warm weather
2:16
itineraries. For example, there is the
2:19
deck 9 outdoor prominade area with lots
2:21
of casual dining venues and seating
2:23
overflow from the buffet. There are many
2:25
deck areas with bars all over the ship,
2:27
including some tucked away like the
2:29
infinity pool and bar at the rear on
2:32
deck 8. I also thought the cabins were
2:34
an improvement. They're more modern and
2:36
spacious than other Princess ships, and
2:38
they range from inside cabins right
2:40
through to glitzy suites, but still no
2:43
solo cabins. However, despite the
2:45
overall look and feel of the ship being
2:47
good, there is no getting over. This is
2:49
a massive ship, and there are a couple
2:51
of really big design issues that I'll
2:53
cover in the negative section, including
2:55
what loyal Princess cruisers did and
2:58
will find challenging about this ship.
3:01
The second positive about these bigger
3:02
Sun and Star Princess ships is having
3:04
more choice than on other Princess
3:07
ships. If you like specially dining,
3:09
there are significantly more of those.
3:11
While most Princess ships have three
3:13
special restaurants, Crown Grill, the
3:15
Catch by Rudy, and Sabatinis on these,
3:17
there are seven with the addition of
3:20
Butcher's Block by Dario, Makoto Ocean,
3:22
Umi Hot and Umi Tanyaki. They also added
3:26
in some experiential dining options with
3:28
spellbound dining with the magic
3:29
experience and love by Brit combining
3:32
the artistry of Romero Brito with Rudy
3:35
Sodom culinary offerings. There are also
3:38
more options of dining included in the
3:40
fair. Like other Princess ships, there's
3:42
the Sol dining room offering fixed
3:44
dining, Eclipse dining room which offers
3:46
anytime dining. They also though have
3:49
the American diner which in the evenings
3:52
is a sitdown served menu but during the
3:54
day is a buffet. And then of course the
3:55
main buffet which is called the ery. On
3:58
the main pool deck they have introduced
4:01
more options of dining including the
4:03
fair with individual pizza, burger, taco
4:06
and salad stations. And as mentioned
4:07
you've got that prominard dining which
4:09
has pizzas, burgers, tacos and ice
4:12
cream. There are then two casual dining
4:14
venues which have charges unless you
4:17
have the princess plus or premier
4:19
packages. Alfredo's the fantastic
4:21
signature pizzeria and the new to
4:23
Princess Ali's Irish Pub with Pub Grub.
4:27
With many more dining options, I found
4:29
there was way more chance to use my
4:31
Princess Premier package inclusions.
4:34
Princess Premier includes unlimited
4:36
specialtity and casual dining. And so
4:37
with many more options to dine at, I
4:39
found I could get much more value from
4:41
that with greater ability to actually
4:44
get bookings. There are loads of bars
4:46
and loads of lounges including that one
4:48
I mentioned are males which is new but
4:50
they still have some of the old
4:51
favorites like Kuners for example. There
4:54
is a busy daily program with a wide
4:56
choice of activities. I counted 64
4:58
events on the C days including big
5:00
production shows although there is a big
5:02
issue with those that I'll talk about in
5:03
the cons. Live music, trivia, quizzes,
5:07
bingo, dance classes, port and
5:09
enrichment talks and on and on and on.
5:12
They have activities running late into
5:14
the night too. More on that later as
5:17
well because that's important. The next
5:19
area that I think was a positive is they
5:21
do have some adultonly facilities. This
5:24
ship is absolutely attracting families.
5:26
Even on my sailing, which wasn't in
5:28
school vacation time, we were sailing
5:29
with over capacity and with several
5:32
hundred kids and teens. This meant the
5:34
main pools on deck 17 and the one on
5:36
deck 8 were usually busy and kind of
5:38
taken over a little bit by kids. But in
5:41
the front of the ship under that dome I
5:42
mentioned is that free to use adult only
5:45
18 plus area with lounges, indoor pool
5:48
and a bar. Unfortunately being under the
5:51
dome, it was not in the open air as
5:53
such, but it was an alternative to the
5:55
more rowdy, the busy and kidfilled other
5:58
pools. The thermal area in the spa is
6:00
adult only, but that has a charge. And
6:02
if you are in a premium sanctuary
6:04
collection cabin, there is an adult-only
6:06
deck there, too. Let me explain more
6:08
about this. If you have the budget, this
6:11
is another big positive. The Sanctuary
6:14
Collection is Princess Cruis's attempt
6:15
to compete with a premium ship within a
6:17
ship offer on lines like Celebrities
6:19
Retreat, Norwegian's Haven, Kunaut's
6:21
Grills, and MSC's Yacht Club. If you
6:24
book one of the Sanctuary Collection
6:26
suites, mini suites, or premium balcony
6:29
cabins, you get access to the exclusive
6:31
Sanctuary restaurant, the Sanctuary Club
6:34
pool deck, only for 16 and over, premier
6:37
package, and if in a suite, you then get
6:39
access to the two-level signature suite
6:41
lounge. Now, all these sanctuary
6:42
collection venues are well done. They
6:45
feel up market and offer a calmer escape
6:47
from the busyiness, the bustle, and the
6:49
noise of this rather large ship. Now, I
6:52
actually dive more into the pros and the
6:54
cons of the Sanctuary Collection in more
6:56
detail in a dedicated video. The next
6:58
positive will depend on your point of
7:00
view, but I do think with these ships,
7:03
Princess is making the line more
7:04
appealing and more suitable to families,
7:07
multigenerational, and younger cruisers
7:10
than they usually do. The decor, wider
7:13
choices, more casual dining options,
7:15
more family-friendly program, including
7:17
film choices shown at the pool, video
7:19
screen, large kids clubs and programs,
7:22
the number of cabins enabling up to four
7:24
guests to share, later events, higher
7:26
energy, borchers events run the pata,
7:28
many fitness classes, everything about
7:31
this ship talks better to younger
7:32
cruisers and families than other ships
7:34
in the fleet. I did find the younger
7:37
cruisers I spoke to and those with
7:39
families were very positive about the
7:41
ship, the venues, and the program.
