We Sailed on the NEWEST Ship in the Caribbean | Sun Princess Highs & Lows

[@LifeWellCruised]

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[@jbcallender]

The Princess Medallion is great! I wish all lines would adopt the technology!

[@LifeWellCruised]

Agree 👍

[@heatherpollock7287]

​virgin voyages had this technology and it works great 👍

[@ducky1776]

You left out my favorite part of Sun Princess - the ELEVATORS! I really love that style. It helps keep down the crowding. It's good to see some of the changes since I was on it in April/May. I hope to find my way back to the Sun at some point.

[@LifeWellCruised]

The elevators are pretty cool - they really make a difference

[@JR-vx4rh]

A very well done video review of your experience on Sun Princess. We enjoy all your videos and they offer a lot to both experienced and first timers to cruising. However, we did cruise for a 14 day West/East cruise in October-November 2024 and the 14 day stay provided us a long opportunity to get the real feel for the Sun Princess experience. We have heard others say including some you-tube reviews that the 3 day media-cruise event was not entirely what one can expect for the regular cruise experience. First, it was not a full ship sailing and Princess were also very concious of the fact they had a lot of media eyes on them so they were at their best. Some of our experiences: the Crooners Bar that you indicate is a nice place to go for a quiet drink and relax with friends we found this not to be the case for the entire 14 days as the live band and other events from the immediately adjacent Piaza drowned were very loud. This was also the same with the Martini Bar one deck below that was also directly sharing space with the live "LOUD" band every evening for 14 evenings. Ther Wheelhouse bar is located away from the Piaza but situated in a busy corridore leading to one of the main dining rooms adjacent to the entry of The Crown Grill. Again, only a few seats at this loungs, no entertainment any time and very noisy with the constant busy corridore it is located on. Princess Live the other areana which houses about 200 people and features things like comedy acts was nice, but you had to be there early, and always difficult to get a good seat. We saw several shows here over 14 days and the comedy performers in particular commented in their performance (in a joking manner) to get the point across to Princess that they found it hard with the "LOUD" band sound and performances coming from the Piaza and spilling into the Princess Arena. We tried on about 5 different nights to access the Dome for the performances and were unsuccessful despite being their 30 to 40 minutes in advance, you need to do on average about an hour wait time. The same LOUD band from the Piaza also performed at times on The Lido deck and they were that loud it was essentially impossible to have a conversation, overly loud even for a Lido Deck. And not one Carribbean style music on the ship for a 14 day Carribbean sailing. We were mid-forward deck in the general area of The Main Arena and felt the "Base Sound" thumping in our room each and every night until the shows ended. Significant enough that it was annoying and also needing to turn up TV to offset the beat. On one of our PORT days while in Belize we opted to stay on the ship to hope to enjoy a different experience. The Lido pool was quite busy as many opted not to go off the ship. There was one only bar open with two staff serving and honestly an approximate 30 min wait in line to get served. The other bar on the deck overlooking the Lido pool was "Closed" despite a large number of passengers. We spoke to a crew member and he advised that unfortunately there is nothing they can do. Even if we opted to order on our phone the staff member it would also be about 45 minutes due to many crew being off while they are in port. The ship was at 110% capacity and The Eatery while it does have some very nice offerings as you said in your video was always extremely busy, constantly. We never ate their over the 14 day cruise, just way too loud and busy. The option you mentioned for Piazza outside on Deck 9 was indeed very nice and that did turn out to be a saving grace on times we needed something to eat and the pizza was excellent. The suishi specialty dining also was affected as way too loud to enjoy due to the entertainment coming from the Piaza immediately adjacent. So, while I do not doubt you had a very nice experience over a 3 DAY not filled to capacity ship I think that it would be also fair to experience this ship when it is going out to full capacity. It is a beautiful ship without a doubt. However, it lacks the options for quiet and pleasurable lounge experiences as are typical on other ships. Everything is concentrated to the PIAZA over Decks 7, 8, and 9 and any venues anywhere near that location will suffer from the noise. This even applied to the International Cafe which provided some excellent food offerings however all of it's seating is directly adjacent to the PIAZA and most times you could sit and eat and carry on a conversation with your friends. The food on the ship was top notch and no fault, total excellence. The entire staff and crew were sent from heaven as they were all excellent and contributed a lot to make the passenger experience memorable. I think a further review on a regular 7 or 14 day sailing at full capacity and a non-media catered event would likely show some more revealing experiences. Thanks again for all your great work, we enjoy all your work and have taken many of your very helpful tips. Thank you again.

[@777Avee8tor]

Doing our first Princess cruise, been a loyal HAL and Celebrity cruiser on the Star just after her launch and looking forward to the experience having booked a suite and getting to know the ship from the sister ship is great, thank you.

