Star Princess: Everything You Need to Know About Princess Cruises' Newest Icon
Princess Cruises is officially ushering in a bold new era of modern cruising with Star Princess, the second magnificent vessel in the cruise line's next-generation Sphere Class. As the sister ship to the widely acclaimed Sun Princess, this stunning mega-ship blends the classic heritage of the "Love Boat" line with futuristic architecture and eco-friendly technology.
Whether you are tracking its latest itineraries or planning your next cruise vacation, here is the ultimate breakdown of everything this innovative ship brings to the high seas.
Architectural Marvels: Next-Level Onboard Spaces
What truly sets the Star Princess apart from older ships in the fleet is its focus on outward-facing glass design, bringing guests closer to the ocean than ever before. Two revolutionary venues anchor the ship's social and entertainment scenes:
1. The Dome
Inspired by the sun-drenched, terraced cliffs of Santorini, The Dome is a multi-level, top-deck venue enclosed in the first-ever fully glass dome built on a cruise ship.
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By Day: It functions as a serene, indoor-outdoor pool deck perfect for relaxing and soaking in daylight.
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By Night: The pool transforms into a state-of-the-art stage where the water is covered to host spellbinding aerial performances by talent like Cirque Éloize.
2. A Reimagined Piazza
The multi-story Piazza remains the beating heart of the ship, but on the Star Princess, it is elevated by a massive, dramatic glass sphere. This architectural choice floods the entire central atrium with natural light and offers sweeping, panoramic ocean views while you enjoy live music, specialty coffee, or a pre-dinner cocktail.
Culinary Highlights: Over 30 Dining Options
Food lovers will find themselves spoiled for choice. Star Princess boasts a stellar lineup of over 30 distinct food and beverage venues, ranging from casual poolside bites to upscale, immersive specialty dining.
Included, Complimentary Favorites
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The Main Dining Rooms (Soleil & Eclipse): Striking, multi-story dining rooms positioned at the aft of the ship to deliver unforgettable wake views while you eat.
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Americana Diner: A relaxed, comfortable spot serving up classic, hearty American comfort foods all day long.
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The Eatery: A completely reimagined buffet concept designed to keep crowds moving smoothly while serving diverse international flavors.
World-Class Specialty Venues
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Crown Grill: The cruise line's signature premium steakhouse, offering top-tier cuts of beef and seafood in a sophisticated atmosphere.
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The Catch by Rudi: A seafood-forward specialty concept developed by celebrated master chef Rudi Sodamin.
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The Butcher's Block by Dario: A unique, meat-centric culinary experience created in partnership with world-famous Italian butcher Dario Cecchini.
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Sabatini’s Italian Trattoria: A fan-favorite destination serving fresh, handmade pasta and authentic Italian recipes.
Sustainable Cruising: Powered by LNG
Beyond the glitz and glamour of the entertainment decks, Star Princess represents a massive leap forward in maritime engineering. It is the second ship in the Princess fleet to be fully powered by Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG). This advanced clean-energy technology drastically cuts carbon emissions and minimizes the ship's environmental footprint, making it one of the most eco-friendly mega-ships sailing today.
The MedallionClass Advantage: Like all modern Princess vessels, Star Princess utilizes wearable OceanMedallion technology. This quarter-sized device replaces your traditional cruise card, allowing for hands-free cabin door unlocking, contactless payments, and on-demand food/drink delivery wherever you are standing on the ship.
Redefining Luxury: Staterooms and Suites on Star Princess
After a long day of exploring ports or lounging by the pool, the accommodations on Star Princess offer a perfect, relaxing retreat. The ship features 2,162 staterooms, designed with modern aesthetics, premium linens, and spacious layouts.
Princess has introduced several new, highly sought-after categories for the Sphere Class that you will want to look out for:
The Sanctuary Collection & Signature Suites
Replacing the traditional suite tiers, the Sanctuary Collection is the ultimate VIP experience. Guests booked in these top-tier suites receive exclusive access to a private restaurant, an exclusive lounge, and a dedicated sun deck.
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Signature Sky Suite: The crown jewel of the ship, offering massive square footage, sweeping panoramic views, and luxury amenities for up to four guests.
