I recently sailed on Princess’ newest cruise ship in a luxurious balcony cabin. Even though it was a short 3-night cruise, I was grateful not to be stuck in a tiny, windowless inside stateroom and appreciated taking in the ocean views from my personal verandah.
Sun Princess launched in February 2024 and spent the first part of her inaugural season in Europe. Now, she’s traveled across the Atlantic Ocean for a stint in the Caribbean.
With a capacity of over 4,000 guests, the 177,882 gross registered ton ship is the first of its kind. However, she will be joined by Star Princess in late 2025, adding a second ship to the brand-new Sphere Class.
Not only does Sun Princess boast an array of amenities unique to the Sphere Class, but she’s also the first ship in Princess’ fleet to be powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG).
Onboard, guests can dine at the cruise line’s first Teppanyaki restaurant, Umai. If Hibachi isn’t your thing, there’s also a brand-new magical experience called Spellbound, as well as Princess’ first-ever artistically inspired dining experience: Love by Britto.
Aside from dining, there’s The Dome, a geodesic, glass-enclosed structure at the top of the ship that features sweeping ocean views during the day before being transformed into an immersive entertainment venue at night.
They even launched their first ship-within-a-ship concept, The Sanctuary. While different from similar concepts on other cruise lines, guests staying in a Sanctuary stateroom can enjoy a private sundeck; an exclusive restaurant; and premium amenities, such as unlimited beverages and specialty dining, Wi-Fi, reserved seating in the Princess Arena, and more.
In short, though there are many familiar favorites onboard, Sun Princess is unlike any ship in the fleet. Its innovative design and upscale offerings set a new standard for the Princess experience.
With so much to explore, I didn’t plan to spend much time in my stateroom. Still, my cabin turned out to be my little haven. Here’s a look inside my balcony stateroom onboard Sun Princess.
Read more: Princess Cruise Tips & Tricks
A mega cruise ship with cozy, boutique-like hotel rooms
Being the newest ship in the fleet, I expected my Premium Deluxe Balcony Cabin to feel modern and refreshed. However, the attention to detail set this stateroom apart from others I have stayed in, from the abundance of outlets to the automatic floor lightning and Dry Bar hair dryer. Even the bathroom, albeit smaller than I anticipated, felt luxurious, complete with high-quality toiletries and a spacious walk-in shower.
The upscale experience began before I stepped inside my cabin, with the provided Medallion unlocking my stateroom door as I approached. Throughout my sailing, Princess' MedallionClass experience continued to impress me, with bartenders able to track my location and deliver drinks to me without even needing to tap the Medallion.
Plus, because of the MedallionClass experience, you don't have to worry about leaving your cruise card in a slot by the door to power the cabin's electricity—despite Sun Princess being a new ship.
Inside the stateroom, I was greeted by a plush bed and a thoughtfully designed living area, complete with a comfortable sofa, a small coffee table, an expansive vanity area, and a large flat-screen TV across the queen-sized bed.
One of my favorite touches was the nightstands outfitted with motion sensor lights. Whenever I shuffled to the bathroom in the middle of the night, the floor illuminated, helping to guide me to the restroom without fumbling for a switch or accidentally tripping over a stray shoe.
Moreover, since reading lights and wall sconces were built above the nightstands, table lamps were unnecessary, keeping the beside area sleek and uncluttered.
Modern-day travelers with many devices won't have to worry about battling over a few ports. My room on Sun Princess had more outlets than I've ever seen in a cruise ship cabin.
There were nine outlets at the vanity alone, including three standard American plugs, two USB ports, two European outlets, and even two USB-C ports—it was a tech lover's paradise!
That's not all, either. On each side of the bed was one American outlet, one USB-C port, and one USB port, bringing the total number of charging options to 15.
Read more: Why smart cruisers bring a European power adapter on a cruise ship
The storage was pretty average for a cruise ship. There was one closet that had ample space for hanging clothes, as well as some shelves for folded items or shoes and a few more built-in shelves and drawers next to the cabin's door.
I was most taken aback by the bathroom. It was compact—similar in size to my bathroom on Carnival Celebration. However, Princess maximized every inch of space, making it both modern and functional.
I appreciated the size of the vanity, as there was plenty of room to spread out my toiletries without feeling cramped.
The upgraded amenities were nice, too.
Not only did Princess provide Beekman 1802 lotion, shampoo, body wash, and conditioner, but they also had liquid hand soap—it was so much nicer than the standard bars that most mainstream cruise lines provide.
My only gripe with the bathroom is that the water temperature was inconsistent. It wasn't a major issue, but lukewarm showers aren't necessarily the most relaxing. Still, the shower was spacious, and I loved that I could adjust the water pressure.
The shaving ledge was a thoughtful feature that stood out in the shower's design. Its convenient placement provided a stable surface to make shaving easier.
The water handle's placement was also well-considered. When turning the water on, I didn't have to worry about getting wet since it was placed on the wall directly across from the shower door, rather than underneath the showerhead.
The highlight of my cabin was the extra-long balcony
The Sphere is a concept that's new to Princess Cruises. The outward dome lets light flood the Piazza, ensuring passengers are never far from breathtaking ocean views.
Since the structure protrudes outward, select balcony rooms in the middle of the ship have extended balconies. In fact, my balcony was around 4x larger than traditional balconies on Sun Princess, which measure around 35 square feet.
Unlike most balcony staterooms, which only have room for two small chairs and a table, these select cabins have generously spaced outdoor areas large enough to accommodate loungers. With around 200 square feet of interior space and a spacious balcony measuring well over 70 square feet, the cabin felt more like a cozy suite than a standard cabin!
While I was only in this stateroom for a short 3 nights, I can only imagine how relaxing this cabin would be on a 7-night cruise. Whether enjoying a pre-dinner cocktail or leisurely afternoon reading on a sea day, the extra-large balcony is poised to be a favorite spot.
As my time in stateroom 14415 came to an end, I couldn't help but think, "I love this!" While the cabin experience just scratches the surface of everything onboard the beautiful Sun Princess, there's a reason the ship was voted the #1 Mega Cruise at the recent Condé Nast Traveler 2024 Readers' Choice Awards.
Everything from the upscale accommodations to world-class dining, immersive shows, and service exceeded my expectations.
I was also impressed by Princess' different packages. For just $60/day—in addition to the base cruise fare—you can enjoy up to 15 alcoholic drinks valued at $15 or less per day, Wi-Fi, two casual specialty meals, two fitness classes, and more.
With some cruise lines charging upwards of $60 for just a drink package, Princess Plus offers a remarkable value that enhances your cruise experience without breaking the bank.
Read more: I ate at 6 specialty restaurants on Princess’ newest ship. Here’s how they rank
Elizabeth Wright
Elizabeth graduated from New York University's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute with her M.A. in Journalism in May 2023. Growing up, she had the privilege of traveling frequently with her family and fell in love with cruising after sailing on the Oasis of the Seas her freshman year of high school. She wanted to pursue a career that highlighted her passion for travel and strengths as a writer.