[@wsweger]

The Sun Princess was nice, but we found it overcrowded in many of the venues. Specialty dining was difficult to get into because they were limited openings, so make reservations way early. The stadium/theater was most always crowded and if you didn't get there 20-30+ minutes early, finding a seat was hard to find. We like the medallions also, but drink service was sketchy on many parts of the ship, even around the pool area (move 40 feet to the right, and you could get service...go figure). It also seemed like they cut staff in the restaurants since we felt forgotten at times. Want a second cup of coffee for breakfast? Be prepared to wait or flag down one of the servers. Want more wine or something else, be prepared to wait. Again, we had just over 4000 passengers, so crowding was an issue...not the service we've had in the past on Princess. Hope that helps a little.

[@LifeWellCruised]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts & experiences

[@jackdavis4794]

We agree. The service was not what we have experienced on other Princess Cruises. This is more like a cruise on Carnival rather than the Princess of past years.

[@JamesAnderson-l1f]

Great video. Very informative. Sidelight, I recently purchased the lumesner backpack you recommended. What a travel game changer for me. I can get more than I need in this and my hard shell carry on for a 7 day cruise. Thanks so much for the recommendation. Keep up the good work!!

[@LifeWellCruised]

That’s awesome! It’s great to hear the backpack is working well for you 😊

[@bethmctv9317]

I recommend Deck 19 chairs & ottomans in the center or deck 18 right before the Sanctuary entrance to get away from crowds. The gym was busy in the morning but later in the day I never had trouble getting on cardio. Lastly, when going to Eatery buffet turn to the right instead of the left and it will be less crowded and easier to find a seat.

[@FraserAtSea]

Really enjoyed this overview, Ilana. I'm seeing some fantastic prices for Sun Princess over the next few months and am so tempted to book, but I just haven't forced myself to click the button yet. She looks like a really lovely ship, but I'm not convinced she's going to feel 'Princess enough' for me...

[@georgejia3748]

We were on the sun princess in July and I have to say that the lines are longer for most things and the dining are simply OK. This is especially compared to what we are experiencing now on the regal, much better services and food at the main dining room and buffets are much better. Although, I have to say that the magical castle experience was amazing.

[@LifeWellCruised]

Thanks for sharing your experience - it is always good to have a comparison point! Btw I enjoy Regal Princess

[@andrew..89]

Thanks for this video! My partner and I are taking our first cruise ever on Sun Princess in the Med in 2026. Have been watching your videos since COVID and you inspired us to book!

[@LifeWellCruised]

That’s so awesome. Have fun! I think you’ll enjoy

[@sharonbrooks9141]

We are booked for the June 27, 2026. So excited! These positive videos help me have realistic expectations.

[@meadsummer6547]

I've never been on the Sun Princess, but I will be on the first two sailings of the sister-ship Star Princess and I'm very much looking forward to seeing what it has to offer. I've been on about half of the Princess ships, but that will be my first Sphere Class voyage.

[@chriscooper3297]

Thanks. Will be on the Sun Princess the next 4 weeks starting Saturday.

[@LifeWellCruised]

Enjoy every moment 🛳️👏

[@michaelclaunch9378]

Loved the video. Thanks, we are sailing on the Sun this January. Question I have I didn't hear you answer: would you sail it again. Anyway, we really enjoy your updates and have learned a lot.

[@billysr10]

Hi Alana. While I enjoyed myself on Sun Princess there are some things I did not enjoy. 1. The theater in the round 2. The International Cafe on level 9 instead of on deck 7 of the Piazza 3. The new location and Procedure of Customer Service 4. While the new showers are nice the bathroom in my Balcony room was noticeably smaller.

[@LifeWellCruised]

Thanks for sharing your experiences - the ship has those differences to Royal class & I can understand having a preference

[@sfpbosb85]

Thanks for the update. I’ve booked a cruise on the new Star Princess in 2026. Looking forward to it!

[@LifeWellCruised]

Lucky you! Great ship to plan for

[@dsr8223]

Thanks for the review. Good to see some improvements from earlier sailings. We are booked for a 26 nights on Sun Princess in a Sanctuary mini-suite (September - October, 2025). We are more Viking types, and I'm not sure Sun will be my husband's cup of tea. But, if it's too loud and crowded for him, the beautiful, roomy mini-suite with free WiFi, free drinks, and free room service should make him happy. (Yes, I know it's not really free, 😅). I did pre-book Spellbound. The $298 charge hit my credit card immediately -- a year before we sail!

[@LifeWellCruised]

Great way to look at it! Love your attitude

[@jeffreyflathers3841]

My wife and I just took a cruise on the Ruby Princess which was built in 2008. The advances in the new Sun Princess are striking, and your video makes us want to book a trip. The ship clearly has a lot more to offer, and the cabins were noticeably better, particularly the glass-doored showers. Informative videos like this are truly helpful, thanks. ❤

[@LifeWellCruised]

I used to love that class of ship, but know they are getting older. So glad this video helped to see the new Princess ship :)

[@rexa1296]

I'm torn, I like the older ships but we will try Sun on March 1st

[@LifeWellCruised]

@ I hope you enjoy! There’s a lot that is wonderful

[@lynnerooney9698]

OMG thank you for this video. We leave 1-18 on Sun Princess....I just took notes from your video!! We've been on a few Princess cruises but I'm really excited to see this ship. Your info is so appreciated by us all...Thank you again and Happy New Year!

