Sun Princess cruise ship: who it suits and which cabin to book

Sun Princess at a glance

Line

Princess Cruises

Class

Sphere

Entered service

2024

Gross tonnage

177,882

Guests

About 4,300 (double occupancy)

Crew

About 1,600

Decks

21

Part of the Princess Cruises fleet. Sister ships: Star Princess. Home ports: Fort Lauderdale, Barcelona, Civitavecchia (Rome), Piraeus (Athens).

Sun Princess was built by Fincantieri at Monfalcone, Italy, and sailed its maiden voyage in February 2024 in the Mediterranean. It was the first Princess ship to run on liquefied natural gas and the first of a new design, with a modern exterior and a glass-sphere atrium. Its sister Star Princess followed in October 2025. The two are the largest ships in the Princess Cruises fleet.

Who it suits

Couples and retirees on a first Mediterranean cruise. Sun Princess sails 7-day Mediterranean cruises that can be combined into 14- or 21-day trips, and a big ship makes the sea days between ports easy to fill.

Caribbean cruisers from the East Coast who want a newer ship than most Fort Lauderdale options, on a quieter line than Royal Caribbean or Carnival.

Multi-generation groups where the adults set the pace. There are kids’ and teen centers and Firefly Park for toddlers, but no slides.

Who should look elsewhere: families who want a water park should look at Royal Caribbean. If you want the smallest possible crowd in port, a smaller ship from our luxury and small-ship picks will suit you better.

Standout features

• The Piazza: the atrium, wrapped in a sphere of glass with a view of the sea.
• The Dome: a glass-enclosed space on top of the ship that Princess describes as a pool by day and a stage at night, with acrobatic shows created with Cirque Éloize.
• The Arena: a theater whose staging changes shape between shows. Production shows include Fiera!, Viva La Música and Stage Struck.
• Spellbound by Magic Castle: a magic-themed venue with magicians, themed rooms and theatrical cocktails.
• The biggest casino Princess has built, and the Lotus Spa.
• Kids’ spaces: Neon Grove for tweens and The Underground for teens, plus Firefly Park for children from six months to seven years.

Cabins to pick, cabins to avoid

There are 2,157 guest cabins, from interiors up to the Sky Suites, the largest cabins on board. All suites belong to the Sanctuary Collection, which comes with access to adults-only spaces.

Pick:

• Cove Balcony cabins, which sit lower on the ship: closer to the water, with less motion.
• Cabana Deck Mini-Suites if you want a private outdoor cabana area for less than a suite.
• Sanctuary Balcony cabins for adults-only area access at balcony prices.
• Midship balconies if you are prone to seasickness.

Avoid or think twice:

• Cabins directly under the pool deck, where early-morning deck-chair noise carries.
• Cabins next to the Piazza, where entertainment runs late, or near The Eatery buffet, which is busy from early morning.
• Cabins next to guest laundry rooms.
• Cabins near the kids’ club, if you are traveling without young children.
• Mini-suites whose balconies stick out and can be seen from the decks above.

Before you book, open the deck plan and check what sits directly above, below and beside the cabin you want.

Dining and activities

The included venues are the three-level main dining room, The Eatery buffet, Americana Diner, International Café, Coffee & Cones and The Promenade. The extra-charge restaurants are Love by Britto, Crown Grill (steakhouse), Sabatini’s Italian Trattoria, The Catch by Rudi (seafood), The Butcher’s Block by Dario, Umai Teppanyaki, Umai Hot Pot and Makoto Ocean. O’Malley’s Irish Pub and Alfredo’s Pizzeria are the casual options.

Bars include Crooners, Bellini’s, the Wheelhouse Bar and Good Spirits at Sea. Drinks, Wi-Fi and gratuities are extra unless you buy Princess Plus or Premier; see what’s included on our Princess line guide and compare with our all-inclusive cruise guide.

Where Sun Princess sails in 2026–2027

• Summer 2026: the Mediterranean (season now ending). 7-, 14- and 21-night voyages from Civitavecchia (for Rome), Piraeus (for Athens) and Barcelona, including 7-day Western Mediterranean cruises between Barcelona and Rome.
• Winter 2026–27: the Caribbean. Sun Princess is one of Princess’s two newest ships in its Caribbean fleet, on itineraries of seven nights or longer. It has Caribbean sailings on sale from Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades), including 14-night Eastern Caribbean trips.
• Summer 2027: the Mediterranean again, on 7- to 42-day voyages from Athens, Barcelona, Civitavecchia, Istanbul and Trieste (for Venice).
• Winter 2027–28: part of Princess’s nine-ship Caribbean fleet. Princess has not yet said which port it sails from that season.

Sun Princess has no US West Coast or Alaska sailings in 2026–2027, and it does not sail from any home port we cover with a port guide.

Sample Sun Princess sailings. From-prices per person, checked September 2026.

Departs	Line and ship	Nights	Itinerary	From	Link
Oct 10, 2026	Princess Cruises, Sun Princess	7	7 Night Mediterranean Cruise (from Barcelona, Spain)	$2,299	Check price
Dec 27, 2026	Princess Cruises, Sun Princess	14	14 Night Caribbean - Eastern Cruise (from Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades), Florida)	$2,278	Check price
Apr 18, 2027	Princess Cruises, Sun Princess	7	7 Night Mediterranean Cruise (from Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy)	$1,129	Check price
Apr 25, 2027	Princess Cruises, Sun Princess	14	14 Night Mediterranean Cruise (from Piraeus (Athens), Greece)	$2,418	Check price
Oct 8, 2028	Princess Cruises, Sun Princess	7	7 Night Mediterranean Cruise (from Naples, Italy)	$1,125	Check price

Sister ships

Star Princess is the only other Sphere-class ship. It has the same layout with a few additions, and it sails Alaska from Seattle in summer, so it is the one to pick if you want this design for Alaska. For a Mediterranean cruise on a smaller, slightly older ship, Princess’s Royal-class ships such as Regal Princess are the usual alternative.

Sun Princess FAQ

Where does Sun Princess sail?

In summer, the Mediterranean from Barcelona, Rome (Civitavecchia) and Athens (Piraeus); in 2027 it adds Istanbul and Trieste. In winter, the Caribbean, with sailings on sale from Fort Lauderdale.

What is a Sun Princess Mediterranean cruise like?

Most are 7 days, visiting ports in Spain, France and Italy on the western route, or Greece and Turkey on the eastern route. You can combine two or three back to back into 14- or 21-day trips. With about 4,300 guests, expect busy tenders and tours in smaller ports.

How big is Sun Princess?

About 177,882 gross tons, with about 4,300 guests at double occupancy, about 1,600 crew and 21 decks. It is tied with Star Princess as the largest Princess ship.

Where can I find the Sun Princess deck plan?

Princess publishes deck plans on the ship’s page at princess.com and in its booking engine. Before you book, check what is above, below and next to your cabin, especially around the Piazza and under the pool deck.

Is Sun Princess or Star Princess better?

They are almost the same ship. Star Princess has more family and sports space on the top deck and more restaurant seating, but the bigger difference is where they sail: pick Sun Princess for Europe and Star Princess for Alaska.