Diplomacy

Sun Princess, the largest and newest ship in Princess Cruises’ fleet, recently arrived in Florida and is now offering seven-night cruises to the Caribbean.

When the cruise ship arrived at Port Everglades, I joined the ship for a three-day preview cruise for media and travel advisors. This was my second time taking a cruise on the ship although the cruise line has made several changes since my cruise in March.

If you’re looking into which ship you should book your next cruise on, here are five reasons why you should take it on Sun Princess.

Spellbound

Spellbound by Magic Castle is my favorite spot on any cruise ship I’ve ever sailed on. If you’re a fan of magic and illusions like I am, then it’s a must do.

The cost is $149 per person and it includes a special dinner and all drinks in the Spellbound Bar. Not only is there an intimate theater where you will watch a magic show, but a magician will also blow your mind with tricks at the bar.

You can stay as long as you’d like in the lounge and all drinks are included in the $149 price.

This is the first time that Magic Castle has partnered with anyone. It’s a unique experience that is only on Sun Princess.

If you’re a magic enthusiast, then Spellbound is a must do.

Food Options

Cruise lines have really upped their game the past few years when it comes to food and Princess did just that with Sun Princess.

Besides the standard buffet (Eatery) and main dining room, Princess brought in some of the best celebrity chefs that you’ll find. They have a 13-time World Pizza Champion, the world’s most famous butcher, and of course, Rudi Sodamin.

Princess Cruises’ newest restaurant, Love by Britto, it’s an incredible seven course meal with the best view on the ship. It was the best meal I had on the ship and it’s perfect for couples who are celebrating a special occasion (honeymoon, anniversary etc.).

Princess staples like Crown Grill and Sabatini’s are also on Sun Princess.

Sanctuary Collection

When Sun Princess arrived in Ft. Lauderdale, the era of Princess Cruises’ Sanctuary Collection began.

The Sanctuary Collection is 215 cabins on the ship that range from suites to balcony staterooms.

By booking one of these rooms, you receive access to parts of the ship that are reserved just for you. While the cruise line calls it a “Ship within a ship” experience, it’s really not because the exclusive areas are spread out around the ship and not in one private area like other cruise lines.

This includes a large, private outdoor area in the aft of the ship with a pool, the ultimate spot for relaxation.

Guests who book a cabin in the Sanctuary Collection also have their own restaurant, lounge with aft views and the following perks:

• Premier Beverage Package
• Unlimited WiFi for four devices
• Daily gratuities
• Two nights of specialty dining
• Unlimited prix fixe meals at any casual dining location
• Free OceanNow delivery service
• Complimentary room service
• Reserved seating in the theater
• Unlimited digital photos

I have friends who are sailing in a Sanctuary Collection cabin in a few weeks and I’ll looking forward to hearing how much they enjoyed all the special perks they will receive.

The Dome

The with addition of the Dome, there’s show-style entertainment in three different parts of the ship (also the Piazza and Princess Arena).

The Dome is also a great place to enjoy a sea day or on any day that it rains.

While similar to solariums on other cruise lines as it has a pool (under the stage), the space is more versatile for entertainment.

Final Thoughts on Sun Princess

For the fifth thing, I am going to talk about a few things on the ship that stood out to me.

The pizza at Alfredo’s is better than ever. Although the free pizza at Slice, which can be found by the main pool, was pretty good too.

Visit Wirat at the Seaview Bar for the best drinks on the ship.

The Premium Deluxe Balcony cabins have one of the best terraces I’ve had on a cruise. As you can see below, it was huge with half of it being private and the other half being open to other balconies. It was bigger than some cruise cabins I’ve stayed in.

Princess Cruises offers the only authentic Italian Gelato at sea and you can pick some up across from Princess Live.

The casino has high ceilings which allows for better ventilation from those who smoke.

The WiFi was pretty solid and my Medallion worked flawlessly around the ship.

Several crew members remembered not only me, but also my name from my cruise back in March. They were fantastic all around the ship.

Cruises on Sun Princess

Sun Princess is sailing seven-night cruises from Port Everglades to the Eastern and Western Caribbean through March 2025. The ship will then reposition to Europe for summer sailings in the Mediterranean.

For the safety of their guests and crew, Holland America Line has changed their 2026 World Voyage to bypass the Red Sea and add further exploration of Asia and Central America.

Holland America Line also added one day to the 132-day cruise and the voyage will now visit ports in eight more countries than originally scheduled.

The last 54 days of the cruise have changed and the updated itinerary now includes the following:

• Departs January 4, 2026 from Port Everglades
• 133-days long
• 51 unique port visits
• 23 countries and territories
• Five continents
• Ends in Port Everglades on May 17, 2026

The cruise ship will head south along the east coast of South America, cross the equator and sail down to Antarctica. Volendam then make its way to Easter Island before traversing the islands of the South Pacific en route to Australia.