[@LifeWellCruised]

@@lynnerooney9698 that’s awesome! Have an amazing cruise!

[@veronicashine1812]

Update: The price for Love by Britto has increased to 149.00 from 79.00. I just checked the app and also verified with Princess. Not sure if this applies to all sailings as of now but it does for summer 2025. So sorry I didn't book it a week ago before the increase.

[@LifeWellCruised]

Thanks for mentioning this. Hmmm maybe watch for any promotions

[@eminiarvii]

Initially it was 149 and then dropped to 79. It just returned to the original pricing

[@veronicashine1812]

@@LifeWellCruised I certainly will. Like you, we travel with our son, so for three it is rather pricy.

[@veronicashine1812]

@@eminiarvii I shall pass unless it drops back down. The cost for three people with gratuities would be $500. I can accept up to $100 per person but not $149.

[@eminiarvii]

@@veronicashine1812 understood, its just me and i really do not have a desire to go to this specialty restaurant. Its Spellbound I am so looking forward to going to

[@veeda67]

Such a great VLOG!!! Thank you! I’m ready to book a cruise on Sun ☺️ There are many wonderful looking places to eat. I want to try the Magic Bar.

[@LifeWellCruised]

I think you'll really enjoy it!

[@LovingAlmostEveryLine]

I typically love celebrity or royal if my kids are with me. But this looks great too!

[@sarapugh6700]

Thank you for this detailed information! I didnt see any type of thermal suite on here - is that not a thing on the Sun? And do they still let you book the sanctuary for a day or do you have to get a special suite in that class? Also, LOVED your dress at 20:10, simply gorgeous print!

[@LifeWellCruised]

Thank you! I’m going to have to check if there’s a thermal suite - unfortunately I didn’t check much of the spa during this sailing

[@JR-vx4rh]

@@LifeWellCruised Llana, YES, there is a beautiful thermal suite on the Sun Princess which we used during our 14 day cruise in Oct/Nov 2024. It is on Deck 6 behind Guest Services. The Enclave section which is the Thermal Suite is on Deck 6 and you go down stairs for the various individual treatment rooms. We loved it. But it is not included with all fares. hope this helps

[@shelleybailey9120]

I was on her in the Mediterranean last May and will be again next month for 2 weeks in the Caribbean. This may sound silly but one of my favorite things is the elevator system! You select a deck first and are directed to an elevator. Gone (almost) are long waits for an elevator only to find it packed.

[@LifeWellCruised]

That is something good!! lol I should have mentioned so thank you

[@brucefrytz8611]

Doing a Sanctuary Balcony on the Sun this May in the Mediterranean. Can't wait!

[@rtriplett3135]

We sailed the Mediterranean on the Sun in May. It was our first cruise and so the bar is set pretty high. I told my wife that i was going to eat like a pig and drink like a fish, (i didnt do either). I am not a drinker and i didnt even get to do some of the drinks i wanted to try, but, oh well. We had a fabulous time. We watched a lot of your vids prior to our sail and learned a lot of tips and tricks, thank you very much.

[@LifeWellCruised]

Glad to hear you had a great first cruise!

[@nancyruckman5875]

I loved your video! It brought back wonderful memories of the 2 weeks I spent onboard the Sun in November. I agree with your full review! A livelier version of other ships in the Princess fleet is a perfect description! For years I have been sailing with Princess and I always enjoyed that feeling of being "home" when I stepped onboard. This did not happen on the Sun, as nothing is familiar or located where it might be on other ships. I knew this going in, and boarded with an open mind. This was my first solo cruise and it was great! I would definitely sail on the Sun again. I'm surprised you did not mention the elevator system. It was the BEST and should be retrofitted to all Princess ships. A warning for disabled cruisers who need scooter accommodations....There are no handicapped rooms midship. All disabled cabins are all the way up front or in the back. DO NOT book a cabin in the bow. There was some kind of loud sound that happened all night long in the bow cabins during rough seas. I even had customer service come up to my cabin at 2:30 in the morning to hear the noises, booms and vibrations I was putting up with. My entire first week as perfect, quiet and smooth but during the second week when it got a bit rocky, it also got LOUD. "Cruising Canucks" had the same thing happen to them and they were 6 decks right above me. They switched cabins. So, if you need a scooter cabin, book it in the back!! About deck 19, do you know why they took all the activity stuff down? I'm happy they did as I prefer Princess to continue to cater to adults! As long as I sail while school is in session, the clientele are mostly mid to older adults and that suits me just fine.

[@LifeWellCruised]

That’s really helpful, thanks for sharing your experience. I’m glad to hear that your cruise was overall, similar to my review & thoughts! You’re right about the elevators 😂

[@juliatarrel1674]

Damn. I'm disabled, need an accessible cabin, and need short distances. The best position for that combination is midships!