7:43
However, I'll come to what regular
7:45
Princess Cruisers thought shortly. But
7:47
first, one more positive linked to this
7:50
point. Again, a pro or con based on your
7:52
point of view, but one appealing to
7:54
younger and families is I saw a much
7:56
more relaxed dress code, or at least
7:58
practice, than on other Princess ships.
8:00
It was pretty relaxed with shorts being
8:03
worn in the dining room with no issue
8:05
even on formal nights for example. As
8:08
I've started on the positives that for
8:10
some are negatives, let me now talk
8:11
about what I do see are the negatives or
8:14
the cons about these new ships,
8:15
especially as a past frequent Princess
8:19
Cruiser. The biggest con for Law of
8:20
Princess Cruisers is this ship does not
8:23
feel like a Princess ship. In some ways,
8:26
it was almost like being on a ship that
8:28
had been chartered by Princess. Why?
8:31
Neither the look nor the layout follow
8:33
the usual predictable and set way on
8:35
other Princess ships. In fact, even the
8:37
captain at his welcome reception party
8:40
spoke about how regular Princess
8:42
cruisers would find it unfamiliar, a
8:44
little bit confusing, and unlike
8:46
anything they were used to if they've
8:48
been on other ships. So, let me explain
8:50
a little bit more about that. Princess
8:52
ships usually follow a set layout which
8:54
has the patza or the atrium as the hub
8:57
with the main venues clustered around
8:59
it. Usually in the same place on every
9:01
single ship and others are always in
9:04
certain decks or in certain places on
9:06
the ship not on here. While most of the
9:09
expected classic Princess venues with
9:11
the main exceptions being the Bista
9:12
Lounge and Wines Bar that aren't on
9:14
here, these venues are not in their
9:16
usual places on a Princess ship. Here
9:19
are some much commented on examples. The
9:21
24-hour international cafe is usually in
9:24
the atrium on the lowest deck, not on
9:26
Sun and Star Princess. It's up on deck
9:28
9, which is the top deck of the piaza.
9:31
The buffet called the ery instead of the
9:34
usual world marketplace is not up on the
9:36
pool deck as usual, but it's on deck 9
9:39
behind the international cafe. Now, I
9:42
can see what they've actually done on
9:43
the ship because what they've done is
9:44
make deck 9 a hub for casual dining. The
9:48
American diner is behind the ery. The
9:50
prominade outdoor dining venue is here
9:53
and so is Alfredo's Pizzeria. So all
9:56
kind of informal dining on in one space.
9:58
The fitness center is right up on deck
10:00
18 along with the hairdressers and the
10:02
salon, but the spa is about 10 decks
10:04
down on deck 5 and deck six. Guest
10:07
services are hidden away on deck six and
10:09
not very easy to find. It's not just off
10:11
the piaza as usual. Many venues are
10:14
spread out all over the ship, meaning
10:15
they're not where people used to other
10:17
Princess ships expect them to be. Also,
10:20
I and many others found the layout a
10:22
little bit confusing at time with kind
10:23
of dead ends having to sometimes go up
10:25
or down a deck to then get to a venue.
10:27
So, some of the flow didn't quite work.