After exploring the Great Barrier Reef and Singapore, the ship will sail to Vietnam, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Japan.

The vessel will then cross the Pacific and sail south from Alaska to Seattle and San Diego prior to calling at ports in Central America, a Panama Canal transit, and a call in Cartagena, Colombia, before returning to Fort Lauderdale.

Guests on the cruise will enjoy 11 overnight and late-night calls in the following ports:

• Bahia d’ Opunoha, French Polynesia
• Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
• Papeete, Tahiti
• Sydney, Australia
• Bali, Indonesia
• Singapore
• Hong Kong, China
• Keelung (Taipei), Taiwan
• Nagasaki, Japan
• Tokyo, Japan
• Fuerte Amador (Panama City), Panama

Beth Bodensteiner, chief commercial officer for Holland America Line, gave the following statement about this schedule change:

“We know immersive experiences in exciting destinations are always a main draw for those choosing a world cruise. The dozen ports we’ve added in Asia will bring that part of the world to life for our guests.

“From exploring the emerald waters of Halong Bay or snorkeling in Nha Trang to overnight stays in Hong Kong, Nagasaki and Tokyo, the deep exploration of the region provides guests the opportunity to take in the culture and natural beauty of Asia as part of their world cruise.”

Until June 16, 2025, guests who book the 133-day Grand World Voyage receive up to $2,000 USD in onboard credit per guest, a 3% pay-in-full discount, a free Wi-Fi Surf package and more.

Additional perks for all guests who book early include a $500 USD air credit per person if booked through Flight Ease and complimentary roundtrip airport transfers to and from the Fort Lauderdale airport.

Guests who previously booked this cruise will receive communication from the cruise line or their travel agent about these changes.

For the second time in a week, a cruise line has announced new itineraries in Alaska for the 2026 season.

Virgin Voyages, an adults only cruise line, will begin sailing to Alaska in May of 2026 on Brilliant Lady. The sailings will range from seven- to 12-days in length and open for bookings to the general public on November 13, 2024.

Brilliant Lady’s cruises to Alaska will depart from both Seattle and Vancouver with the first cruise scheduled for May 21, 2026.

Virgin’s maiden cruise to Alaska will depart from Seattle and visit Ketchikan, Sitka, Tracy Arm Fjord and Prince Rupert B.C.

When the cruise line announced earlier this year that they were planning on sailing to Alaska, their Front(ier) passes completely sold out. Those who bought a Front(ier) pass will get first access to these new itineraries before they open to the public next month.

Virgin Voyages’ CEO Nirmal Saverimuttu gave the following statement about these new sailings,

“We have incredibly high repeat rates, so our Sailors are always challenging us to seek new horizons; they always want to know ‘where else can we sail with Virgin?’ This brand is charting new paths, and the sold-out response to our Front(ier) of the Line passes earlier this year showed us just how sought after our Alaskan itineraries are.

“We continue to reach for the high seas with our itineraries, with Brilliant Lady being no exception. Soon our Sailors can visit one of the world’s most incredible destinations on the No. 1 cruise line, all while enjoying new and exciting artists, chefs and musicians that bring the Virgin vibe.”

After the 2026 Alaska cruise season is over, Brilliant Lady will sail from L.A., New York and Seattle offering a range of cruises that include a 16-day trip through the Panama Canal.

Brilliant Lady will be the fourth cruise ship to enter Virgin’s fleet when the vessel debuts in September 2025.

It will be a sister ship to Scarlet Lady, Valiant Lady and Resilient Lady.

When Star Princess debuts in October 2025, it will have four improvements from the first Sphere class ship to make several spaces even better.

Star Princess will be the second Sphere class ship from Princess Cruises. The first, Sun Princess, debuted earlier this year and it’s the largest ship in the cruise line’s fleet.

The enhancements to Star Princess include larger dining and drink venues as well as a non-smoking casino.

The top deck (Where Park19 originally was on Sun Princess) on Star Princess will have a sports court and track. The sports court will be used for basketball and pickleball and there will also be an area with a splash pad and shaded seating.

Star Princess will have an expanded non-smoking casino area with 68 additional slot machines.

Love by Britto, one of the most premium dining restaurants at sea with a seven-course menu, will be expanded to have seating for 20 more guests.

The Irish Pub, O’Malley’s, will also be larger with 32 more seats.

Star Princess will have a total of 2,157 cabins. They include:

• Over 1,000 balcony staterooms
• 80 suites
• 123 mini-suites
• 100 connecting staterooms

John Padgett, President of Princess Cruises, gave the following statement:

“After the overwhelming response to Sun Princess, we are excited to debut her sister ship, Star Princess, with added enhancements to elevate the guest experience. From expanded non-smoking casino areas to new spaces for relaxation and recreation, Star Princess will deliver an unforgettable vacation for all when she launches in fall 2025.”