[@nancyruckman5875]

@@juliatarrel1674 Exactly! When I planned this trip 2 years ago, I could not believe that the people responsible for the positioning of accessible cabins found it appropriate to put them at the ends of the ship. When I say ends, I mean ends! I was the last cabin on Deck 10 right under the Bridge. There were no other cabins beyond mine. Granted it was HUGE. When I opened the door I could not believe my eyes! I called it my apartment for the 2 weeks I was sailing. But, if I did not have my scooter, it was a horrible walk (with my walker) from the elevators to the furthest end of the ship. I'm willing to book again but only in the back. Too many negatives to go into here about the placement of my accessible cabin all the way up front.

[@juliatarrel1674]

@@nancyruckman5875 I was using only my walker on my first cruise, and by the time I got back to my cabin my back was killing me, and Bestie was holding my walker because I needed to pull myself along the corridor with the handrail. For the able-bodied readers: no, that's not hyperbole. That's real life for some people.

[@rosshageman951]

I am looking forward to the sailing of Star Princess. Our first cruise (2005) was on Star Princess and a return to the Star would be fun.

[@LifeWellCruised]

@@rosshageman951 that’s awesome!!

[@Itsjustme2424]

I was on Sun in November. I loved the ship!!

[@LifeWellCruised]

Awesome to hear! What did you enjoy most?

[@janesimmons8001]

Hi , will be on Sun in a few months. Do you know if they allow you to order one meal and share it by 2 ppl at their specialty dining? Thanks for your info on Sun!!

[@veronicashine1812]

We're really looking forward to our June cruise adventure from Athens to Barcelona on the Sun Princess. I'm a big believer in trying different cruise experiences, as each ship and line has its own unique character. For this trip, we decided on a Sanctuary Mini-Suite and the Princess Premier package. The convenience of having almost everything included-from drinks and Wi-Fi to gratuities-is a huge plus. It means we can truly relax and enjoy the journey, though I imagine I'll still find some opportunities to spend a few extra dollars in the shops or try my luck at the casino.

[@LifeWellCruised]

I think you’ll love it!

[@lilemmyRA]

I'll be on that same cruise! 🎉

[@harborspringsgirl]

Absolutely beautiful ship!!

[@roan6125]

Great video. You just convinced me to book a Sun Princess cruise!

[@LifeWellCruised]

So glad you enjoyed it! I hope you have fun!

[@laurenschenck5355]

The international cafe sounds amazing and piece of heaven and the restaurants and buffet too 🎇🛳️🛳️🛳️🎊🎆🎆🎇🛳️🛳️🎊🎆🎆🎆🎊🎇🎉🎉🎉🛳️🎇🎆🎆🎊🎇

[@LifeWellCruised]

Love that casual restaurant too

[@DavidBurton-x2h]

We found the bow area in front of the dome to be one of our favorite spots. We enjoyed the dome as well. We had the premier package on one of the first sailings of the Sun and unfortunately it didn't include unlimited speciality dining at the time. We would have enjoyed that a lot. We like the brass and dark woods of the Royal class ships. The Sun felt minimalistic, Norwegian and quite plain in comparison. We were delighted to hear they have improved the casino cigarette smoke issue. That was a big problem on our sailing.

[@LifeWellCruised]

@@DavidBurton-x2h great to hear you enjoyed the front of the dome area, I had no feeling either way as we didn’t use it during our trip, so great to know. True it’s more minimalist in feel in comparison to the other Royal class ships

[@pdallen5801]

My first Princess cruise will be in 2026 on the Sun Princess, so this video is very helpful! Thanks on again, Ilana!

[@LifeWellCruised]

I'm glad you found it helpful for your first princess cruise! ::)

[@Curtisluu1]

Hi, is there complementary coffee on sun princess ??

[@lynnkongkham7655]

I really loved the balcony cabin with the full size couch. And the pizza and ice cream area in the Promenade off the Eatery was one of my favourite places to relax in the comfy chairs and enjoy lunch. The crew member on the left of the screen in your video was always so sweet. Another favourite was Captain Arrigo's noon announcements. I look forward to cruising on Sun again.

[@LifeWellCruised]

So glad you enjoyed the details of the ship!

[@jeffreyclinard2002]

I'm booked on Sun Princess next year (2026) for the eclipse. I'll have to rewatch this before then to get the tips again.

[@LifeWellCruised]

Awesome!!

[@KH-vw9yl]

Thank you for a great video, how about a review of a longer voyage with perhaps a 3 or 6 month voyage?

[@LifeWellCruised]

I’d love to, but it’s unlikely I can do a 3-6 month cruise and still experience everything else. Maybe in the future

[@princesssweetpea9205]

Thanks!!! We also were on the short sailing just after your VIP visit. And, there were problems. No fresh non' mineral water onboard. We were in a Sanctuary MiniSuite, and were begging for Evian halfway thru the cruise. The 'stations' at the Buffett are actually very limited in offerings. And incredible LINES. I like to just go grab a snack, or a small plate... NOPE. And nothing had ANY flavor whatsoever. Like, they had no seasoning available onboard or something. HOPING THAT A NEW HEAD EXECUTIVE CHEF COMES ONBOARD!!! The burgers were not decent Princess burgers, they were very very poor. Even chewy over-cooked Filet at Crown Grill. Anyhow, as you will see above... I am like the earlier poster who would love a personal recommendation between trying STAR Princess, and doing MSC Yacht Club. The SeaShore seems a lot like a 'Carnival Ship'. So, I am afraid that we will feel restricted to the YC area, as 'Carnival' is not what we are looking for.

