Sun Princess is the first Sphere-class ship in the Princess fleet and the biggest break from the line's traditional mid-size design. Delivered in February 2024, it measures 175,500 gross tons and carries 4,300 guests at double occupancy. Its centerpiece is The Dome, a glass-enclosed deck with a pool by day and entertainment at night. It's worth booking if you want to see where Princess is heading. If you want the classic, smaller-ship feel, this is the wrong ship to start with.
What the ship is known for
Sun Princess is known for introducing the Sphere-class design, most visibly The Dome, a glass-enclosed space inspired by the terraces of Santorini that has no equivalent on earlier Princess ships. It is also home to Arena, an immersive theater with moving seating platforms. The ship is a real scale-up for a line that built its reputation on mid-size vessels and a quieter, more traditional style.
Ships and itineraries
As the debut Sphere-class ship, Sun Princess set the template that sister ship Star Princess follows, with new venues, bigger public spaces and a larger footprint than the Royal-class and Grand-class ships that make up most of the fleet. It spends winters in the Caribbean, mostly on seven-night sailings from Fort Lauderdale, and has run Mediterranean itineraries in spring.
Where Sun Princess sails
Princess is the mainstream line most closely associated with Alaska, but Sun Princess does not appear in its published 2026-27 Alaska schedule, so look to Star Princess or an older ship for glaciers. Caribbean sailings out of Fort Lauderdale, San Juan and Port Canaveral are the ship's core in winter. Because the ship is new and popular, booking well ahead of the sailing date is the safer approach.
Dining
Sun Princess carries the Medallion ordering system used across the Princess fleet, which lets guests order food and drinks from anywhere onboard. The ship has more than 29 restaurants, cafes and bars, including Sabatini's Italian Trattoria and the Umai sushi bar, a longer list than the line's traditional ships.
Dining venues worth booking
The newer venues on the Sphere-class ships tend to draw heavier demand than comparable specialty restaurants on older Princess vessels. Booking specialty dining through the Medallion app before sailing or soon after boarding is the more reliable way to get your preferred time. The main dining room and buffet are included in the fare and cover most everyday meals.
Cabins
Sun Princess introduced The Sanctuary Collection, a suite area with its own private pool and sundeck. The standard interior, oceanview and balcony tiers follow the broader Princess structure, scaled up to a larger hull.
Choosing a cabin category
Interior cabins are the budget entry point on Sun Princess, trading a window for the lowest fare. Balcony staterooms cost more and pay off on scenic itineraries such as the Mediterranean, where you will want to watch ports from your own space. Suites include priority boarding. The choice mostly comes down to how much time you will spend in the stateroom.
Booking timing and pricing
As the lead Sphere-class ship, Sun Princess fares often carry a premium over Princess's older ships on comparable itineraries. Wave season, January through March, is usually the best window for promotional fares and onboard credit across the fleet. Balcony and suite categories tend to book out earlier on a headline ship like this. Interior cabins generally stay available longer for travelers booking closer to sailing.
The Medallion app and embarkation
Sun Princess carries the same Medallion system used across the Princess fleet, letting guests order food and drinks from anywhere onboard and unlock their stateroom door automatically as they approach. Setting up the Medallion profile through the app before boarding day speeds up embarkation considerably compared to completing it at the terminal. The app remains the primary tool for booking dining, checking daily schedules, and managing onboard purchases.
Packing tips for a Sphere-class sailing
A light layer is worth packing for air conditioning and breezy open decks. Comfortable walking shoes matter more here than on a smaller Princess ship, given the distances between venues. In the Mediterranean shoulder seasons, layers handle the swing between cool mornings and warm afternoons. A portable charger earns its place in the bag, since so much of the experience runs through the app.
First-timer mistakes
A frequent first-timer mistake is arriving without completing the Medallion app setup, which slows embarkation. Expecting the intimate, traditional atmosphere of Princess's older ships is another, since the Sphere-class design deliberately changes the scale and pace. Waiting until boarding to book specialty dining often means missing the popular time slots. And the walking between venues on a ship this size surprises many first-timers.
Who it suits
Sun Princess suits Princess loyalists curious about the brand's newest direction, and travelers who want more scale and venue variety than the older ships provide. It's also a good fit for first-time Princess cruisers who want the newest version of the brand.
Sun Princess versus Star Princess
Sun Princess and Star Princess share the same Sphere-class template, so the practical choice comes down to itinerary and sailing date. Star Princess, which arrived in 2025, adds small refinements such as expanded Love by Britto and O'Malley's Irish Pub venues and a new SkyDeck sports deck, but the core ship and experience are essentially the same. Pick whichever ship's schedule and homeport fit your plans.
Who should skip it
Skip Sun Princess if you want Princess's classic, smaller mid-size feel. The Sphere class is deliberately larger and denser. Travelers who already found Princess's existing ships big enough should look at an older, smaller class.
Common questions
What makes Sun Princess different from other Princess ships?
Its Sphere-class design, most notably the glass-enclosed Dome, is the biggest scale and design change the line has made from its traditional mid-size template.
Is Sun Princess bigger than other Princess ships?
Yes. At 175,500 gross tons, it and sister ship Star Princess are the largest ships Princess has built.
Does Sun Princess still feel like a Princess ship onboard?
Yes, the Medallion system and the programming that define the Princess brand carry over, even though the ship's scale and The Dome are new to the fleet.
Sun Princess is the clearest look yet at where Princess is taking its onboard experience. Compare current sailings on current cruise deals, and use compare sailings and prices to check where the ship is deployed this season. Once booked, track any cruise ship live to follow its position at sea. For the sister ship, see our Star Princess review, or read our full Princess Cruises review.
