Princess Cruises revealed a stunning new bespoke platform, which will be the brand's largest ship ever with a capacity for over 4,000 guests. The next Princess Cruises ship will be named Sun Princess boasting stunning views, innovative entertainment spaces, multi-story dining, and next-level stateroom accommodations while staying true to the sleek, clean lines and design aesthetic inspired by the iconic Seawitch and popularized in the original "Love Ship" TV series and the restoration of the honorable name "Princess of the Sun" in function.
Currently under construction at the Fincantieri shipyard and scheduled to launch in early 2024, the 175,500-ton ship is the largest Princess ship ever built and embraces Italian heritage by featuring the next-level Piazza, an iconic brand, and The Dome, a state-of-the-art entertainment space inspired the terraces of Santorini.
"Sun Princess is a new bespoke ship platform designed to both embrace the Princess heritage while boldly going into the future with the iconic, elegant, and clean lines unique to our brand," said John Padgett, President of Princess Cruises. "The first-of-its-kind upper deck dome and sunken glass piazza at the center of Sun Princess offer innovative designs that showcase expansive ocean views for incredible opportunities to connect with the sea."
The cruise line also announced that Sun Princess will sail the inaugural spring-summer Mediterranean cruise season, followed by Western and Eastern Caribbean voyages from Port Everglades, Florida in fall 2024.
Drenched in light, the ship connects guests with a dynamic worldview and innovative experiences, from service to food to entertainment. The piazza lines three floors, forming an iconic architectural feature that offers guests a hanging space with comfortable seating and spaces to enjoy ocean views in every direction. An impressive LED screen is also featured in the center of the Piazza which can be moved and configured to deliver live entertainment programmes. Next to the Piazza Atrium will be a new coffee shop, Coffee Currents, Bellini's Cocktail Bar, along with Princess favorites such as Crooners Bar and Alfredo's Pizzeria.
Another prominent structure on Sun Princess is the Dome. Inspired by the terraces of Santorini, it is a multi-level covered deck and the first true glass dome of its kind ever built on a cruise ship.
With a total of 2,157 staterooms, including 50 suites and 100 connecting rooms, the 21-deck Sun Princess has more open balcony space, and all balcony accommodations have an in-room sofa.
With the Sun Princess, Club Class accommodation on this ship, and all Princess ships will now be called the Reserve Collection, which are the best-located mini-suite cabins. Within the Reserve, the Collection will be Reserve Collection Cabana rooms, resort-style cabins that offer a balcony and private cabana, and an extra-large outdoor living area. These premium accommodations also include access to the Reserve Collection restaurant.
In addition to the stunning design of the ship, there are also sustainable elements that have been designed into the ship. Sun Princess is part of Carnival Corporation's green cruise focus and is one of 11 new ships in the corporate fleet powered by LNG fuel technology.
This is the third ship to be honored with the Sun Princess name, adding to the legacy of the first ship that sailed from 1974 to 1988 and the second ship that sailed from 1995 to 2020. At the time, it had the largest number of balcony cabins and the first 24-hour coffee shop on a cruise.
