IT’S A KINDA MAGIC GETS A
FIRST LOOK AROUND PRINCESS CRUISES’ SHINY NEW SHIP
THERE’S a touch of magic about the new Sun Princess cruise ship. Behind an ordinary black door lies four hidden rooms dedicated to sleight of hand, mystery and illusion.
The Victorian-themed venue, called Spellbound, will have a parlour, bar, music room and 30-seat theatre for close-up tricks.
While passengers’ eyes are being fooled, their taste buds will be entertained by themed cocktails when the 4,300-passenger ship sets sail on her maiden voyage on February 8.
I got a sneak peek at where the magic will take place during a hard-hat visit to the ship’s Italian yard late last year.
More than 3,600 workers were doing shifts around the clock, seven days a week, to make sure the deadline is met. All the 10ft panes of the huge glass Dome at the top of the ship were in place, although the 36ft high waterfall was yet to be turned on.
This two-deck venue will host aerial performers, acrobats and contortionists in four nightly shows while during the day it turns into a peaceful haven, with tiered seating surrounding a pool – one of five on board – that stretches out under the Dome’s walls.
Much of the glass “sphere” at the centre of the ship – which I first saw during a visit last March – was finished too. The bottom third of this nine-deck structure is taken up with the Piazza, where musical acts and game shows will be staged.
The third main entertainment site is the Arena, a circular theatre where four musicals will be performed.
Sun Princess, the biggest member of the Princess Cruises fleet so far, will introduce the Park 19 activity zone with an overhead ride, climbing course and the Infinite Horizon, where daredevils can peer over the ocean on moving glass walls that tilt over the side of the ship.
Of course, you won’t go hungry or thirsty with 29 food and drink venues. The main dining room, Horizons, spans three decks, with a sculpture rising up through a hole in each floor.
A new bistro, The Butcher’s Block, will serve selected cuts and the line’s first teppanyaki restaurant will see chefs theatrically prepare food on a sizzling grill in front of diners.
Walking into the space where the Irish bar, O’Malley’s, is already half built, I could imagine sitting down to enjoy fish and chips, bangers and mash or shepherd’s pie.
Other venues will serve up cuisine such as sushi, Italian and seafood while a food court will offer everything from Mexican to Mongolian. Up on deck 17 will be a new restaurant called Love by Britto, named after contemporary artist Romero Britto, which will have stunning views over the wake – though the seven-course meal will set you back nearly £120 a person.
For those who prefer chips of the gambling variety, the largest casino in the Princess Cruises fleet will have 227 slots and video poker games and 13 live tables. It’s also a safe bet that children will have a good time, with clubs catering for babies up to teenagers.
In another part of the shipyard I tested out the cabins that have been redesigned from scratch, from interior rooms to sprawling suites. Walkin wardrobes have been replaced with better storage, while shower curtains have given way to glass doors.
One floor on the ship is devoted to cabanas – cabins with a separate enclosed seating area opening on to a private area of the deck.
A new level of accommodation, the Signature Collection, even has its own restaurant and lounge.
The ship will use the Princess Medallion, wearable tech that opens your cabin door as you approach and lets you order food and drink to be brought to you anywhere on the ship.
After launching in February, Sun Princess will sail in Europe before heading to the Caribbean in October.
You might think that’s enough magic, but Princess Cruises has another trick up its sleeve. Construction has already started on a sister ship, Star Princess, due in 2025.
No chance for those shipyard workers to relax just yet…