The Sun Princess cruise ship is the largest vessel Princess Cruises has ever built and the first of its Sphere class. She carries about 4,300 guests, measures 177,882 gross tons and is known for two big design features: a glass-walled, three-deck Piazza wrapped in a sphere, and a glass-domed pool and show venue called The Dome. For 2026-27 she splits her time between the Mediterranean and 7-night Caribbean cruises from Fort Lauderdale.
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This guide explains what is on board, how the cabins and suites are set up, where you can eat, where the ship sails over the next year, and what passengers tend to praise and criticise, so you can decide whether Sun Princess suits your style of cruising.
Sun Princess Cruise Ship at a Glance
Sun Princess was built by Fincantieri in Monfalcone, Italy, and began sailing in February 2024 after a short delivery delay pushed her maiden voyage back by a few weeks. She was the first Princess ship powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG). After her first Mediterranean season she crossed to Florida in October 2024, with a refurbishment along the way that moved some restaurants and removed several attractions from the Park19 family area.
| Spec | Sun Princess |
|---|---|
| Class | Sphere (first of class) |
| Entered service | February 2024 |
| Gross tonnage | 177,882 |
| Guests (double occupancy) | About 4,300 |
| Crew | About 1,600 |
| Length | 1,133 ft (345 m) |
| Decks | 21 |
| Staterooms | 2,157, including 80 suites and 100 connecting rooms |
| Fuel | LNG |
For context, she is roughly 30,000 tons larger than the Royal-class ships such as Enchanted Princess and Sky Princess, yet carries a broadly similar number of guests per square foot, so public areas are bigger rather than simply more crowded.
Signature Spaces: The Dome, the Piazza and the Sphere
The Dome
The Dome sits high on the ship at the aft end. It is a glass-covered pool deck by day and becomes an intimate show venue of about 250 seats at night, with acrobatic performances created with Cirque Éloize. Because it is enclosed, it is a useful space on cooler Mediterranean days or when the Caribbean sun is fierce.
The Piazza
The Piazza is the ship’s central hub, spread over three decks inside the glass sphere that gives the class its name. Floor-to-ceiling windows give sea views in several directions, something earlier Princess atriums lacked. Expect live music, game shows and a busy bar scene, especially in the evenings.
Entertainment beyond the shows
- Princess Arena – a 990-seat theater that can be set up in the round, as a 270-degree “keyhole” or as a traditional stage, home to the main production shows.
- Spellbound by Magic Castle – an extra-charge magic and mixology experience developed with the Magic Castle, the famous Hollywood magicians’ club.
- Princess Live! – a 200-seat studio-style venue for comedy, talks and game shows.
- Wake View Terrace – an aft outdoor deck with an infinity-style pool looking out over the ship’s wake, often quieter than the main pools.
- Park19 – the top-deck activity area. Note that some features shown in early marketing were removed during the 2024 refit.
Sun Princess Dining: Included and Specialty Restaurants
Princess advertises around 30 places to eat and drink on Sun Princess, more than on any previous ship in the fleet. The main restaurants are included in your fare, while specialty venues carry a cover charge or fixed price unless your package includes them.
Included dining
- Main dining rooms – a three-level complex stacked at the aft. Since the 2024 refit, the levels cover traditional fixed-time dining, anytime dining and a faster, more casual American comfort-food menu. Venue names have changed since launch, so check your booking for current details.
- The Eatery – the buffet, laid out as a marketplace of food stations rather than one long line.
- Lido and Promenade venues – grill, pizza slices, tacos, salads and ice cream for quick bites.
- International Café – pastries, sandwiches and coffee in the Piazza.
Specialty dining
| Venue | Style |
|---|---|
| Crown Grill | Steak and seafood |
| Sabatini’s | Italian trattoria |
| The Catch by Rudi | Seafood |
| The Butcher’s Table by Dario | Steakhouse |
| Makoto Ocean | Sushi, overlooking the Piazza |
| Umai Teppanyaki and Umai Hot Pot | Japanese grill and hot pot |
| Love by Britto | Art-filled tasting menu |
| Alfredo’s Pizzeria | Neapolitan-style pizza |
| O’Malley’s Irish Pub | Pub food and drinks |
Prices change, so confirm current cover charges before you sail. Some specialty meals are included in the Princess Plus and Princess Premier packages, which can be worth pricing if you plan to dine out more than once or twice.
Sun Princess Cabins and Suites
Most of the 2,157 staterooms have balconies, and the ship introduced several new cabin types. Sizes below are approximate figures published by Princess.
| Cabin type | Approx. size | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Interior | 136-145 sq ft | Best value; no window |
| Premium Oceanview | About 212 sq ft | Window, no balcony |
| Deluxe and Premium Deluxe Balcony | 179-279 sq ft | The most common category |
| Cove Balcony | 179-279 sq ft | Balcony tucked lower on the hull, closer to the sea |
| Mini-Suite | About 303 sq ft | Larger seating area |
| Cabana Mini-Suite | About 329 sq ft | Private cabana on the balcony |
| Signature Suite | About 304 sq ft | Entry-level suite with suite lounge access |
| Vista and Grand Suites | About 446-636 sq ft | Priority services and more space |
| Sky Suite | About 1,262 sq ft | Two bedrooms, for up to five guests |
Sanctuary Collection and Reserve Collection
At launch, selected staterooms belonged to a Reserve Collection with its own dedicated restaurant. From October 2024 Princess introduced the Sanctuary Collection on Sun Princess, which groups the Signature Collection suites with selected mini-suites and Premium Deluxe Balconies. Guests in these rooms get access to The Sanctuary adult retreat, a private restaurant and lounge, plus the Princess Premier package. If you value quiet sun loungers and an exclusive dining room, this tier is the closest thing to a ship-within-a-ship on Princess.
