By
Amber Hickman |
Star Princess is the second Sphere-class ship to join the Princess Cruises fleet and is due to depart on its inaugural voyage – an 11-day roundtrip through the western Mediterranean – departing from Barcelona, Spain, on 4 October 2025.
Architecture is a key element of the ship’s design and one unique feature is the Sphere, a glass-enclosed piazza at the heart of the ship and the namesake of the cruise line’s new ship class.
“The Sphere envelops guests on decks seven to nine and offers expansive ocean views,” says Richard Parker, director of newbuild guest experience and product development at Princess Cruises. “It is the heart of the ship and guests can spend the whole day enjoying a range of food, drink and entertainment options in comfortable seating areas.”
Star Princess also boasts The Dome, a multilevel deck at the top of the ship that is inspired by the tiered cliffsides of Santorini, Greece. The area is a climate-controlled environment and has an indoor/outdoor pool which, according to Parker, provides an “atmosphere similar to South Beach in Miami, Florida, that guests can enjoy both day and night.”
The Sphere is the heart of the ship and offers guests a range of food, drink and entertainment options
In addition to noteworthy architectural features, Star Princess will feature dining and entertainment spaces designed to provide various unique and themed experiences that evolve the well-loved elements of a Princess cruise. For instance, The Princess Arena is the cruise line’s most technologically advanced theatre to date and has three different configurations to maximise sight lines.
“Guests will be drawn to the stunning visuals above the central stage that become part of the show,” says Parker. “With the space’s round shape, soft walls that allude to the motion of the tide and moveable seats, we can deliver a truly captivating experience.”
Princess Cruises has also curated an exclusive entertainment experience for Star Princess in collaboration with Hollywood’s world-famous Magic Castle, a private members-club for magicians.
“Spellbound is an intimate, reservation-only experience that blends the captivating world of magic with the art of mixology,” says Parker. “Guests will be escorted to the discreet Spellbound Bar which is nestled behind a non-descript door. Talented magicians will then perform incredible feats of illusion in the themed room while theatrical cocktails are delivered by sleight-of-hand servers for an unforgettable night.”
One key goal for Princess Cruises was to create a sense of quiet luxury in both the public spaces and guest accommodation.
Consequently, guests staying in suites, mini suites and 12 of the deluxe balcony cabins will have exclusive access to the Sanctuary Club, a top deck retreat area with a pool, as well as the Sanctuary Restaurant. Meanwhile, those staying in any of the deck nine cabana mini suites will have access to the exclusive Cabana Deck, a private outdoor lounge space with a whirlpool.
While Star Princess has many architectural and design similarities to sister ship Sun Princess, which debuted in February 2024, Princess has made several enhancements to some of the most popular onboard spaces to further elevate the experience and meet the expectations of current and future guests.
For example, Love by Britto, the ship’s art-inspired dining venue, and O’Malley’s Irish Pub, a traditional bar for food, drink and live sports, have both been expanded to accommodate 20 and 32 extra guests, respectively.
The onboard casino has also been expanded to add a non-smoking area that will include 68 additional machines, making it the largest venue of its type in the cruise line’s fleet.
Star Princess will also feature a new SkyDeck sports deck with courts for pickleball and basketball, as well as a jogging track, splash pad and more shaded areas for relaxation.
“Star Princess is a true engineering marvel with an interior design that embodies modern elegance,” says Parker. “The onboard spaces are sensational, sophisticated and chic, and the spacious, yet intimate, venues provide more room for guests to relax and explore.”
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