cr2000

Thanks for doing this, would really love some clarification on the Signature Sundeck for families staying in a suite. I can understand how the Sanctuary might be adult only, but I don't see how Princess can market suites to families, but then break those families apart if they want to sit together on the Signature Sundeck. Seems like really bad public relations and marketing to do that given the ship is targeted towards families with kids given the addition of Park 19. 

3 hours ago, CanadianBurger said:

Definitely not a King. I’d say a regular Queen is the size. There’s a bit of an illusion where the bed looks short, but because the wall is recessed where the bed is, it’s definitely a normal length. I’m 6’2” and didn’t feel it was short. 

Thanks. I was thinking more in terms of width. It seems the definitions of bed sizes vary between Europe and the US. I was trying to figure out what size twin. Apparently in Europe a twin bed is 35"x79" while in the US it's 36"x75". Push two twins together in the US and you'd have 70"x79" or in Europe it'd be 72"x75". It's confusing because in either case you'd have a bed closer to a King than a Queen, which makes me wonder if Princess is using smaller size twin beds?

I'm wondering if someone might be able to clarify/confirm the bed size in reserve mini-suites?

Princess says the Queen size bed is comprised of two twin beds pushed together. However, Royal Carribean also pushes two twin beds together but they call it a King. So I'm wondering... does Princess use smaller twin beds?

I'd love to get a measurement on an actual bed in a mini-suite if anyone happens to be onboard. Probably could use the measure function on an iPhone to get a measurement since I doubt anyone is traveling with a tape measure. Thanks! 🙂

Incredible thread you put together, this should serve as a comphrensive resource for anyone sailing Sun Princess. I hope someone from Princess reaches out to you and offers you some type of compensation (maybe a free cruise!) for all you've done. Thanks!

Would you have any pictures of the inside of the Signature Dining Room and the Reserve Dining Room? I've only seen limited shots mostly from the outside of the restaurants looking in. Thanks.

Haven’t seen many pictures of kids on the ship seems like a mostly older crowd. Any sense how much that may change as it moves into the summer season?

1 hour ago, CanadianBurger said:

Wandered around both levels of Horizons today. The far aft area is the only place on the ship where you can feel side-to-side motion, enough so that even today my wife wouldn’t be able to sit back there. It’s glass-smooth everywhere else. Also found the chef’s table on 7. 
 

 

 

 

 

I wonder if that side to side motion is also prominent in aft rooms and suites? Would seem if you can feel it pronounced on lower decks it’ll be worse up in rooms above?

Also, based on the pictures, I’d argue

that the main dining room has far a nicer atmosphere than the reserve or signature restaurants. Is that just pictures or does it seem that way in person as well?

14 hours ago, CanadianBurger said:

We got back at 3pm and there was zero line to board. By 4:30, there was a huge queue stretching outside the terminal building. The X-ray scanners and magnetrons were inside the port building. Nothing to do at the ship but scan your medallion. 
 

Don't Reserve and Signature members get priority embarkation and de-embarkations at all ports?

1 hour ago, Familycruzer11 said:

I think this can be solved by listing this Signature amenity as  "Access to the Adults-Only Sanctuary for Signaure Suite guests 16+"  Guests can choose to book, or not, knowing what they are getting.  As mentioned several times, the Sun has more to offer kids and families than any other Princess ship without bringing kids into the Sanctuary, and there are plenty of other Signature Suite amenities to be enjoyed by the whole family.

That doesn't solve it though as you basically eliminate a whole bunch of potential customers with lots of cash who might otherwise book a suite for their family. NCL and Royal have figured out a way to allow suite guests to share private pool/lounge areas with their entire family regardless of age.

10 minutes ago, Host CJSKIDS said:

 

I have asked seen the Sanctuary manager come and explain to the parents that their young teens unfortunately had to leave, so it does happen. The family simply  took their conversation outside. 

