ABOARD THE SUN PRINCESS -- It was far from an ideal day to explore a new cruise ship named after the sun. Instead of warm light bathing the Sun Princess and illuminating the new ship's features, cold rain fell from grey clouds and slid down the ship's curves.
The Sun's second revenue cruise is sailing through the Med. While the ship is on a 10-day Barcelona-to-Rome itinerary, I am joining for the first half of the voyage, departing in Athens with five days to acquaint myself with the Sun, the first of the line's Sphere class. It's a ship seven years in the making.
True to its Sphere class name, this ship has curves. Large windows form a bulbous sphere in the center of the ship, which was the first feature I noticed during embarkation. At the front of the ship is another curve, that of a geodesic structure aptly called The Dome, which was the first place I was drawn to.
The glassy dome felt like a sanctuary from the rain, amplifying what little daylight the clouds would let in. The Dome is filled with plush chaise lounge chairs in an amphitheater-like arrangement facing an inside/outside pool, the inside of which transitions into a stage to feature acrobatic performances by Cirque Eloize.
The majority of the pool is situated just outside The Dome, as are two hot tubs and the Sea View outdoor bar. After scoping out the Sea View area, I retreated into the safety of The Dome and settled at its Cascade Bar near a window to watch the rain stream down its windows like shooting stars.
The ship as a whole introduces more light inside the ship, not only in The Dome. The salon offers guests getting their hair or nails done with ocean views throughout their treatment. The same goes for the room where guests do yoga and Pilates. Even a pair of elevators at the aft of the ship is surrounded by glass, offering a view from Deck 7 to Deck 18, which was a treat even on this cloudy day.
The cabana-style TV room in the Cabana Mini Suite leads to a patio facing a restricted-access sundeck. Photo Credit: Andrea Zelinski
The innovative Cabana Mini Suite
While exploring the ship, I poked my head into the ship's various cabins and was struck by a new category -- the Cabana Mini Suite.
The resort-style stateroom builds on a new cruising trend of turning the balcony into a separate semi-interior room.
While the stateroom resembles the line's Deluxe Balcony, just past the bed a door opens to an enclosed cabana-style room in place of a balcony. It has a couch and a television. Keep walking through that room and the windowed door leads to a patio that offers a view to a restricted-access sundeck.
It's innovative, giving guests two ways to enjoy the sun -- one from inside a TV area and the other from the patio. The room is ideal for social butterflies who enjoy making friends off their back patio.
The cabana-style TV room is not private, as anyone walking on the sun deck will directly pass in front of the patio or be able to get a glimpse into the windowed TV room, which is not shielded by curtains. The main interior of the room, however, does have curtains.
Curtains or not, as the sailing continues and the weather hopefully changes, I'm looking forward to experiencing the Sun in different lights.
Correction: This article has been updated to reflect the correct name of the Sun Princess in the headline.