Princess Cruises has been touting their newly designed staterooms for Sun Princess, but aside from renderings, no one has seen what these cabins will actually look like until now. We have just returned from a shipyard visit where the cruise line surprised us with a tour of 6 complete staterooms, and of course, we couldn’t wait to share this sneak peek of the Sun Princess staterooms with you!
A Sneak Peek of the Brand-New Staterooms on Sun Princess
One area where we have felt that Princes Cruises fell short compared to other mainstream cruise lines was its cabin design and layout. If you are a Princess cruiser, you know all too well about some of the cabin flaws. From the dreaded shower curtain in the bathroom to the lack of sofa in a standard balcony cabin, Princess Cruises has finally listened to customer feedback.
Of course, we were thrilled to hear the cruise line was overhauling the cabins on its newest cruise ship for 2024. But, what would they actually look like and how would they function remained a question. After touring actual mockups of 6 different cabin categories during a shipyard visit to Sun Princess just last week, we can say firsthand that these cabins are a vast upgrade to the accommodations on other ships in the Princess fleet.
Sun Princess features 2,157 total staterooms, including 80 suites. There are 100 connecting staterooms and 51 accessible staterooms. Sun Princess also features the most balconies on any Princess ship.
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Sun Princess Staterooms
During our visit to the Fincantieri shipyard, we were able to explore an interior, a premium oceanview, a deluxe balcony, a cabana mini-suite, a mini-suite, and a suite.
As soon as we entered the first stateroom, we were impressed with the overall design aesthetic. The rooms felt brighter and more inviting with light beechwood tones and modern finishes. The cabins were more elegant and upscale like those found on Celebrity’s Edge-class or NCL’s Prima-class.
It’s apparent that Princess Cruises is moving to a more contemporary, streamlined look with the cabin designs, revamping the closet and the desk area as well as the bathroom. The Sun Princess cabins feel more open and spacious.
One of the changes that cruisers will note is that the large walk-in closet at the entrance of the stateroom has been eliminated. Instead, Sun Princess staterooms now offer a more traditional cruise ship closet design inset into one of the stateroom’s walls.
While the walk-in closet was nice, this reconfiguration allows for a completely new design of the stateroom bathrooms. They are larger and certainly more upscale– a welcomed change.
Presumably like most cruisers, we appreciate the more spacious cruise ship bathroom. The Sun Princess bathrooms feature an enlarged shower (though no bathtub) and a layout that makes it easier to get ready in the morning. These oversized showers are standard in every cabin and feature a glass door and a shave bar. Of course, suites feature added bathroom space and some come with an additional tub.
Another enhancement is the addition of Drybar hairdryers, which are accessible at the desk of every cabin. Not to mention, there are several outlets in the room, with power, USB, and USB-C outlets near the bed for charging devices at night.
With Princess Cruises looking to attract multi-generational travelers, it is great to see all these upgrades and enhancements.
Deluxe Balcony Cabins
Perhaps one of the stateroom categories to get the biggest overhaul were the entry-level balcony cabins.
Unlike other Princess Cruises ships, all balcony staterooms on Sun Princess are considered deluxe staterooms. This means these cabins have a full length sofa and small table, more in line with competitor cruise lines. They also feature a neutral color palette with green and blue accents reminiscent of the sea.
Along with the other design and décor changes already mentioned above (like the closet and bathroom), these approximately 235 Deluxe Balcony Cabins come with other amenities, like upgraded balcony furniture, plenty of storage, and several outlets throughout the room.
In comparison, entry-level balconies on the line’s current newest ship, Discovery Princess, measure in at 214-222 square feet. Deluxe balconies on Discovery Princess are 233 to 279 sq. ft., yet given the layout still feel smaller.
Guests looking to get closer to the ocean can also book Cove Balcony staterooms, which are located on Deck 6 and feature a “sheltered” balcony. Further, a Premium Deluxe Balcony features a larger balcony.
Cabana Mini-Suites
A brand new category of staterooms on Sun Princess is the Cabana staterooms. These exclusive mini-suites feature a balcony along with a private cabana. This extra-large outdoor lounge space features unique outdoor furniture and is in addition to the indoor seating area.
