This autumn we had the opportunity to meet the newest member of the Princess Cruises fleet, the Sky Princess. The ship features the distinctive and contemporary design of its sister ships, the Royal Princess, Regal Princess, and Majestic Princess, while also showcasing a clear evolution from its predecessors.
Article from CruisesNews magazine no. 51 – December 2019
Let's start with the numbers. With a gross tonnage of 145,281 and a length of 330 meters, this 19-deck ship, crewed by 1,346 people, can accommodate up to 3,600 passengers. The new Princess Cruises vessel offers 1,834 cabins divided into 9 different categories.
Every tour of the Sky Princess begins in The Piazza, the ship's Italian-inspired atrium, the perfect place to relax, people-watch, or simply enjoy a cocktail or coffee with friends. The Piazza is lively at any time of day, with musicians, artists, bars, events, and much more.
From the atrium, we dive right into the pool, in the most literal sense of the phrase. Water lovers will be delighted, as there are up to four pools aboard the Sky Princess, one more than on its sister ships – the predecessors of the Royal class. On the main sun deck, you'll find two large pools and more Jacuzzis than on the other Royal-class ships. Two of the Jacuzzis are located one deck above the pools. An adults-only pool – the Retreat Pool – is the third place where cruisers aboard the Sky Princess can take a dip. The fourth, and newest, is the infinity-style Wakeview Pool, located at the stern of the ship.
Gastronomy has always been a cornerstone of Princess Cruises. Onboard the Sky Princess, you'll find a wide array of culinary delights to satisfy every palate, from endless buffet options to gourmet pizzas, ice cream, decadent desserts, and much more.
Specifically, the Sky Princess offers the following culinary options at no extra cost:
• The “World Fresh Marketplace,” the ship’s buffet where you can enjoy cuisine from various continents with extended opening hours.
• “Alfredo’s,” the popular artisan pizza restaurant of Princess Cruises.
• “Salty Dog Grill,” a gourmet grill by the pool with a variety of burgers, hot dogs, tacos, and, of course, fries.
• “International Café,” located in the atrium, is the perfect place for a snack. Options include sandwiches, soups, quiches, salads, and pastries. Food is complimentary, but the coffee, the best on the ship, is not free.
• Don’t forget that the complimentary options also include the two types of dining offered by the cruise line: “Anytime Dining,” which allows you to dine with whomever you like, whenever you like, and the traditional seated dining.
If we move on to the dining options that cost extra, we have:
• “La Mer,” created in partnership with 3-Michelin-starred chef Emmanuel Renault, debuted on the Majestic Princess. Onboard the Sky Princess, the menu and wine list have been updated by Master Sommelier Doug Frost.
• For lovers of chops, seafood, and steaks, the “Crown Grill” is a great option.
• “Trattoria Italiana Sabatini” serves popular Northern Italian dishes with freshly made pasta.
• “Princess Live Café,” a new onboard space located in the Princess Live studio, serves coffee, tea, and light snacks.
• “Ocean Terrace Seafood Bar” offers oysters, sushi and sashimi, tuna poke, and king crab cocktail.
Another key aspect of the cruise line's philosophy is entertainment. On board the Sky Princess, you'll find countless ways to have fun, both day and night.
One of the main new features is the Take Five jazz club. A delightful space where you can listen to live jazz and other styles while enjoying a drink at the bar or chatting comfortably in the seating areas. Take Five replaces the Club 6 nightclub at the Royal – Regal Princess and the VIP Gaming Room at the Majestic Princess.
The main theater is hosting a new large-scale musical production, “Rock Opera,” featuring a classic rock soundtrack, musical theater, and opera, performed live by singers and an orchestra in several languages. The production's costumes are a couture masterpiece, inspired by the iconic Met Gala, one of New York City's most glamorous annual events.
Another new addition is Phantom Bridge, an escape room experience with over 700 different outcomes. During each 23-minute session, participants will travel through various time periods as they compete to solve puzzles. Phantom Bridge can be adapted for players of all ages, heights, and physical abilities, so parents, children, and grandparents can play together (up to six people at a time). And because there are so many possible outcomes, players can repeat the experience more than once and never have the same experience twice.
Suites
can accommodate up to five people and boast the largest balconies in the Princess fleet: 88 square meters for the port Sky Suite and 94 square meters for the starboard Sky Suite. The suites feature two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a dining area with a skylight.
adults-only
premium cruise line (winner of the 2018 Excellence Award for Best Premium Cruise Line) primarily geared towards adults, with dedicated adult areas on its ships. The Sky Princess also features such spaces.