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Signature Penthouse & Grand Suites: These feature expansive balconies, separate living spaces, and spa-quality bathrooms.
The Cabana Mini-Suites
One of the most innovative new cabin designs on the ship is the Cabana Mini-Suite. These resort-style rooms feature a standard balcony plus an attached private outdoor cabana lounge. It bridges the gap between indoor and outdoor living, giving passengers a massive private patio area complete with premium lounge furniture.
Balcony and Interior Options
Even if you aren't booking a suite, the standard cabins have been significantly upgraded. Over 70% of the ship's staterooms feature a private balcony. For budget-conscious travelers, the inside cabins offer a smartly designed, quiet base of operations equipped with the same high-quality Princess Luxury Beds found in the suites.
Entertainment & Nightlife: Pushing the Boundaries
Princess Cruises is known for its classic production shows, but Star Princess elevates the nightlife with immersive, technologically advanced venues.
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The Princess Arena: This is not your standard cruise ship theater. The Princess Arena is a highly advanced, in-the-round entertainment space. The stage and seating can be completely reconfigured to host traditional Broadway-style musicals, high-energy concerts, or intimate cabaret performances.
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Spellbound by Magic Castle: A truly unique partnership with Hollywood's famous Magic Castle, this Victorian-themed lounge offers an evening of close-up illusions, theatrical cocktails, and mysterious parlor tricks hidden behind a secret door.
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Cirque Éloize at The Dome: As the sun goes down, the glass-enclosed Dome on the top deck transforms into an acrobatic theater. Partnering with the renowned Cirque Éloize, the ship features gravity-defying aerial performances perfectly integrated into the ship's architecture.
🤫 The Walking Cruiser's Top Insider Secrets for Star Princess
To truly master the Star Princess, you need to look past the standard deck plans. After digging into the layout of this massive Sphere-class ship, here are the top insider tips and hidden hacks to maximize your vacation:
1. Escape the Breakfast Crowds at the Americana Diner
The Eatery (the ship's massive reimagined buffet) gets notoriously congested during peak breakfast hours. Skip the lines and head down to the Americana Diner on Deck 8 (the top tier of the aft dining rooms). They serve hearty, sit-down comfort food and all-day breakfast in a much quieter, relaxed atmosphere. It is the perfect hidden refuge on busy port mornings.
2. The Best Spot for Ship Spotters
For fellow ship spotters and port enthusiasts, you do not have to fight for railing space on the chaotic top pool decks to get a great view of vessel movements and pilot boats. Head straight to the Sea View Terrace at the aft of the ship. It offers spectacular, unobstructed wake views, a smaller pool, and a significantly more laid-back vibe than the main Lido deck.
3. Seek Out the Hidden "Black Door" on Deck 8
If you want the most exclusive nightlife experience on the ship, you need to find Spellbound by Magic Castle. It requires an extra cover charge, but it grants you access to a Victorian-themed speakeasy hidden behind an unmarked black door on Deck 8. Inside, you will find world-class close-up magic, secret rooms, and theatrical cocktails you cannot get anywhere else on the ship (ask for the "Escape From Houdini's Chest").
4. Hack the High-Tech Cabin Lights
The staterooms on Star Princess are beautifully modernized and feature motion-sensor floor lighting designed to help you navigate to the bathroom in the dark. The catch? They are incredibly sensitive and can trigger just from you rolling over in your sleep. Pro tip: If you are a light sleeper, pack a small roll of painter's tape or a few sticky notes to cover the sensors at night.
5. Master the "Smart Elevators"
Like her sister ship, Star Princess utilizes a destination-based smart elevator system. You select your deck on a digital kiosk in the lobby before getting in, and it assigns you a specific car. During peak times—like right after a show ends in the Princess Arena—the elevator banks get heavily congested. If you are physically able, book a mid-ship cabin on Deck 11 or 12. This perfectly centralizes you, meaning you are only ever a few flights of stairs away from the food or the entertainment, allowing you to bypass the elevator queues entirely.
Star Princess The Dome
Star Princess Main Dining Room
Star Princess The Catch by Rudi
Star Princess
Star Princess Sky Suite
Star Princess Mini Suites