Choosing a cabin
- Cabins directly below the Lido, the Dome or the Piazza can pick up noise from late-evening events.
- Cove Balconies sit lower and can get sea spray in rough weather, but many cruisers enjoy being close to the water.
- Families should look at the 100 connecting rooms, which were added to make Sun Princess more family-friendly than older Princess ships.
If you are weighing Sun Princess against an older ship, our guides to Sky Princess cabins to avoid and the best and worst Enchanted Princess cabins show how the Royal-class layouts compare.
Sun Princess Itinerary 2026-27: Where She Sails
Sun Princess spent 2026 in the Mediterranean, her third season there, with 7-, 14- and 21-night voyages from Civitavecchia (Rome), Piraeus (Athens) and Barcelona. Here is the outlook for the coming year, based on Princess’s published deployment. Schedules can change, so always check the current sailing list on the official Princess Cruises website.
- Late 2026 to spring 2027: Caribbean from Fort Lauderdale. Current listings show 7-night Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises from Port Everglades from around late November 2026 through March 2027. A typical Eastern route calls at the Bahamas, San Juan and Amber Cove in the Dominican Republic.
- 2027: Back to the Mediterranean. Princess has announced a 2027 Mediterranean program for Sun Princess with voyages of 7 to 42 days from Athens, Barcelona, Civitavecchia, Istanbul and Trieste (for Venice), covering Greece, Turkey, Italy and Croatia.
One useful tip: the repositioning crossings between Europe and Florida usually offer some of the lowest per-night fares on the ship, along with plenty of sea days to enjoy the Dome and the spa.
Star Princess: Sun Princess’s Sister Ship
Star Princess, the second Sphere-class ship, began her maiden voyage from Barcelona on October 4, 2025. She is almost identical in size, with about 177,800 gross tons and 4,300 guests, but Princess used lessons from Sun Princess to make tweaks: a larger O’Malley’s pub and Love by Britto, two new Arena productions, a newly themed Spellbound experience and an expanded top-deck sports area. Star Princess sailed the Caribbean in winter 2025-26 and moved to Alaska from Seattle for summer 2026. If you like the Sphere design but prefer Alaska or different dates, she is the obvious alternative.
Sun Princess Reviews: What Passengers Commonly Praise and Criticise
Looking across published reviews and cruise forums, a fairly consistent picture emerges. These are general trends rather than any single person’s experience.
Commonly praised
- Bright, airy design with far more sea views than older Princess ships.
- Modern balcony cabins with good storage, plenty of USB ports and comfortable beds.
- A much wider choice of restaurants and bars, plus better facilities for families.
- The Dome as an all-weather pool and evening venue.
Commonly criticised
- The Piazza is louder and busier than traditional Princess atriums, which some longtime fans dislike, and noise can carry into nearby venues.
- The buffet and some lifts can feel crowded at peak times on full sailings.
- Some suite areas are spread around the ship rather than grouped together.
- Several features were missing or changed in the ship’s first months, which colored early reviews.
Overall, Sun Princess suits cruisers who want a big, modern ship with lots of choice. If you prefer a calmer, more traditional atmosphere, an older Princess ship or another line may be a better match. Our Holland America vs Princess comparison can help if you are torn between the two.
Sun Princess was one of several ships that debuted in 2024, and our roundup shows where each one sails today.
Sun Princess has since been joined by her twin Star Princess; see how both compare with the rest of the fleet in our guide to the newest Princess cruise ships.
Thinking about the newer sister ship instead? Our Sun Princess vs Star Princess comparison sets out what changed on the second Sphere-class ship.
FAQs
Is Sun Princess a good cruise ship?
For most passengers, yes. It is Princess’s newest-generation design, with modern cabins, lots of dining and strong family facilities. The most common complaints are crowding at peak times and a noisier Piazza.
Is Sun Princess a luxury ship?
No. Princess is a premium, mainstream line rather than a luxury brand. The Sanctuary Collection suites offer a more exclusive experience with a private restaurant and lounge, but the ship as a whole is not all-inclusive luxury.
Where is the Sun Princess cruise ship now?
As of late October 2026 she is finishing her Mediterranean season ahead of 7-night Caribbean cruises from Fort Lauderdale, which run from around late November 2026 to March 2027.
How big is the Sun Princess cruise ship?
She measures 177,882 gross tons and 1,133 feet long, with 21 decks, 2,157 staterooms and space for about 4,300 guests, making her the largest Princess ship alongside her sister, Star Princess.
What happened with Sun Princess’s debut?
Her delivery was delayed by mutual agreement with the shipyard, pushing her maiden voyage from early to late February 2024. She later had a refurbishment before her US debut that changed some restaurants and Park19 features.
