Princess Cruises has revealed a first glimpse of its most contemporary and state-of-the-art designs yet on board Sun Princess – “The Love Boat”. Sun Princess will be the line’s newest, largest and most innovative ship ever built when she debuts in early 2024. Boasting bright designs inspired by rays of sunlight and next-level expanded spaces, guests are in for an extraordinary cruise experience. This includes a showstopping Arena theatre and stunning three-story dining venue – a first for Princess.
John Padgett, President of Princess Cruises
“With the construction of any new ship, we have the incredible opportunity to design standout spaces with our guests’ preferences in mind […] With the new platform and size of Sun Princess, we’re uniquely able to refresh venues we know our guests love and expand upon, redesign and elevate them to the next level. We know our sun-inspired designs will exceed expectations and elevate the entire Princess experience.”
In addition to paying homage to her name, Sun Princess’ sun-inspired designs will provide bright cruise ship interiors that energise spaces and bring the outside in. These combined with large, open interiors that flow into each other provide a sense of space and ease.
Sun Princess will also debut interactive designs that elevate the cruise experience. These include open kitchens within dining spaces, an immersive Arena, and interactive retail experiences. The vessel’s Italy-inspired designs further this immersion by building a connection with the vessel’s destinations.
Stunning new spaces
Horizons Dining Room
A first for Princess, the Horizons Dining Room introduces an elegant three-story dining venue. This newly envisioned space is open and flexible, featuring dining options to suit every mood. Stunning wake views and natural light highlight a decorative sculpture that stretches from deck six to deck eight. The three decks will each have their own personalities, offer different dining experiences and range in levels of formality.
Princess Arena
Contemporary and versatile, the Princess Arena is an evolution and the most technologically advanced Princess Theatre design. Upon entering, guests will be drawn to a breathtaking visual above the central stage. This LCD panel can transform to become part of the show and bring productions to life. A radical ceiling accentuates the Arena’s in-the-round configuration with softly curved walls that allude to the movement of the tide. With moveable seats and a capacity of over 1,000 people, three configurations will maximise sight lines. To complete the immersion, technological capabilities will deliver a truly captivating experience.
Updated designs
Additional signature favourites featuring new designs and décor will debut on board Sun Princess in early 2024. These include:
Alfredo’s Pizzeria
On board Sun Princess, Alfredo’s Pizzeria will be serving the ‘Best Pizza at Sea’ cooked in its signature open kitchen. Here, guests will be able to watch as the chefs create pizza by hand and serve them fresh out of the oven. New to the kitchen is a professional, open-mouth oven that reaches 968 degrees, allowing chefs to create a truly authentic contemporary Neapolitan pizza. As a result, guests experience a taste of Italy whilst at sea.
The Piazza
The Piazza will be the largest Princess Casino in both size and number of gaming positions, with over 200 of the newest and most popular slots and video poker games. Here, guests will be able to easily access their favourite betting games in a spacious interior that provides both comfort and entertainment.
Crown Grill
A favourite of Princess guests who enjoy a perfectly grilled steak, Crown Grill on Sun Princess takes this iconic space and modernises it with a classic steakhouse feel weaved with modern touches. Inviting leather booths, circular seating and modern artwork custom designed for this restaurant will welcome guests in for an unforgettable dining experience. Guests can also enjoy views of their food being prepared in the largest show galley on a Princess ship
Sabatini’s Italian Trattoria
Serving a modern, casual but elegant Italian dining experience, the newly imagined Sabatini’s unique handmade pasta courses will be prepared fresh daily. Sabatini’s will debut a crisp, tailored, geometric design that also will feature a pasta room for guests to marvel at the pasta-making process. The restaurant is designed with intimate bistro-style nooks and a dramatic circular main room.
Princess Live!
Combining the design elements of Princess Live! and Explorer’s Lounge, guests on Sun Princess will enjoy participatory, signature cruise activities including game shows, trivia and the daily Wake Show. Luxurious textures and materials decorate a mixture of comfortable loose and fixed lounge seating. Here, passengers can enjoy a full beverage service, an inviting semi-open façade, and large LED screen on stage. Guests can easily move from Princess Live! to enjoy a meal or cocktail with the close proximity to restaurants and cocktail lounges, bridging a seamless integration of entertainment and bar concepts.
Retail on board Sun Princess
With five retail locations, plus an art gallery, The Shops of Princess get a makeover on Sun Princess. Guests can expect the same great service, just more of it, with new interactive experiences and opportunities to meet their retail needs. Modern, elegant boutiques connect fluidly, allowing guests to easily flow from space to space. Sun Princess’ retail spaces include a Princess logo merchandise store, a lifestyle boutique, a new bazaar featuring destination-specific selections, plus jewelry, watches, cosmetics fragrances and a modern art gallery.
Additional spaces debuting new designs, signage and décor will include Crooner’s, Wheelhouse Bar, International Café, Good Spirits and Gelateria.
Destination-inspired designs
Currently under construction at the Fincantieri shipyard in Italy, Sun Princess is the largest Princess ship, accommodating 4,300 guests. She embraces Italian heritage by featuring a newly designed, brand-iconic Piazza and The Dome, a cutting-edge entertainment space inspired by the terraces of Santorini. While introducing a completely new class of ships for the cruise line, Sun Princess also remains true to the smooth clean lines and design aesthetics of the cruise line’s famous Seawitch icon. These were popularised in the original “Love Boat” TV series. As part of Carnival Corporation’s green cruising focus, Sun Princess will be the first Princess ship and one of 11 new vessels in the corporate fleet powered by Liquified Natural Gas (LNG).
Sun Princess will also feature the exclusive Princess Medallion experience that extends Princess’ leading position in delivering exceptional and custom experiences at unmatched scale. This allows Princess to offer guests a personalized service only previously found on the industry’s smallest ships.
Want more of this?
Check out the Cruise Ship Interiors (CSI) Design Expo Americas blog for more design insights and the latest industry updates. CSI Design Expo Americas is the world’s only exhibition and conference exclusively dedicated to connecting the buyers and suppliers of the cruise design industry. The next event will be taking place on 3 – 4 June 2025 alongside Hotel & Resort Design South and Cruise Xperience Innovation Summit at the Miami Beach Convention Center.