[@LifeWellCruised]

@@princesssweetpea9205 perhaps a travel agent can help with a personal recommendation, as they’ll know what you like best and least, and exactly what you’re looking for. Thanks for sharing

[@jackdavis4794]

We agree. The Eatery lines are horrendous at meal times. The noise level across the ship ruins it for us.

[@princesssweetpea9205]

Thanks so much! I am like the earlier poster who would love a personal recommendation between trying STAR Princess, and doing MSC Yacht Club. The SeaShore seems a lot like a 'Carnival Ship'. So, I am afraid that we will feel restricted to the YC area, as 'Carnival' is not what we are looking for.

[@LifeWellCruised]

@@princesssweetpea9205 after sailing on msc, I can 💯 tell you that it and carnival are very different in vibe and experience. However that doesn’t mean that it’s for you. That said, my experience in YC was that you almost didn’t need to leave, if that makes you feel any better

[@supermom788]

Definitely miss the closet with the “dressing area”

[@imutual321]

Thanks for the review. We are booked on the Sun Transatlantic Cruise for Fall of 2025. As a long time cruiser on Princess I am a little apprehensive. It seems like I am paying for access to 1/2 the ship if I don't do the Sanctuary package or the Premium package. The pool outside the Sanctuary has always been the adult pool that you didn't need to have to pay anything to have access to. I'm also going to be interested to see how the dining room works now that there is only one with the traditional and dine your way reservations. We will be pleased however if it is true that the Park is now going to have pickleball courts. It seems like you have to double the price of the cruise if you want full access to the ship.

[@LifeWellCruised]

Thanks for sharing. Just to assure you, the ship is so big that the parts that are sanctuary don’t really take up much space that most people use (ie. sanctuary dining room is on top of the other dining rooms). It’s also a big ship, so there’s so much else to see and do, I don’t think most people would notice. Enjoy and please let me know

[@janestevens9240]

Hi, just been on Sun Princess. No problem re dining, we just turned up at the main dining room and each time had a table within 5 minutes. Re pickleball - we play a lot at home. There is one court on Sun P but it is undersized and the enclosure is too small👎. An after thought which hasn’t worked. Quick summary, we had a lovely holiday on a great ship.

[@imutual321]

Thanks for the insight.

[@grammiegale]

I need a link to that black top you're wearing !

[@rjsams001]

I have never seen any reason to cruise on any Princess cruise. Nothing in your video persuades me. Is there any reason to choose Princess over the other (better) cruise lines?

[@monkeyb1820]

Princess is at the Celebrity/Hal level. To cruise with a better line will definitely be a substantial price jump. The better level would include lines like Oceania, Viking, Azumara and similar.

[@LifeWellCruised]

I’m not trying to convince you. It sounds like you have a couple cruise lines you enjoy

[@DebbieBoswell-w7y]

We found the shower in our cabana mini suite to be very very small. We could barely turn around in it. Hubby is 6’4” and I’m 5’9”. He had to open the shower door to take his shower. It needs to be 6” to 12’ wider. I just measured it. The shower is 25 inches wide. The single sink was barely adequate. To open the shower door you have to squeeze into the toilet area. The rest of the room was fine. The entertainment is great and the restaurants wonderful. We’re going to Spellbound tonight. The Love by Britto was phenomenal! The infinity pool was overrun by kids so we didn’t try it. I do like the medallion! And loved the smart elevators😍

[@LifeWellCruised]

Thanks for sharing your experiences & thoughts of the shower for taller people. It’s good to mention in the survey. Glad you’re enjoying the cruise & ship overall 🛳️👏

[@JR-vx4rh]

We also recently completed a 14 day on Sun Princess Cabana Mini-Suite and you are 100% correct, the shower is definitely "MINI" maybe it's part of the reason for calling it a "mini" suite 😅

[@77777771955]

Do they still have Voice of the Seas?

[@bradleyburns1959]

Can't wait to sail Sun in November on the re-po cruise from Barcelona to Fort Lauderdale.

[@LifeWellCruised]

Great cruise!

[@tikinut3458]

Very insightful. We're booked on her for June /July in the Mediterranean.

[@LifeWellCruised]

Awesome!!

[@hegone2005]

I really enjoy the tucked away smaller music venues on Grand Class like the Wheelhouse Bar. Seems the Sun Princess small venues compete with the Piazza and therefore noisy. Did you find that true?

[@LifeWellCruised]

Very interesting. Honestly other than crooners, the other venues are farther away or closed to the main area so noise isn’t an issue

[@hegone2005]

@@LifeWellCruised Thank you for the reply. I board the Sun next week and look forward to it more now,

[@LifeWellCruised]

@@hegone2005 enjoy!!

