Princess reveals new dining, shopping experiences aboard upcoming Sun Princess

Princess Cruises has unveiled new dining experiences aboard Sun Princess ahead of her maiden voyage later this week, including Afternoon Tea with Royal Chef and wine tasting, along with new shopping experiences in its largest retail space at sea.

Sun Princess is the largest cruise ship ever built for the cruise line, and is its first LNG powered vessel, but unlike other LNG-powered ships in the Carnival Corporation fleet, Sun Princess has been built to a design entirely unique to Princess Cruises.

The ship features 29 restaurants, bars and lounges, including eight new restaurant concepts that have never featured aboard any other Princess cruise ship.

“With its unrivaled blend of creativity, quality, choice, and expertise, Sun Princess will set a new standard for food and beverage excellence,” said John Padgett, President of Princess Cruises. “Food and drink excellence is synonymous with experience excellence aboard Princess ships.”

Dining experiences aboard Sun Princess

Spellbound by Magic Castle will be the latest in the new category of “Extraordinary Experiences,” following the success of 360: An Extraordinary Experience, the culinary journey that debuted last year aboard Discovery Princess and Enchanted Princess.

Blending the world of magic with the art of culinary and mixology, a Spellbound by Magic Castle evening begins in an exclusive area of the Horizons Dining Room for a shared dinner before moving to Spellbound Bar, where Magic Castle-sponsored magicians perform feats of illusion in themed rooms while guests sip their cocktails. 

At Kai Sushi by Makoto Okuwa, Edomae-style sushi master chef Makoto Okuwa will craft dishes paying tribute to Japanese traditions. 

There will also be a Royal Afternoon Tea in the Good Spirits at Sea Lounge, hosted by Chef Darren McGrady, personal chef to Queen Elizabeth II, Princess Diana, and Princes William and Harry. 

French winemaker Gérard Bertrand, renowned for his Cote des Rosés wines, will host a special wine tasting for wine enthusiasts at the Good Spirits at Sea Lounge.

And in the Horizons Dining Room, menus created in collaboration with the Culinary Institute of America (CIA) will be offered during the ship’s inaugural Mediterranean season.

Under Head of Culinary Arts and Master Chef Rudi Sodamin’s supervision, a team of CIA master chefs will be onboard the Sun Princess training the brigade of 252 galley team members to serve up dinner menu items.

Shopping aboard Sun Princess

Within the more than 5,800 square feet of retail space spanning two decks, Sun Princess will feature a selection of over 200 brands, ranging from jewelry and fashion to beauty and wellness. 

The first-at-sea brands to debut onboard Sun Princess include Chanel No. 1, Beyond Yoga and Varley, sustainable fashion from Neu Nomad and Pinko handbags. 

Waves, the first Princess-branded merchandise shop, will also debut onboard, offering a limited Princess Inaugural collection that celebrates the new ship and new lines featuring the Princess Seawitch.

“This expansive retail environment, created in partnership with Harding+, marks a new level of excellence for Princess retail,” said Sabine Muhlberger, Vice President of Onboard Revenue Experience at Princess Cruises. 

“Our guests are going to love this new and unique shopping experience that will enhance the already spectacular cruise experience aboard Sun Princess,” she added.

Deck 8 features The Premium Watch Lounge, where guests can find the first-at-sea Breitling Lounge concept, as well as The Fine Timepieces Boutique, which features a selection of signature timepieces from Longines, Rado, Tissot, Hamilton, in addition to pre-owned Rolex watches.

Within The Beauty & Wellness Boutique on Deck 8 travelers will find premium cosmetic and skincare brands, such as Chanel, Dior, Lancôme, Estee Lauder and Clinique, as well as a range of sustainable and organic skincare brands including Comfort Zone, Neom Organics, This Works, Rituals and REN Skincare.

The cruise line has also partnered with Diamonds International for a selection of the finest jewelry to be available on the Sun Princess. Guests can can explore Diamonds International’s collections, and custom-create jewelry using rare diamonds, gemstones, and exclusive designer brands such as Crown of Light Diamonds, Safi Kilima Tanzanite and DeBeers Forevermark Diamonds.