Princess Cruises - Sun Princess

With Reuben Goossens

Cruise’n’Travel Journalist / Cruise Reviewer

Princess Cruises

Sun Princess

Please Note: Cruise-Australia is a non-commercial and privately owned cruise site. The author has been in the passenger shipping industry since 1960 and is currently semi-retired, but continues to write cruise and ship reviews and articles in order to better to inform cruise and ship enthusiasts and provide information for those intending a cruise in the future.

Sun Princess is 856ft long, 106ft wide, she accommodates 1,950 passengers

The 77,000-ton 1995 built Sun Princess was built at a cost of A$400 million and has cruised in many parts of the world. Over the years, she has acquired a faithful following amongst cruise enthusiasts. She has now been stationed in Australia, thus both Australian’s and New Zealanders will have the opportunity of premium cruising on this magnificent ship in the Southern Hemisphere.

Sun Princess has proven to be a ship that has not only all the amenities of a fine cruise liner, but is a ship of great style and sophistication! Prior to heading for Australia, Sun Princess was especially tailored for her Australian cruise duties. Her varied itineraries will include spectacular circumnavigations of Australia, cruising New Zealand, the Pacific and a round the world voyage in 2009.

Sailing the South Pacific Sun Princess has replaced the popular 30,200-ton Pacific Princess, which has successfully pioneered premium cruising for Australians since 2002. Like on the Pacific princess, currency onboard will be in Australian dollars.

Public Rooms

A colourful Atrium Staircase

The Sun Princess at 77,000-tons may be big, but she certainly does not feel big. The main reason for this is that Princess Cruises has not used the extra space to cram in more people, but they have created more intimate lounges and other public facilities. She offers a variety of restaurants, theatres, bars, swimming pools and so on. You could call her a big ship with a small ship feel.

Public rooms and facilities on Sun Princess is organized around a four-deck atrium, which is delightfully decorated with light timbers, chrome and glass, and connected by two glass elevators. At the entrance level on Plaza Deck are the Marquis Dining Room, reception area, shore excursions desk, and Patisserie for a la carte coffee and confections.

Atrium Lounge & Bar

Ascending to Emerald Deck one finds the shops, logo goods, liquor, perfume, jewellery and sundries as well as the Regency Dining Room. Both single-level dining rooms face aft with views over three sides of the ship. While large, they are divided into smaller areas by serving stations and banquettes.

Princess Theatre

Promenade Deck features a wide, wraparound promenade deck, protected from the weather by her overhanging decks. The interior of Promenade Deck is devoted to public rooms. The Princess Theatre is located forward, which is a sloped down toward the state and is used as the show lounge and movie theatre. It has excellent sight lines with traditional theatre style seating complete with small trays for drinks. Just aft is the Wheelhouse Bar, which has that clubby feel with its dark-panelling and decorated with paintings of past P&O and Princess ships.

Then there is the Atrium Lounge and bar followed by Rendezvous, which is the ship's most intimate wine. Shooting Stars is the ships disco, which is fitted with an excellent sound and light system and it is an effective space for late-night dancing.

The ship's library offers a good selection of books, maps and other reading material. The photo gallery is long and well lit. The Vista Lounge is located aft of Promenade Deck, and this room is the ship's secondary show lounge. It does feature the largest dance floor onboard and has a stage for various cabaret acts.

Dinning

Sun Princess offers “Personal Choice Dining,” wich is available in the various dinning facilities. The Regency Dining Room offers fixed sittings for dinner at 1745 and 2000, whilst breakfast and lunch there is an open sitting. The identical Marquis Dining Room is open for dinner from 1730 until 2200.

Horizon Court

The ship's buffet restaurant is located in the massive Horizon Court that faces forward overlooking the bow on Lido Deck. There ate two buffet stations on port and starboard. Additional buffet service is also available in the main part of the room. Aft of Horizon Court is the Terrace Grill and barbecue. Horizon Court is open 24 hours a day for breakfast, lunch and dinners with an optional dinning facility available.

