Sun Princess
Ship Specifications
Cruise Line
Princess Cruises
Ship Class
Sphere
Year Built
2024
Gross Tonnage
175,500 GT
Passengers
4,300
Cabins
2,150
Decks
21
Crew
1,700
Choosing a cabin on Sun Princess
Drawn from 13 traveler threads about cabins on Sun Princess (2024–2026); two older threads in the set concern the previous Sun Princess of 1995 and were set aside.
Forward is where the motion talk is on this ship. The most-discussed cabin thread, from February 2025, came from a family in a balcony directly under the bridge who expected rolling in heavy seas but not the shudder that ran through the stateroom every fifteen seconds or so while underway; the whole group lost sleep, and a second poster in the same thread said the same forward position on the Sun gave them their first bout of seasickness on any ship. The most-upvoted reply framed it as normal for any far-forward cabin once the bow is turned into big waves rather than a fault of the ship, which is cold comfort if the itinerary crosses open water, and the people who had been through it said they would book the middle of the ship next time.
Two other location questions come up. A 2024 poster weighing a Cabana Mini Suite had heard repeatedly that the ones on the deck 9 Cabana Deck look out over the shared cabana area rather than straight to the sea, unlike the same category on deck 10 and above; nobody in the thread confirmed or denied it from experience. A 2025 thread about forward cabins 16103 and 16104 established that no stateroom opens directly onto the Sea View Terrace, so anyone booking there for the terrace should expect to reach it by stairs or lift rather than a door from the corridor. On the plus side, two 2024 reports from balcony cabins called the mattress, pillows and bedding the best they had slept on at sea or ashore. Star Princess shares the design, but none of these threads is about her.
Think twice
Forward balcony cabins directly under the bridge
A February 2025 family in one reported the stateroom shuddering every fifteen seconds in heavy seas, enough to cost the whole group sleep; another poster in the same thread got seasick for the first time ever in the same forward position on the Sun.
Cabana Mini Suites on the deck 9 Cabana Deck
A 2024 poster had heard repeatedly that these balconies look onto the shared cabana space before the ocean, unlike the same category on deck 10 and up. Second-hand and unconfirmed in the thread, but worth checking the deck plan before paying the premium.
Cabin questions
Is a forward balcony cabin under the bridge on Sun Princess rough in bad weather?
One February 2025 family found out the hard way: rolling they expected, but the cabin also shuddered roughly every fifteen seconds while underway in heavy seas, and nobody in the group slept well. Replies said this is what any far-forward cabin does when the bow is pointed into large waves, not a defect, and a second poster reported getting seasick in the same forward spot on this ship. Midship was the alternative the sufferers said they would book next time.
Can you get to the Sea View Terrace directly from cabins 16103 or 16104?
No. A 2025 thread asked exactly this on behalf of a wheelchair user, and a poster who had sailed the ship confirmed there is no direct access to the terrace from any stateroom; reading the accessible deck plans for 16 and 17, another thought it is reached by stairs from the corridor or from deck 17, and whether that route is step-free went unanswered. The workaround discussed was having a companion collect two drinks at a time from the nearby bar, which posters said is rarely questioned.
How are the beds on Sun Princess?
Unusually good, by two 2024 accounts. One couple who sleep badly everywhere, luxury hotels included, said they knew within seconds of lying down that the bed would be fine, and another balcony-cabin couple called the mattress, pillows and bedding the best they had used on land or sea and looked into buying the mattress (the pillows and linens are sold through Princess; the mattress is not). Both were far less complimentary about the food, so treat it as a bedding endorsement, not a whole-ship one.
What Travelers Say
Distilled from 148 traveler threads, passenger reviews and travel blogs.
Sun Princess is a deliberate break from the classic Princess mold, the largest ship the line has ever built and the flagship of its new Sphere Class. Debuting in February 2024 as Princess's first LNG-powered vessel at roughly 178,000 gross tons and 4,300 guests, it trades the line's restrained heritage for a bolder, livelier, contemporary feel. The signature space is The Sphere, a three-deck wall of curved glass spanning decks 7 to 9 that turns the central Piazza into a sunlit, theatrical hub and immediately signals this is a more modern, entertainment-forward Princess.
The onboard experience rewards explorers. Redesigned cabins are a clear step up, with better bathrooms, bigger balconies, and more power outlets, and the dining ranges from the three-deck Horizons main dining room and the chef-served Eatery buffet to an extensive specialty lineup including Sabatini's, Crown Grill, The Catch by Rudi, Umai Teppanyaki, and the ultra-premium Love by Britto and Spellbound by Magic Castle experiences. Five pools, including the Wake View infinity pool and the indoor-outdoor Dome, sit alongside the Lotus Spa hydrotherapy circuit, while entertainment plays out in the theater-in-the-round Princess Arena and Cirque Eloize shows in The Dome. Service is generally warm, though several venues launched with flow, crowding, and ambiance problems that have been progressively fixed.
This ship suits travelers who want a modern, design-driven, activity-packed premium-mainstream experience, and especially families drawn to the huge Firefly Park, Sky Suites, and Signature Lounge. It is a weaker fit for Princess traditionalists who miss adults-only pools, libraries, and art auctions. Priced in the premium-mainstream tier and sailing the Mediterranean and Caribbean, its standout draws are the Sphere atrium, The Dome's acrobatic shows, the Spellbound magic dinner, and the artistic Love by Britto.
What People Love
- The Sphere is a genuine showstopper: a three-deck wall of curved glass that floods the central Piazza with ocean light and feels unlike any prior Princess ship.
- Completely redesigned staterooms with brighter modern decor, larger balconies, glass-walled showers, full sofas, and far more outlets than older Princess cabins.
- Smart destination-dispatch elevators that pre-assign your car genuinely cut wait times and reduce crowding at the banks.
- An unusually deep specialty-dining bench: Sabatini's, Crown Grill, The Catch by Rudi, Umai Teppanyaki, Butcher's Block, plus Love by Britto, so much that reviewers struggle to try it all in a week.
Common Complaints
- A famously rough launch: the debut was delayed twice, the ship sailed incomplete, and some early passengers were bumped because cabins and amenities were not ready.
- The Park19 top-deck thrill features (RollGlider, ropes course, climbing wall) never opened and were partly removed, a heavily publicized letdown.
- Early tender-boat problems caused cancelled port calls, including Santorini and Kotor, on initial sailings.
- There is no traditional adults-only pool, a departure that disappoints many Princess loyalists.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sources: travel.usnews.com, travel.usnews.com, quiltripping.com, lifewellcruised.com, cruisemummy.co.uk, en.wikipedia.org, en.wikipedia.org
How Sun Princess Compares
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