[@Ken-iy9mb]

I was on the Sun in October with all the paying customers…the ship was full and I did not have your same experience you did….I will not feed the stock holders with my experience…they were all documented on the survey…I will be on the Caribbean Princess in a few months. Good luck.

[@LifeWellCruised]

I can only share my experience- entertainment, food, cabins & I stand by this. Like all press & media, this was a working trip to try different aspects of Sun Princess. As you said, filling out a survey with your feedback is the right way to go. Hope you enjoy Caribbean Princess

[@richardgotshall2703]

I wonder how different your experience will be when the ship is booked to capacity-plus.

[@LifeWellCruised]

That’s a good question. My first time was a full sailing. I’m not sure I’ll think very differently:)

[@giddygirl594]

Much much better being served instead of covid germ spreaders roaming around the buffet. Seen it firsthand!

[@luvtravel6207]

I’m doing the transatlantic on the Sun Princess March 2025 from FLL to Barcelona 14 days to relax and a few stops on Spain 🛳🛳🛳

[@LifeWellCruised]

Very nice!!

[@debbieshelton317]

How did you like the elevators??? They were great!

[@LifeWellCruised]

lol I forgot about the elevators - you’re right

[@LisaHouse-q1l]

Yeah! Ethan gets his own cabin

[@kathygawinowicz6158]

Will you be doing a video on carnival celebration.?

[@LifeWellCruised]

Absolutely! These review videos take the longest for us to put together. The plan is soon

[@sherrellie]

Love your dress. So cute

[@LifeWellCruised]

@@sherrellie thank you

[@webjammer1]

Do they have Voice of the Ocean on the Sun Princess?

[@nancyruckman5875]

No

[@LifeWellCruised]

I don’t recall seeing it

[@maryclebeau]

I would love to take a cruise, however, I am afraid of the ocean! Plus I get sea sick! Do you have any suggestions? Do you feel the waves in the ocean? Plus if something happens mid ocean, what are your survival plans? Please advise. Thank you 😊

[@JR-vx4rh]

My best advice is to look up the number of casualties aboard a cruise passenger cruise ship and you are likely to come up with Zero or very little. They are safe. If you apply the same standard test to flying commercial airline the figures are still encouraging, however, greater chance albeit slim for casualty on a commercial flight. If you are still totally scared, choose a sampler 3 day cruise.

[@williamwatson689]

Based on reading many recent reviews, Sun Princess seems to have missed the mark. Complaints seem to be mostly related to the undersized main show area that can not accommodate the numbers wanting to visit a show during their cruise. Also, other areas that are too small, such as the buffet area, etc.

[@LifeWellCruised]

Many people who’ve sailed on this ship like it, others don’t. However there are criticisms of many new ships. I did not find the buffet/eatery too small at all, and there are so many food choices - like the lido deck 4 restaurant options. It may not be the right ship for you, and likely they’ll make adjustments & tweaks to the next ship

[@edieniswonger]

Link to the dress with the colorful shells please! First tube maxi dress

[@LifeWellCruised]

I wish I had one - I purchased it at a little shop in Rome

[@eminiarvii]

Slice pizza and a Heineken when i step on board (its my routine )on any Princess ship for 22 years😂 count down: 78 days to Sun Princess 21 day TA/ Mediterranean and I have the premier pkg..woo hoo🙂🚢 PS. I am really looking forward to the change in the ship style and layout…and i will have the 21 days to explore🙂

[@LifeWellCruised]

That’s a great way to start a cruise! Smart to have that time as well - 21 days 👏

[@lilemmyRA]

You forgot about Umai! It actually has 2 specialty dining options: hibachi grill or shabu shabu.

[@LifeWellCruised]

You’re right. Great option

[@AlanBenson-ws1lk]

We LOVED The Sun Princess..finally, a cabin for HUMANS! On the Regal & Enchantment, we had only a bed & desk..we walked into the Regal with our bags & my wife had a plate of pizza..as soon as walked in, I said, "where do we put our things & sit?"...my wife said, "where do we eat?"..I looked at the bed and she said, "don't even THINK about it!"...I loved the big couch AND the glass enclosed shower..finally those horrible curtains are gone...the ship has a brighter, sunnier feel than the Royal Class ships I thought...lots of sun & sunlight...the Royal ships are nice, but bright & sunny they are NOT IMO...younger crowd too..LOVED the new Piazza..much more useful..no need to stand at the railing and look down..we could see from all over..loved Catch By Rudi's, Umai Teppanyaki, Crown Grill & Spellbound was awesome..I thought all the entertainment was super..again, much better than the other ships..also loved the Wakeview bar & pool area up front on deck 17..The Dome also very cool..again we just loved the Sun so much, we re booked for Nov '25...great review..I'm glad you went back & saw so many positive changes..now, Princess must bring all the Royal Class ships back into dry dock & put glass showers in all cabins AND a 6 ft leather couch..I know some have "loveseats" in the deluxe cabins, but they are still too small..you shouldn't have to book a mini suite to have a place to eat & sit IMO....AND I think the Princess Premier package is great for us..not a big fan of the MDR on Princess..I find the menu lacking a bit..some nights I had to order a burger because there was nothing on the menu I liked..but now I am booked on the Sun in specialty dining 6 of 7 nights, and one night in Love By Britto ( looks awesome in there!)..also am trying the new Star Princess in March '26...thanks again..some of my friends did not like the other Princess ships..I've told them how different the Sun is..now I can show them this video!!

