Princess Cruises'
Sun Princess, built in 1995, is a 77,000-ton, 856-ft Liberian ship with 14 decks, a cruising speed of 21 knots, and a passenger capacity of 1,950. The British and Italian deck, engineering and medical officers, international hotel officers and dining and bar staff, and Filipino accommodations staff number 900.
Passengers are mainly active 50-plus couples.
The Sun Princess’ half-year cruise schedule takes it on 6-plus day (many longer) voyages in the Pacific, exploring Australia and Asia.
Onboard, the Grand Plaza is a dazzling four-story atrium with glass elevators, floating staircases and a stained-glass dome. Forward on the Promenade Deck is the Atrium Lounge dance floor and the Wheelhouse Bar. Teak lends a nautical toot. The tiered Princess Theater hosts lavish Broadway-style productions. Amidships is the Shooting Stars disco and karaoke lounge, Rendez-Vous, with quiet guitar music, the photo gallery, library, card room and business center. Aft is Vista Lounge, with cabaret entertainment. The glass-walled fitness center, open 24 hours a day, has treadmills, stair-steppers, bicycles and free weights. Fitness classes range from stretch and relaxation to kick boxing and aqua-aerobics. Joggers and walkers work the teak Promenade Deck, and other alfresco lures include four pools, five whirlpools, and 93,000 sq. ft. of deck space with plenty of chaise lounges and shade. Also aboard are a spa and beauty salon, supervised children's area, teen video arcade, paddle tennis, table tennis, shuffleboard, computerized golf, and art auctions.
The Regency Dining Room lies aft, while Plaza Deck holds the Marquis Dining Room. Both are divided into comfortable areas demarcated by steps, etched-glass partitions, granite borders and teak, and the food and service are first-rate. Indeed, award-winning chefs prepare the meals, served at two sittings. Hamburgers, hot dogs and French fries are dished up at the Terrace Grill. Wrought iron, marble and checked tablecloths dress up the pizzeria.
The 985 quiet cabins feature teak trim, TVs with CNN, ESPN, Nickelodeon, and the Discovery Channel, refrigerators, spacious closets, safes, large mirrors, robes, hair dryers, and 24-hour room service. It has 19 wheelchair-accessible cabins, and 410 have balconies.
The well-maintained Sun Princess ranks high among mega-ships for her excellent entertainment and handful of cozy corners.