Verdi’s Pizzeria

Verdi's Pizzeria, is decorated with tile floors and tables with wrought iron chairs. It is open for lunch. In the evening it becomes a casual Italian trattoria offering a variety of menus specialising in pastas.

Sun Princess offers a free 24-hour service offering a range of menus of cold and hot items, which are delivered promptly to the cabin.

Accommodation

Like on all modern ships, cabins are of a uniform size and configuration, whereas the suites are very individual and are very stylish.

Cabins, be they inside, with an ocean view or with a private balcony, are highlighted with light timber textures and pastel soft furnishings. All twin beds can be made up as a queen sized bed. Cabins are well lit, which is especially good for inside cabins. There is ample wardrobe and drawer space, as well as a deck/vanity table with a chair. In addition there is a safe and refrigerator, television with satellite and onboard broadcasts. Bathrooms are adequate and Princess provides a range of toiletries from Princess' spa. 70% of outside cabins have a private balcony.

Inside Twin/Double bedded cabin

Ocean-view Twin/Double bedded cabin

Twin/Double bedded balcony cabin

One of the spacious Suites

All suites include large balconies with dining tables, chairs and sun lounges, as well as bathtubs with whirlpools and a lounge separated from the bedroom.

Pools - Spa & Fitness facilities

Riviera Pool

On the main pool deck there are two central pools a third is a splash pool located just behind the fitness center. Pools are surrounded by spacious decks, which are serviced by the outdoor Splash Bar. For sun lovers, there are ample sun lounges. The topmost passenger deck, Sun Deck, is divided into two portions. The aft portion of Sun Deck is available for sports activities such as shuffleboard, basketball and paddle tennis. Other recreational features include a golf simulator and quoits.

The Lotus Spa has an Asian themed decor, and offers a vast variety of treatments both for men, women. The gym features the latest equipment and weights. The room has piped music and TV screens. In addition there is a special carpeted space for yoga, aerobics and Pilates. Extra charges apply to specialised alternative dinning, the Spa and several other activities, such as Pilates.

Wheelhouse Bar

The Library

The following are just a few of Sun Princess vast range of facilities.

· Over 400 staterooms include balconies

· Wrap-round promenade deck

· 24-hour buffet/bistro with 270-degree view over bow

· Poolside hamburger grill and ice cream bar

· Pizzeria and premium steakhouse

· Wine and caviar bar

· Patisserie

· Four-storey atrium lobby with ocean views

· Two show lounges

· Spa with ocean-view gymnasium

· Sports court and jogging track

· Four swimming pools

· Bay view listening library

· Computerized golf centre

· Lavish casino

· Gallery of shops

· Business centre

Sun Princess is truly one of Princess Cruises “superliners”

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Please Note: Cruise-Australia is a non-commercial and privately owned cruise site. I have been in the passenger shipping industry since 1960 and I am currently semi-retired, but continue to write cruise/ship reviews and writes articles to inform cruise/ship enthusiasts and provides information for those intending a cruise. If you are interested in a cruise, I am happy to refer to an dedicated cruise agent in Australia or New Zealand, agents that specialises in cruising and who will be able to best to advise you and offer the best fares possible. Be assured, I do NOT receive a commission from these agents, and in the majority of cases these agents will not be aware of my involvement as I provide the enquirer with the requested information and the agents (in their region) contact details. Or visit the AGENTS page for their direct details.

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For further information contact us:

When sending an email please name the ship you are requesting information or speaking about!

However, if you are interested in a cruise, I am happy to refer you to a dedicated cruise agent in Australia, New Zealand or further afield on my recommended “cruise agents” page, for these are agents that specialise in cruising and they will be able offer excellent service you and the best fares available! Be assured, I do NOT receive any commissions or favours from these agents, and in the vast majority of cases these agents will not even be aware of my, or mu site’s involvement, as I provide the enquirer with the requested information of the agents (in their region) including their contact details. Reuben Goossens.

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