[@LifeWellCruised]

So glad to hear you loved the Sun Princess! It sounds like you had an amazing time. I agree on the cabins too 😂

[@lailannicarver9232]

Is Sanctuary Collection Sun Princess’s Reserve Collection? Or do they still have that?

[@JR-vx4rh]

We booked in mid 2024 for our Oct/Nov 2024 sailing from the Carribbean and initially it was "Reserve Collection" but the Reserve Collection including the Reserve Dining Room was removed and it's now only Sanctuary Collection which you have to book a Sanctuary included suite. The Sanctuary Restaurant is a considerable cut above the Solei and Eclipse dining rooms. If you can get a Sanctuary amenities I would go for it.

[@jamili1816]

Are we allowed to bring a blow dryer brush to use?

[@LifeWellCruised]

Yes

[@randa200771]

What is better, Princess Sanctuary or MSC Yacht Club?

[@LifeWellCruised]

They’re different ships & experiences. Sanctuary’s cabins are not in a separate area of the ship & you don’t have butler service, so it depends what is important to you. That said, I think it’s a wonderful experience and I loved the Sanctuary Club pool

[@MissyCass]

Is the sanctuary club different from the reserve collection? We are staying in a reserve collection cabin on Enchanted, so I am just curious.

[@LifeWellCruised]

Similar in some ways, but Sun Princess’ Sanctuary Collection is more similar to other “ship within a ship” concepts as it offers more exclusive areas

[@JR-vx4rh]

There is not a Reserve collection on Sun. Yes, Sanctuary Collection is the "ship within a ship concept" and Sun Princess does "Not" allow you to book a day or half day in the Sanctuary, even if there is space available. You have to be booked in a "Sanctuary" status room to get access to the Sanctuary amenities. Sun Princess also has an enforced 16 years or older to access the Sanctuary and I believe Celebrity does not have an age restriction on their "ship within a ship" area. Maybe something to watch for.

[@BTimmer]

We're booked on a March, 2025 cruise on the Sun Princess to check it out.

[@LifeWellCruised]

Awesome!

[@efrenhern1536]

Are you cruising on the newest NCL, if so could you also talk about your experience just like this on princess, I appreciate it

[@LifeWellCruised]

I’m not sure yet, but if so, definitely

[@choc5166]

I’m going on my first ever cruise coming up in March. I know about the phone situation when you are out at sea. Can you use your phone when you dock in Mexico Honduras and hideaway.

[@LifeWellCruised]

@@choc5166 it’s best to call your phone service to see if this is part of your plan, and otherwise the best package for you. I have a plan where I have to pay 10 or so per day

[@AshleighStitches]

I'm going on my first ever cruise on Sun Princess in February, glad to see your video from your October cruise. Speaking of adult only pool, I thought they had changed the dome and the space forward from it to adult only?

[@LifeWellCruised]

It might be now, which is good. It’s just not a very large one. In truth every ship is different and I do think it’s one of the top choices of ships right now :)

[@karenthege1277]

The theatre in the round ( can't remember name) is way too small! Not enough seating, esp for handicapped. Have to show up 45 min early to get a seat at most entertainment venues. Couldn't get any reservations for specialty restaurants either because we didn't know we needed to do it months in advance. The medallions are a win and should be used industry wide in my opinion. Food was pretty fair. In our opinion, we've been there done that and don't have to go back. The Irish pub was a favorite but way way too small. We wanted to try to eat in there and couldn't ever find a seat around eating times. Also, there is a terrible echo in the dome and not good seating in there. Poorly planned by Princess IMO. They need to work on some things esp for a brand new ship. You would have thought they would have realized after some rehearsals in the dome how bad the echo was and done something about it. Just our take on things. We are Royal Caribbean loyals and have been on Norwegian, Celebrity, and MSC

[@LifeWellCruised]

Thanks for sharing your experience

[@bstanz5266]

Did you think the music was too loud in the sanctuary?

[@LifeWellCruised]

No, I didn’t think so

[@monkeyb1820]

was your sailing in October? It would be good to know when your sailing was (I don't think there is anything risky about divulging this). We were on this ship over Thanksgiving and there were Christmas decorations blocking much of the glass in the piazza, hindering sightlines. Overall the food was really solid (and we only did complimentary). The pizza was great, and the softserve was surprisingly good too. The dome is a nice space--but they kick everyone out around 3pm or so, and they also would not let us get seats before the night show. We were first in line, but an obnoxious family cut in front of us, and Princess did not have any 'theater ropes' or similar to maintain the line. I did not find it to be a great show venue, but it was okay (it would be good for aerial acts, but those were on a halt b/c the cable system was having issues). Solid ship--but considering it was their latest/greatest, we were not awestruck.

