Solar Princess is larger, brighter and bolder, however retains Princess Cruises tremendous service and relaxed environment.
Standing within the Dome on Solar Princess was a kind of thoughts blowing moments. I had stood in the identical place simply 4 months in the past after I noticed her being constructed within the Fincantieri Shipyard close to Venice. The transformation was extraordinary.
The Dome is simply one of many many new options on Solar Princess. She is a model new class of ship for Princess Cruises, known as Sphere Class. This isn’t because of the spectacular glass enclosed Dome on the high of the ship, that occurs to be impressed by the terraces of Santorini, however to a different fabulous characteristic – the Sphere, that provides the Piazza, the centrepiece of each Princess Cruise ship, a brand new dimension.
The atrium is flooded with gentle from flooring to ceiling home windows that span over three decks. This space on cruise ships is usually darkish, however not anymore. This brighter mid ship space with expansive ocean views epitomises the entire design on Solar Princess, the Sphere Class title was aptly chosen.
Solar Princess is the biggest ship within the Princess Cruises fleet and is actually their most fashionable and splendid ship thus far. It may possibly maintain 4300 passengers and 1600 crew, which is 640 extra passengers than Princess’ Royal Class ships.
I had the pleasure of spending every week cruising on Sky Princess just a few years in the past, and beloved it. Whereas Solar Princess felt rather a lot larger than Sky Princess, the excellent service and intimate environment remained the identical.
Learn: My Evaluation of Sky Princess
In addition to elevated leisure and eating choices, one of many smaller enhancements I loved was the WiFi. Princess Cruises have added Elon Musk’s Starlink excessive pace web to its cruise ships, and now Princess Cruises’ declare to have the quickest WiFi at sea might very nicely be true. I actually discovered it one of the best I’ve skilled at sea thus far.
I’ve all the time discovered the workers extraordinarily useful and pleasant on Princess Cruises, however it’s the floor breaking Ocean Medallion expertise that’s unique to Princess Cruises, helps to create a seamless service on board.
Ocean Medallion on Solar Princess
The Ocean Medallion is a coin-like piece of expertise that permits workers to pinpoint you anyplace on the ship. It helps present a extra private service, because the bar and restaurant workers immediately know who you might be, in addition to your eating and drinks preferences.
You possibly can order drinks or meals on the Princess Cruises app and will probably be delivered to you, anyplace on the ship, even to your room. I ordered drinks to the pool and to my room they usually arrived in minutes.
My youngsters had been of their aspect ordering meals too, and as meals, drinks and ideas had been included in our Princess Premier bundle (extra on that later), there have been no further expenses.
I can’t stress sufficient how good the Ocean Medallion actually is! There is no such thing as a have to queue for drinks or snacks on the pool, and having pre-dinner drinks in your balcony, with out having to trek to a bar, is relaxed cruising at its finest.
The Ocean Medallion additionally syncs to your cabin door, which locks mechanically once you method, so there is no such thing as a have to fumble for key playing cards. You possibly can put on it round you neck in a lanyard, round your wrist like I’ve pictured above, or put it in your bag or pocket.
The Ocean Medallion additionally permits for fast embarkation, as you merely faucet the Ocean Medallion when getting on and off the ship. It may possibly additionally enable you discover your associate or youngsters, through the app, or wall portals situated across the ship. You possibly can add your youngsters’s room to your medallion too, so their room will open mechanically when approached out of your Medallion in addition to theirs.
Eating on Solar Princess
Princess Cruises are famend for his or her excellent alternative of eating choices, and for the standard of the meals on board, and Solar Princess was no exception. It has a whopping 30 restaurant and bar venues with loads of outside choices, and lots of eating places are with superstar collaborators.
Complimentary Eating places on Solar Princess
The principle buffet has been changed by The Eatery, which has similarities to a conventional buffet, though it isn’t self service. Whereas I wasn’t overwhelmed with this restaurant typically, (to be truthful, I hardly ever like every buffet restaurant), I favored the Asian counter, the place noodle dishes, curries and Beef and Broccoli stir fry had been made to order.
I additionally favored that there are tables outdoors so that you don’t have to listen to the fixed banging of plates that I normally encounter in buffet eating places, and that the meals is served slightly than self service – this cuts down on meals waste and is extra hygienic.
What actually impressed me was the principle eating room, Horizons. I discovered the meals and repair glorious right here on Sky Princess, however on Solar Princess the principle eating idea has been elevated up a notch.
Horizons primary eating restaurant is break up over three ranges with three various kinds of eating choices: Soleil Eating Room on deck 6 gives conventional eating over two sittings, Eclipse Eating Room on deck 7 gives anytime eating with a barely sooner service, and American delicacies is served on deck 8 providing a sooner and extra informal eating expertise.
All of those are complimentary to all company and I significantly favored that you would be able to get pleasure from a late (All day) breakfast within the American eating room, it is a tremendous different to a buffet, or on this case the Eatery eating expertise.
I additionally beloved the quantity of outside eating areas on board. The Promenade gives pizzas, burgers and ice cream with loads of outside seated areas, and Lido by the pool gives related but additionally has scrumptious salads, burritos, tacos and scorching canines.