And I think that is a BIG issue. With Park 19 this ship is geared towards families, to deny and separate those families paying a large premium in a signature suite is going to be problematic imo. They have to figure this out.

1 hour ago, MTNest93 said:

Not that Princess asked my opinion, but here it is anyway.  Make the Sanctuary a suite only adult area and build it out to actually be a sanctuary with all padded loungers, proper shade/privacy, and  greenery.  Remove excess loungers to provide separation between sets of loungers as they do on Grand and Royal class ships.  I think there will be enough loungers to not have to worry about reserving specific ones.   Allow suite guests to book the cabanas prior to embarkation and after final payment if they are not yet sold out, open it up to non-suite passengers to book, also prior to embarkation.  Make the dome/Sea View area adult only during the day but of course allow children for the nightly shows.  Now the kicker, also make the Wake View area adult only.  The kids have the Lido deck pools and hot tubs, kid clubs, and Park 19 all at their disposal. This will allow us older passengers (such as myself) to still have the Princess upscale experience while catering to multi-generational families as well.  Just my humble opinion.....if this doesn't work, then beef up the amenities for kids on the sphere class ships so us old farts can cruise in peace on the older ships.

You'd be happier on Holland America or Virgin. The cruise industry is changing towards a more family focused demographic, they are just following the demand (and money).

A lot of time here spent discussing adult only spaces and access to chairs in The Sanctuary, but on a more practical level, on a Mediterranean cruise, isn't the focus really on exploring the historic ports of call? I could see perhaps in the Carribean spending more time lounging by a pool, but if I'm cruising the Mediterranean (where the Sun Princess is now), I'm viewing the ship as nothing more than a place to sleep, eat and maybe enjoy some evening entertainment and breakfast the following morning. Typically the number of sea days is limited.

7 hours ago, Steelers36 said:

I don't see young kids being able or interested in being plunked down all day in a chair snoozing or reading/listening to a book.  And teenagers ought to know how to act, so I don't see a big deal.  This is hardly anywhere close to the biggest issues with the current setup.

Agreed. I don't see young kids having any interest in The Sanctuary, but I could foresee the scenario where mom and dad are relaxing in The Sanctuary while their teenager(s) are off doing an activity with a couple friends. Then at some point they want to meet back up and that teenager would like to stop back and talk with mom or dad but is precluded from entering the Sanctuary under the current rules. I think a lot of people that travel with families and pay a premium for a suite will be disappointed that they can't use this amenity because their children aren't allowed to enter that area even just to check in and say hi. 

3 hours ago, Familycruzer11 said:

 Right! Forgot about that.  I think time will tell as the weather warms, Park 19 fully opens, and the Sanctuary fills up.   It sounds awful, and I am hoping that Princess has thought of this because putting a Sanctuary below a Playground is well... 🥺   We don't go until Jan 2025 so will be watching ...

Well, they might be able to change some rules about how The Sanctuary works, but the location of it and proximity to the playground will be the same in 2025. Could end up being a moot point if they change the rules and simply repurpose The Sanctuary to a dedicated Signature suite area and allow children into it.

4 hours ago, CatMom72 said:

As @Familycruzer11 already noted, those of us in suites are already paying plenty for Signature Collection on the Sun.  Now I come to find out that if I am not among the first 43 suite passengers to make it to the Signature Sun Deck on a sea day, I will be forced to take my chances on the other side of the partition, just hoping against hope that all the padded lounge chairs haven't already been sold to day pass users? Or perhaps I will get a padded lounge chair right underneath the screaming children using the RollGlider at Park 19? I'm sorry, but that is not what we had in mind when we paid extra for access to the Signature Sun Deck. Incidentally, I wouldn't want to be a non-suite passenger paying $99 to spend a day in a chair underneath the RollGlider, either.