These staterooms are approximately 329 square feet. The cabana features a couch and a television, making it a great place to relax and still enjoy the fresh sea air. Still, cruisers have additional seating options on the balcony.
Inside, the cabins feature all of the amenities of a balcony, with a similarly sized bathroom, closet, sofa, and desk area.
These Cabana Mini-Suites can be booked on their own or as part of the Reserve Collection. As part of the Reserve Collection, you will receive additional upgrades, including access to the Reserve Collection Restaurant and prime stateroom location. Guests staying in these cabins also have access to a reserved Cabana Sun Deck on Deck 9.
With only 78 of these accommodations on Deck 9 adjacent to the exclusive Cabana Deck, they are bound to be quite popular.
Mini-Suites
On Sun Princess, the mini-suites have been completely redesigned as well. The cruise line has shifted the closet and storage areas to the middle of the stateroom across from the desk. Thus, it provides more separation between the living space and the sleeping area.
With a sofa bed and two large, flat screen televisions, these 303+ square foot staterooms offer distinct areas that make them easy to share with family.
With all of the same features in a deluxe balcony cabin, mini-suites come with some additional perks like luxury mattress toppers and pillows and premium bathroom amenities. Though, cruisers should note that most mini-suites no longer have bathtubs.
Along with a welcome aboard glass of champagne, some mini-suites can also be booked as part of the Reserve Collection. These staterooms have the best locations and come with access to the exclusive Reserve Collection Restaurant on Deck 7.
Suites on Sun Princess
For cruisers really looking to upgrade, there are a number of suites available on Sun Princess. Suites come with access to the Signature Collection. Exclusively on Sun Princess, the Signature Collection includes several reserved areas of the ship just for suite guests.
Cruisers have access to an exclusive Signature Restaurant on Deck 7 which is different than the Reserve Collection Restaurant. There is also a private lounge on decks 15 and 16 aft of the ship. Further, on deck 18 aft, there is the Signature Sun Deck, an exclusive area of the Sanctuary reserved just for these elite guests. While it is not as cohesive as the Haven on Norwegian Cruise Line or MSC’s Yacht Club, the Signature Collection is still a welcomed addition to the Princess fleet.
With various suites to choose from, we toured a Penthouse Suite during our shipyard visit. This stateroom features a completely separate living area and master bedroom. The bathroom includes a separate shower and soaking tub with a nearby sink, and a separate toilet and vanity area. This cabin also features a double balcony with access from both the bedroom and the sitting area with premium balcony furniture.
With all this space and the well-designed layout, it is really easy to relax and unwind in this approximately 446 square foot stateroom.
The various suite options on Sun Princess range in size from 304 to 1507 square feet. The Sky Suite is the largest and most premium accommodation on the ship.
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Additional Accommodations on Sun Princess
As part of this sneak peek of the Sun Princess cabins, we also toured a Premium Oceanview stateroom and Interior stateroom. For these more modest accommodations, we were impressed with the layouts.
With the interior stateroom averaging 140 square feet, and oceanview cabins measuring about 212 square feet, both of these cabins make great use of their space. These cabins also still feature the same color palette and design aesthetics.
Plus, these more affordable cabins come with most of the perks found in the other categories, like full-length closets, power outlets near the bed, and a bathroom that features the same glass-doored standup shower.
One key feature of all the outward facing cabins is that none of them have obstructed views. The cruise line has strategically tucked the lifeboats under the Deck 9 promenade. Thus, all oceanview, balcony, and above stateroom categories offer uninhibited ocean views.
We also really like the newly added seating nook at the window in these premium oceanview cabins. The size too is a noticeable upgrade from the 172 square foot counterparts on Discovery Princess.
While we only had a short time touring the cabins and the rest of Sun Princess, this sneak peek has us very excited for what this new ship has to offer for the cruise line.
Could this be our new favorite Princess Cruises ship? Well, we plan to sail on the vessel in early 2024. So, stay tuned to find out!
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