10:30
I do have to comment on the piaza as
10:32
this does not work nor as popular with
10:35
regular Princess cruisers that I spoke
10:37
to. It's become more of an entertainment
10:40
venue and something is going on there
10:42
most of the day and the evening
10:44
including music, dance, fitness classes,
10:47
variety acts, DJs, game shows like Deal
10:50
or No Deal and so on. It has seating
10:52
around on most the decks for people to
10:54
then participate and watch. It is as a
10:57
result noisy and busy. It's not as calm
10:59
a space to sit as the usual Princess
11:01
Piazas. There are a couple of
11:03
restaurants around there that are open
11:04
to this noise like Alfredo's and Makoto
11:07
Ocean which I found bit like eating in a
11:09
busy mall with music banging away. Link
11:12
to that is the next and surprising
11:14
negative of the ship design which is
11:16
many venues are actually too small for
11:18
the numbers on the ship or the layout
11:20
has not been designed to cater for how
11:22
many passengers want to use them. I
11:24
mentioned the ery the buffet earlier.
11:27
It's too small and can be hard to find a
11:29
table. It gets very cramped and overly
11:30
busy due to the layout. The crew serve
11:33
almost all their items and this seems to
11:34
be leading to even more lines at all of
11:37
the stations. They've introduced a
11:38
graband go section where they have
11:41
prepackaged sandwiches, salads,
11:43
desserts. So, this is a nice touch and
11:45
also quick and easy to get in and out of
11:47
there. But behind the tree, you then
11:49
have the American diner. This takes up a
11:50
lot of space, but is always rather empty
11:53
and underused. So, the space allocation
11:55
just doesn't quite work. The Princess
11:57
Arena, which is a theater, is way too
11:59
small. It holds between 900 and 1,000
12:02
people, but with at least 4,300 people
12:05
on the ship at double occupancy, and
12:06
often way more due to families sharing
12:08
cabins at peak times, like on my cruise,
12:11
and because they only do two shows a
12:12
night, it's really challenging to get a
12:14
seat on the shows, unless you got
12:16
premier package where you get reserved
12:18
seating. I have friends who've been on
12:19
some princess who never got to see a
12:22
show while others only saw them by going
12:24
an hour before the show started. Now,
12:27
the dome in the front was designed to
12:28
host events, acrobatic shows, and again,
12:31
it's too small. It only holds around 250
12:33
people. It's already being sidelined and
12:35
hardly used. On my cruise, they just had
12:38
some yoga classes in there and the
12:40
loyalty club reception.
12:42
The fitness center is ridiculously
12:44
small, especially for the younger and
12:46
more active crowd. they seem to be
12:48
trying to attract on C days. I had to go
12:50
there multiple times before I could
12:52
actually get any equipment to use. So,
12:54
that's a really big issue. Princess Live
12:58
is also too small. This is where they
12:59
host trivia, comedy shows, bingo,
13:02
karaoke, and so on. Often, it would be
13:04
complete jam-packed, standing room only.
13:07
And as I mentioned, it is a noisy ship
13:10
with all the activities going on, not
13:12
only the piaza, but on the main pool
13:14
deck, it's always showing movies and
13:15
concerts. There might be DJs there,
13:17
parties and so on. It's just kind of
13:19
really busy all around the place. Based
13:22
on my experience, I feel this new some
13:24
Princess Star Princess class are
13:26
designed for the next generation of
13:28
Princess travelers that they're looking
13:29
for. It's designed to cater for a
13:31
younger crowd. It's for families who
13:32
want more choice, buzz, activity, less
13:35
traditional princess and vibe, and less
13:37
need to dress up. Basically, I feel it's
13:40
targeted at crowd that are less bothered
13:41
about enrichment, but also don't expect
13:44
or need rock climbing walls, roller
13:46
coasters, wave riders that you get on,
13:48
say, Royal Caribbean. They still want a
13:49
resort experience, but they just want
13:51
swimming pools, dining, lots going on,
13:52
familyfriendly entertainment. These
13:54
ships are designed for warm weather
13:56
roots, and they absolutely will fill the
13:58
needs of people looking for that. I was
14:00
struck that when I spoke to younger
14:02
travelers, 30s to late 40s, people with
14:04
kids, they love the ship, they love the
14:06
program, but more traditional Princess
14:08
travelers were definitely less keen.
14:10
They found it too big. They found it too
14:11
noisy. It was alien to what they were
14:13
used to and expected from Princess. I
14:16
feel princesses following what Celebrity
14:18
did when launching the Edgeclass ships
14:21
to talk to a different traveler while
14:23
still offering their more classic
14:25
familiar older ships. So in celebrities
14:28
case solstice millennium in princess
14:29
they have royal and so on. These
14:32
experiences are for existing cruisers.
14:34
Personally it's not a ship I would hurry
14:35
back to is too big and the pool for
14:37
families and multigenerational travel is
14:39
personally not for me. But I can
14:41
absolutely see who this is for and who
14:42
would like it. So if you are interested
14:44
in these new princess ships and going in
14:46
the sanctuary collection interests you,
14:48
join me over in this video where I dive
14:49
into the good and bad about that. See
14:52
you over there.
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