We didn’t dine inside for lunch on any day, there was a lot outside house to get pleasure from, even though the ship was utterly full throughout our cruise.
Speciality Eating on Solar Princess
Speciality eating choices are elevated on Solar Princess too, with many eating places having superstar collaborators.
Highlights embody The Butcher’s Block by Dario, in partnership with well-known butcher Dario Cecchini, Makoto Ocean, in partnership with Grasp of Edomae-style sushi Makoto Okuwa; and Umai Teppanyaki, the place we loved a scrumptious meals together with an entertaining efficiency.
One among my favorite meals was in The Catch by Rudi, the place chef Rudi Sodamin, head of culinary arts for Princess Cruises, designed an excellent seafood menu. Princess Cruises fleet favourites, Sabatinis Italian restaurant, and The Crown Grill are additionally on board.
In addition to pizza slices on deck, don’t miss the chance to go to Alfredo’s Pizzeria, the pizzas are scrumptious right here, and I’m not stunned that it’s thought of to have one of the best pizza at sea! It’s complimentary to dine right here in case you have pre bought the Princess Plus or Premier bundle – see extra on this beneath.
O Malley’s Irish pub additionally serves up tasty pub grub, whereas the Worldwide Cafe has gentle bites, there are additionally non-public eating places for Reserve and Signature company.
Bars and Leisure on Solar Princess
It’s not solely in eating places that Solar Princess collaborates. You possibly can see superstar mixologist Rob Floyd’s affect within the Good Spirits lounge, the place mixologists present you how one can make these inventive cocktails.Â
You too can get pleasure from cocktails at Bellinis, Cascade bar, Crooners and Wheelhouse Bar, in addition to quite a few bars on the pool and solar decks.
I hardly ever go to an Irish Bar on holidays, however O Malley’s on Solar Princess was certainly one of our favorite haunts! The Rambling Rovers performed Irish music each night time and the environment was electrical.Â
We had been additionally lucky to see the primary reside present in The Dome. This unimaginable house is a solarium with a pool by day, and a stage with exhibits by night time. We noticed an acrobatic efficiency known as Artwork Beat, which was created in partnership with the famend Cirque Éloize – it was excellent, don’t miss it!
We additionally had the pleasure of attending one of many extraordinary experiences on board, Spellbound. This has adopted on from the unimaginable 360 Eating Expertise on Enchanted Princess and Discovery Princess, which was top-of-the-line eating experiences I’ve ever had.
It’s laborious to sum up in phrases simply how good Spellbound actually is. The phrases Magic Expertise don’t actually do it justice, however the truth that it’s in partnership with Magic Fortress, the famed Hollywood Icon, makes it a novel expertise at sea.
The expertise begins as quickly as you stroll by the Speakeasy-like door. You possibly can select from a wide range of magical cocktails – specifically curated for the expertise, adopted by a mesmerising show of card tips, earlier than getting into a small room for an intimate theatre expertise with 30 individuals. It was thoughts blowing!
We nonetheless speak about it at dwelling, nobody can perceive how the magicians did it, however suffice to say, e book it! The $149 price ticket could seem a bit extreme, however imagine me, it’s value it. The value consists of dinner and limitless speciality cocktails too.
Different agency Princess favourites are on board too together with the Princess Stay Lounge which has each day quiz exhibits and karaoke, and there are reside music venues all through the ship, probably the most notable being on the principle Piazza, the place you’ll be able to catch sport exhibits throughout the day and musicians and a DJ taking part in till 1am. This has a terrific full of life vibe, barely totally different to the normal environment right here on different Princess ships.Â
The theatre wasn’t open throughout our cruise however I’m advised the Princess Area is probably the most technologically superior Princess Theatre thus far, and if the exhibits on Sky Princess are something to go by, I’m positive you might be in for a deal with.
There are many day time leisure choices too, together with health lessons, cocktail and meals demonstrations, and you’ll all the time discover one thing taking place on the Piazza. After all for those who merely need to chill out, there may be all the time the Lotus Spa, and the on line casino is open when at sea must you fancy a flutter.
Swimming pools on Solar Princess
Solar Princess has 4 swimming swimming pools and 9 scorching tubs, plus an adult-only pool on the Sanctuary (further value). Though our cruise was totally booked, there was all the time loads of room on the pool decks.
The principle pool space has two massive swimming pools and loads of eating choices. We spent most of our time right here and beloved it, though the Aperol Spritz Bar might have had one thing to do with that… There have been no loopy pool video games, which suited me completely, though I believed the quantity on the large TV display might do with being lowered.
If you’d like a quieter vibe, the Wake View infinity pool in the back of the ship is likely to be extra your scene. There may be additionally an indoor / outside pool on the Dome which gives sheltered bathing and a extra relaxed expertise, and if you wish to be pampered, try the indoor pool or therapies within the Lotus Spa.Â
The Sanctuary
For an adult-only (16+) luxurious escape, the Sanctuary is the last word deal with. I spent a day right here on Sky Princess and beloved it, the Sanctuary on Solar Princess is bigger and much more luxurious. There’s a pool, bar, scorching tubs, premium solar loungers, and cabanas so that you can get pleasure from. The associated fee to spend the day right here is $79 on port days and $99 on sea days.