[@LifeWellCruised]

My sailing was in mid October when it began its Caribbean season. Glad to hear all the positives! Thanks for sharing the feedback of some challenges too

[@itzlauren123]

I will be going on the sun princess later in 2025. Is there a teen club or place to meet new friends? How many teenagers are there compared to other cruise lines like royal Caribbean?

[@LifeWellCruised]

Yes there’s a teen club that’s pretty cool. My niece was on last week and there were about 70 teens. School breaks will likely have more, other dates less :)

[@dalenesbitt]

Can confirm that there were a lot of kids on board over Christmas.

[@LifeWellCruised]

Great!

[@nancyruckman5875]

Precisely why I never sail during school breaks.

[@johnnyv5995]

Let's hope all the goodies transfer over to the 'real' cruises and not a one off for the 72hour press cruise.

[@dalenesbitt]

I just got off the Sun Princess last Saturday. We stayed in a Cabana Mini-Suite that opened directly to the deck 9 private area. We had one of the cabins that people say is on a busy hallway, but Princess must have done some work on soundproofing the doors, because there was no noise. And I'm a light sleeper! The renaming of Signature to Sanctuary caused a bit of confusion, and we missed out on some of the promised perks with the rebranding. Overall, I'm still glad we paid the extra money and got that cabin.

[@dalenesbitt]

It should also be noted that the Cabana Mini-Suites also have access to the Sanctuary restaurant. Or at least, ours did. There's a chance we were grandfathered because we booked so long ago.

[@vlbogorad]

I strongly dislike buffets on Princess cruises where food is served over counter, not self serving. Please tell me on what Princess ships the buffets are like that, I will make all the effort to avoid them.

[@matthewbrandley9027]

To huge of a ship. I will stick with vision class on royal

[@deborahkirk4296]

This time I disagree with you. I have been on the Sun twice. I did not like much about it the first time, but I went with an open mind the second. Only thing I really liked were the elevators. I found all venues to be small, crowded. We had Princess Plus, but not Sanctuary Class. They seem to have decided to make many more pay for use areas (restaurants). I feel they are totally catering to Sanctuary Class people. We could not use our two free casual meals- too crowded, only two places to use them. We could not get speciality dining reservations - all booked up by Sanctuary Class. I was actually feeling like a second class citizen. They couldn't even give us a free princess bag (like they used to), but the Sanctuary people were all over the place toting their "special" bag. I find burying Guest Services in the middle of rooms ridiculous. Took me 10 min. to find it the first time. It was a joke to try to use the dome - it was either closed or packed. Never got to see a show there. Some weren't even listed in the Patter, they just had them. I assume because if they listed them that had too many people show up for it and had to turn them away. I don't like all of the shows that they have moved Piazza. It gets very noisy there. If you were on 2nd or 3rd tier you couldn't see what was going on below from your seat - you literally had to stand and lean over railing. No adult pool and no pool with steps to get in. I cannot get in the pools there because I am in my 70's and don't have the body strength to pull myself up the ladder anymore. How can you build a ship when you mostly cater to an older crowd without steps? The staff was great, as usual. The captain actually told us as the Captain's Party they had nothing to do with the set up. (Party was held in the Dome and it was very har to understand anyone as the sound bounced all over the place.) Next cruise is back on Royal class of ships, which I much prefer.

[@jackdavis4794]

You have expressed many of our thoughts about the Sun Princess. We like to cruise on Princess but not on this ship.

[@brianx2640]

In 2025 why are they still allowing smoking onboard?

[@pamelalugo1537]

🙏💜🥳

[@LifeWellCruised]

🛳️🎉🥂

[@JohnEngland-e2b]

A long way from cruising as I enjoy it. Not for me. Too many expensive extras.

[@LifeWellCruised]

I can understand. Do you prefer the smaller ships?

[@carenvarjas2844]

I'm on caribbean princess right now. In St Marteen. Ship not up to standards

[@LifeWellCruised]

That’s too bad. There’s definitely a difference between new and older ships, so it’s good for people to know. Thanks for sharing and I hope you have a wonderful cruise despite some of things you don’t like about the ship

[@JeremySmith-k6n]

Well that's not comforting to hear. I'll be on her the second week in February.

[@LifeWellCruised]

@@JeremySmith-k6nthe reality is that an older cruise ship will never be the same as a new ship (decor wise etc). However service, food, entertainment likely will be great. Hope you enjoy

[@gregmalloy9425]

No thanks,we will stay with Royal Class ships Sun Princess is the biggest mistake at sea!

[@LifeWellCruised]

I love Royal class as well. Thanks for sharing

[@jackdavis4794]

Well said. We agree. If you like loud noise everywhere, you will love the Sun Princess. We could not relax on our balcony on deck 11 because of the noise coming down from deck 17, the Lido deck.

[@4daloveofcruising]

100+ days left ...CANT WAIT!!!

[@LifeWellCruised]

Awesome!!