The most important of these is the Sanctuary, present on other Royal-class ships, but enhanced on this occasion. It's the ideal space to relax in a private and exclusive adults-only setting, where you can enjoy a cocktail, snacks, or a massage outdoors.
And to truly unwind, there's nothing better than heading to the LOTUS SPA and choosing from a wide variety of treatments, from facial rituals to therapeutic stone massages. The spa's crowning jewel is The Enclave LOTUS Spa, Princess's largest thermal suite, featuring a magnificent hydrotherapy pool with a rain shower and soothing jets.
At this point we would like to highlight that during summer or school holidays, the shipping company can become a great option for families with children, with very strong children's and youth programs and clubs.
itineraries
debuted in the Mediterranean last October. The first voyage was a cruise from Athens (Piraeus) to Barcelona. Following this inaugural itinerary and a few more sailings in the Mediterranean, it embarked on a two-week transatlantic voyage to its new home port of Fort Lauderdale (Miami).
The ship arrived in Miami in early December, where it began its first Caribbean season, alternating seven-night itineraries between the Eastern and Western Caribbean. One of the attractions of these itineraries, aside from the brand-new ship, are the overnight stops in the ports of call of St. Thomas and Cozumel. Princess Cruises excels in its itinerary selection; it was awarded the Cruise Excellence Award for Best Itinerary in 2018.
The Love Boat:
The pilot episode of “The Love Boat” was filmed aboard the 730-passenger Sun Princess. Later, the Pacific Princess and Island Princess became the show’s main floating stars. Subsequent episodes and specials were filmed aboard many other Princess cruise ships in destinations around the world. The show, which aired from 1977 to 1986, became one of the most beloved and longest-running programs on television, introducing viewers to modern cruising and, in the process, making Princess Cruises and its ships synonymous with vacations at sea.
People used to dream of being on the open sea on a cruise ship, discovering the world's best destinations, dreaming of love and, of course, happy endings. Today, more than 30,000 employees, both on land and at sea, continue to offer guests enriching vacation experiences by connecting them with each other, with different cultures, and with nature in a whole new way.
Technology at the service of the passenger.
The Ocean Medallion program is essentially a chip designed to elevate your cruise experience to another level. This high-tech system is fully integrated into daily life aboard all Princess Cruises ships that feature OceanMedallion technology.
About the size of a 20-cent coin, this charm automatically provides guests with information throughout their cruise, enhancing their onboard experience. Passengers can wear it as a pendant, a bracelet, or simply slip it into a pocket. Each charm is engraved with the guest's name, the ship, and the cruise date.
Its features include, for example, streamlining the boarding and disembarking process, making entry and exit faster; keyless access to cabins; and promoting interaction between crew members and other passengers. Now, for instance, staff can see a traveler's food and beverage preferences. Another new feature is the integration of the 'Ocean Compass' app, which allows users to see the locations of family and friends on board.
According to Mundomar Cruceros, the exclusive representative of Princess Cruises in Spain, “the Ocean Medallion is an impressive technological tool, and the feedback we have received from our customers has been overwhelmingly positive so far, confirming that it is indeed a device that helps improve the cruise experience. Ultimately, the fact that we can expand the use of the Medallion to many more ships next year is great news for both our passengers and crew.”.
The device also provides real-time updates on the itinerary and onboard activities or events via information screens located on the decks. In addition, it includes access to interactive games through monitors available on the ship, including trivia and treasure hunts throughout the vessel, as well as a selection of casino games such as poker, bingo, and roulette, available on smart devices and selected screens. Medallion Net also allows passengers (for a fee) to browse the internet at higher speeds, as if they were on land.
What privileges do Sky Suites offer?
• Suite Manager for a personalized experience
• Reserved seats in the Princess Theater
• Complimentary access to the Enclave Lotus Spa
• Reserved bungalows on Princess Cays, Princess Cruises' private Caribbean island
• Premium Champagne upon arrival
• Two bottles and mixers at the bar
• Complimentary wine tasting
• A private shopping advisor
• Private balcony for "Movies Under the Stars"
• Deluxe telescope for the "Discovery Stargazing at SEA" program
What do the Sky Suites include?
• Luxurious balcony furniture including a table for 4, hammocks, an outdoor bar with a mini-fridge, and a TV
• A living room with a sofa bed (single), a table, an armchair, a coffee table, and a dining table (seats 4)
• 3 floor-to-ceiling windows
• Bedrooms with Princess Luxury Beds
• Bathrooms with a bathtub and a separate shower
• Spacious closets in both bedrooms
• Bathrobes and slippers
• 2 refrigerators, one in the living room and one on the balcony
• 4 flat-screen TVs
• Hairdryer
• Nespresso machine
