Star Princess Sets Sail: Exploring Princess Cruises’ Newest Cruise Ship

From the vantage point of a hotel room in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, the new Star Princess ship from Princess Cruises doesn’t appear to be all that massive.

Distances, however, can be deceiving.

Pulling up to the ship at Port Everglades, where Star Princess was departing on its three-night U.S. inaugural cruise will likely cause an audible gasp of disbelief of how big it is.

Although the 177,800-ton, 4,300-passenger ship and its Sphere-class sister, Sun Princess, are the largest vessels in the Princess fleet, they are by no means the largest vessels at sea. Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas, currently the largest ship in the world, weighs in at 250,800 tons and holds 7,600 guests.

But make no mistake: Star Princess’ size enables it to offer guests a veritable cornucopia of dining and bar venues — 30 in all — as well as a generous number of accommodation choices, along with plenty of entertainment options and an eclectic array of activities.

One-of-a-Kind Venues

One feature which distinguishes Star Princess from other mega-ships is the three-story Sphere and The Dome, a multipurpose, geodesic public area on decks 17 and 18.

The glass-enclosed Sphere houses The Piazza, which serves as the ship’s atrium, and proffers views of the outdoors with floor-to-ceiling windows. It’s a hot spot for entertainment and a range of dining options; I’ve never seen an atrium quite like it.

The Dome, which is climate-controlled and features a retractable glass-enclosed roof, boasts an indoor-outdoor pool and morphs into an entertainment area in the evenings, complete with a stage for performances.  

As is the case with Sun Princess, Star Princess features Spellbound by Magic Castle, which takes its inspiration from Hollywood, California’s clubhouse for members of the Academy of Magical Arts, which was founded in 1963.

The venue, which originally debuted on Sun Princess, no longer features a dinner show on either ship, but offers curated cocktails such as The Inner Circle — with milk-washed Meili vodka and jasmine honey syrup — and Cardini, an Old-Fashioned made with butter-washed rum.

A number of ornately appointed rooms comprise the venue, which includes an area for magic shows, featuring magicians and mentalists. The $45 fee is well-worth the experience.

Entertainment enthusiasts will be thrilled with the Princess Arena, which holds nearly 1,000 guests and is the line’s most technologically advanced theater venue. There’s really not a bad seat in the house.

A new addition to Star Princess is the SkyDeck Sports Court & Track, with spots for pickleball, basketball and a jogging track, as well as a second smoke-free casino, located within the ship’s larger casino complex.

Accommodation Options

In all, Star Princess houses 2,157 staterooms, including 80 suites, 123 mini-suites, more than 1,000 balcony staterooms and 100 connecting rooms. One of the most sought-after is a 235-square-foot Deluxe Balcony stateroom, with a queen-size bed — which could be converted into twin beds — a sofa bed, a desk, a television and a bathroom with a shower. The stateroom was appointed in hues of cream and beige, which created a soothing ambience.

If you’re looking to elevate your cruise experience, consider booking a Sanctuary Collection stateroom, where the complement of accommodations includes 80 suites, 123 mini-suites and 12 Premium Deluxe Balconies.

In addition to reserved theater seating and access to the private Sanctuary Restaurant and adults-only Sanctuary Club — which houses private cabanas, a pool and a jacuzzi and offers beverages and light meals — the Sanctuary Collection comes with the Princess Premier Package, featuring unlimited drinks and specialty dining, Wi-Fi for up to four devices and shore excursion credits.

Culinary Offerings

Star Princess’ vast collection of culinary options can sate virtually any palate.

The three-level dining area includes the 910-passenger Aurora Dining Room on Deck 6 and the 601-guest Celestial Dining Room on Deck 7. (The third dining room, on Deck 8, is the 314-passenger Sanctuary Restaurant, which is reserved for Sanctuary guests.)

On Deck 9, The Eatery serves as Star Princess’ main buffet venue, with an excellent mix of culinary options — including healthy choices for breakfast, lunch and dinner — while the nearby Americana Diner features a retro vibe and an abundance of comfort foods

One crowd pleaser is the International Café, which is also located on Deck 9 and open 24/7, serving specialty coffees and teas, along with salads, sandwiches and desserts.

In all, Star Princess features 10 specialty restaurants, which are available for a fee or through the line’s Princess Plus or Premier packages.

Recommended options include Alfredo’s Pizzeria; O’Malley’s Irish Pub, which was enlarged by 32 seats due to its popularity; Crown Grill, a steakhouse featuring main courses such as filet mignon, New York strip steaks and entrees like salmon for non-meat eaters; and Makoto Ocean, where the sushi is on par with some of the finest sushi restaurants on land.

Another specialty dining suggestion is the upscale Love by Britto, where the seven-course, prix fixe menu is the brainchild of chef Rudi Sodamin, head of culinary arts for Princess, and whose fanciful décor was created by Brazilian artist Romero Britto.

As its name implies, the restaurant’s theme is love, with some dishes shaped as hearts. Entrees include prime beef and wagyu, butter-poached lobster tail, pistachio-crusted rack of lamb and Chilean sea bass. Other specialty restaurants include Sabatini’s Italian Trattoria, The Butcher’s Block by Dario, The Catch by Rudi, Umai Hot Pot and Umai Teppanyaki.

This article originally appeared in TravelPulse.

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