Star Princess will sail its maiden voyage on October 4, 2025, an 11-night cruise in the Mediterranean. The ship’s third voyage will be a Transatlantic sailing so Star Princess can reposition to Port Everglades.

Once in Port Everglades, the ship will sail week-long cruises to the Caribbean for the winter season.

In April 2026, the ship will head through the Panama Canal and sail to Seattle. Once in Seattle, Star Princess will offer seven-night cruises to Alaska.

Norwegian Cruise Line has announced new experiences that will debut on their next two new cruise ships, Norwegian Aqua and Norwegian Luna.

The two ships are the first Prima-plus class vessels from NCL. Norwegian Aqua is scheduled to debut in April 2025 with Norwegian Luna coming out in 2026.

The ship’s will have Norwegian’s first Game Zone which will be an evolution of Galaxy Pavilion and arcade venues.

The Game Zone will have a wide range of games and activities that include virtual reality experiences such as Space Racing and Beat Hero, plus a mix of retro arcade games like Ms. Pac-Man; Donkey Kong; and Down the Clown.

Tee Time will return to the Prima Plus class ships but will be two and a half times bigger.

A dedicated pickleball court will be separate from The Stadium. This feature is being added after guests asked for more time to play this popular sport.

The new Bull’s Eye Bar (which can be seen below), will have an innovative take on darts. This complimentary experience will have six different games that will have video-game-style graphics and automated scoring that are projected onto a big-screen TV.

The Mandara Spa will have a new Clay Sauna that revitalizes the skin through detoxifying cleansing and gentle exfoliation.

The thalassotherapy pool will also feature all-new thalassotherapy loungers which promote relaxation, soothe muscle tension, and improve circulation.

IV Drip Therapy will also be available to boost hydration. Twice as many heated loungers will be added to the Mandara Spa.

David J. Herrera, President of Norwegian Cruise Line, gave the following statement:

“We provide our guests with more to do with a variety of fun, exciting and elevated experiences for every type of traveler.

“The two sister ships will introduce a brand-new venue to the fleet, the Aqua and Luna Game Zone, along with thoughtfully redesigned spaces and bringing back many more of our best-in-class offerings, beloved by our guests and inspired by their feedback.

“We look forward to our guests enjoying more of what they love on board and creating unforgettable memories aboard Norwegian Aqua and Norwegian Luna.”

There is a somber mood on a Taylor Swift-themed cruise this morning, after a 66-year-old woman went overboard and is still missing.

The 4-day cruise on Royal Caribbean’s Allure of the Seas was 17 miles off the coast of Nassau when the woman fell from the 6,780-passenger ship.

The U.S. Coast Guard is working with local Bahamian authorities to look for the cruise passenger who went overboard Tuesday night around 9:40pm.

It is not clear if the woman was part of the “Swifties” group, and it should be noted that Taylor Swift herself is not on board the vessel.

A Royal Caribbean spokesperson told news outlets that they are supporting the family during this difficult time.

“Our crew immediately launched a search and rescue effort and is working with local authorities. We are also providing support and assistance to the guest’s family during this difficult time. To respect the privacy of our guest’s family, we have no additional details to share,” the spokesperson said.

The search for the woman continues today as an HC-144 airplane and MH-65 Dolphin helicopter are part of the search and rescue efforts.

Utopia of the Seas, another Oasis-class ship with Royal Caribbean, also turned around from it’s route to help in the search for the missing passenger.

The 4-day cruise on Allure of the Seas which began on Monday is scheduled to return to PortMiami on Friday.

While it’s being labeled a Taylor-Swift themed cruise, the whole event, organized by Travefy, only has a partial number of its passengers participating.

According to reports, about 400 Taylor Swift fans are on the cruise ship. Activities on the ship included friendship bracelet exchanges, Taylor Swift trivia, dance parties, and Swiftie Karaoke.

What happens when someone goes overboard on a cruise ship?

While it’s extremely rare for a cruise passenger to go overboard on accident, cruise ships have procedures in place for any passenger that falls into the sea.

The “Man Overboard” call will instantly put the crew into search and rescue mode.  “Oscar Oscar Oscar” or “Code Oscar” will be heard over public loudspeakers on a cruise ship during these events.

As soon as the crew discover that someone has gone overboard, the captain will immediately try to turn the ship around and pinpoint the exact spot the person fell in.

The bridge will then contact the coast guard, and rescue boats will be deployed to search for the passenger.

The captain will also contact other vessels in the area to help with a search operation, and they are obligated to do so.

Although there are 20 incidents each year, most of these events can be traced back to passengers who fail to follow safety guidelines or willfully jumped off the ship.

It is unclear what circumstances surrounded this recent incident.  Even in the event of a person going overboard from a cruise ship, there is a chance of survival, and much of it depends on how quickly the crew is able to respond.

Cruise Fever will update this story as more information and updates become available.