For those who fancy spending the week right here, take into consideration reserving one of many Sanctuary Assortment rooms, which shall be obtainable to e book from October 2024. Company staying within the Sanctuary Assortment can get pleasure from unique entry to the Sanctuary, in addition to non-public eating and leisure areas, and the Princess Premier all-inclusive bundle.
Youngsters’s actions on Solar PrincessÂ
In addition to youngsters, tweens and youngsters golf equipment, there are extra youngsters’s actions on Solar Princess than on some other Princess Cruise ship. There are 9 totally different youngsters actions on the highest deck, in any other case referred to as Park 19. There’s a excessive ropes course, a multi sports activities court docket, slides, splash park and an revolutionary roll glider. There are additionally a number of cool hammocks up there, I think about youngsters will hang around on Park 19 for hours.Â
Youngsters golf equipment vary from ages 3 – 7 and eight – 12 years and there may be teen zone for youngsters aged 13 – 17 years. All youngsters golf equipment are freed from cost and supply a bunch of actions beneath supervision. For those who fancy a date night time and need to have your baby supervised after 10pm, there’s a nominal €5 per hour cost. Youngsters from 6 months to 2 years can attend the children membership however should be supervised by a dad or mum. Â
I used to be very impressed with the teenager membership. It’s open till 1 am and the organised actions even embody scorching tub events! You possibly can see movies and extra information on youngsters golf equipment on my Instagram Spotlight of Solar Princess.
Motion pictures are proven each night time on the pool deck too. Princess Cruises’ poolside films are a convention on all ships, the place solar loungers are coated in comfortable cushions and popcorn and drinks are offered, as cruisers watch Motion pictures Beneath The Stars – you’ll be able to see this on my Instagram spotlight too.
Cabins on Solar Princess
The cabins on Solar Princess have been utterly reimagined from what I’ve seen on different Princess cruise ships. Fortunately the signature Princess Luxurious Mattress stays – voted the Finest Mattress at Sea by Cruise Critic – the cruise trade’s TripAdvisor.
Nonetheless, cabins are extra spacious, the outdated bathe curtains are lastly gone, and have been changed with a contemporary loos in addition to intelligent closet house. There’s a choice of USB and adaptor ports, a strong hairdryer and a spacious balcony.Â
Sadly there are nonetheless no household cabins for big households (the utmost is 2 adults and a pair of youngsters), though in case your finances permits there are 100 interconnecting cabins, in addition to luxurious 2 bed room Sky Suites.
I beloved how the balcony wall slides again so for those who do have interconnecting balcony cabins, you’ll be able to get pleasure from a shared house.
Princess Cruises Princess Plus and Premier packages Â
Princess Cruises drinks packages are a few of the finest worth within the cruise market. There are two choices Princess Plus is $60 / €58 per individual per day, and Princess Premier is $80 / €75 per individual per day. I strongly advise buying certainly one of these if you’re planning on having just a few drinks per day, get pleasure from speciality eating choices and need to have WiFi on board. The free room service supply is a bonus too!
Princess Plus consists of:
Princess Premier Consists of:
Remaining Ideas on Solar Princess
I’ve been very lucky to expertise Solar Princess by its many levels: whereas it was beneath development within the Shipyard, on the naming ceremony in Barcelona, and on a household break at Easter time. Whereas every expertise was utterly totally different, I got here away extraordinarily impressed every time..
I really like the dimensions of Solar Princess, the service and environment on board. Princess all the time handle to get the stability proper – there was a relaxed casual environment, that was neither refined nor rowdy – its simply the best way I prefer it, and just like the environment after I cruised on Sky Princess.
The standard of the meals and drinks, and the effectivity with how they’re delivered, stood out as soon as once more for me. Princess have gotten the pool areas proper too: they don’t seem to be too crowded and fortunately no loud celebration video games both.Â
The addition of the Dome and the Irish Bar brings one other dimension to their already intensive leisure choices, and with Park 19 on the highest deck, older youngsters can now get pleasure from Princess ships as a lot as adults.
My youngsters (16 and 13) had a brilliant time, and didn’t need to come dwelling – which is uncommon at that age! They beloved the leisure and meals on board, in addition to their new discovered freedom of with the ability to order meals and drinks any time they wished from their solar lounger or cabin! I used to be capable of depart them by the pool whereas I explored Palma for the afternoon – it was an exquisite stress-free expertise for all of us.Â
Princess Cruises has 16 cruise ships, cruising to 330 locations throughout all continents – together with Antarctica! It’s thought of one of many World’s Main Worldwide Premium Cruise Strains, and is constantly recognised because the Finest Cruise Line for Itineraries.
I hope my assessment of Solar Princess will enable you plan a cruise vacation quickly, and that you just get pleasure from cruising on this stunning ship as a lot as I’ve.