What's coming through with the design of this ship is that Princess clearly designed it with families in mind assuming a changing demographic in the cruise industry. Typically Princess has catered more towards older couples traveling without kids, that's doesn't seem to be the target demographic with Sun Princess. I actually think in time they'll be forced to open The Sanctuary up to children as more and more families book Signature suites and expect to use the amenities of The Sanctuary with their families.

How have the crowds been around the Lido pools on sea days?

2 hours ago, CanadianBurger said:

Sun Princess Sanctuary - No Children

 

I asked the Sanctuary manager about children. NO ONE UNDER 16 WILL BE ADMITTED. He said Signature Suite guests will all be informed that this is the policy. 

Thanks for confirming. I'm sure that makes some people happy and others not,  but it helps clarify for me what type of room to book.

You've been so informative across these threads, I certainly hope Princess somehow recognizes the time you've taken from your own vacation to help all future travelers. 

Just now, CruizinSusan70 said:

How about Park19 and all of the kid oriented stuff up there?

Good point, would suggest that in the design/planning of this ship Princess was thinking about a more family type demographic in travelers and therefore maybe that carries over and reshapes their plans around The Sanctuary and Sundeck areas? Hopefully someone from Princess is reading these forums and taking notes of all the marketing collateral that needs to be updated.

21 minutes ago, Fortunate 2 travel said:

There are 3 or 4 other pools on the Sun for parents/grandparents to be with the kids.  The Sanctuary has always been adult only.  I sure hope Princess leaves the Sanctuary adult only.  Time will tell.  

Very true, but for the same reason you like those loungers in The Sanctuary, I suspect grandparents and parents do as well, and if kids can now be booked in suites, and suite guests have access to The Sanctuary/Signature Sun Deck, then it's reasonable to expect kids will be allowed in their as well. Particularly since families will have paid that privilege cost for all members in the suite. You'd think Princess would spell all this out on their website for us.

11 minutes ago, CanadianBurger said:

I will ask directly about the children-in-the-sanctuary situation and let everyone know. 
 

And Thanks!

That would be great, I can't find anything official on Princess.com either way. But given all the full suites allow kids to be booked, perhaps they've made a change for multi-generational families who travel together, to also spent time together with parents/grandparents in The Sanctuary. The industry is changing with more and more cruiselines/ships catering to family travelers. Let us know what you find out. 

1 hour ago, CanadianBurger said:

I would think not, since the full suites can have children. 

So full Suite guests get access to The Sanctuary and Signature Sun Deck for free. Children are allowed to be in full suites, so do we then assume those same children/families in those full suites have access to both The Sanctuary and Signature Sun Deck?

And by extension the only children that would be excluded would be those who's parents attempt to buy a day pass, where a day pass could not be sold to a child? I would love clarification on this as it would determine if I spend the extra money to book a full suite. 

Btw, Princess ought to put you on the payroll (or a least comp you a free cruise), you've offered more informative information than their entire marketing and sales department!

4 hours ago, CanadianBurger said:

Actually, I was surprised to find it didn’t flip over at all. The rear cushions are fixed; they don’t move at all, and there’s nothing under the bottom cushions. It would seem the only convertible couches are the ones in cabins specifically designated for 3.  
 

 

Interesting, on the deck plan it says some mini-suite rooms will accommodate 3 and 4 people I wonder how they do that?

Does anyone happen to know if the sofa's in the mini-suites open up into a double bed? Or is it a single bed?

Thanks so much for all your informational posts and pictures, a huge help to anyone considering this ship. Wondering if you could comment on how well it handles any ocean choppiness, have you found it to be similar to other cruises or more stable given the size and design? Looking at the wave forecasts against the plotted course it does look like it's sailed through some 8/9ft swells over the past day or so, curious on your thoughts.

1 hour ago, CanadianBurger said:

I love how the curtain divides the mini. 
 

 

But the balcony chairs don’t recline. At least there are footstools. 
 

 

Do you happen to know, or might you be able to ask someone staying in a Cabana Mini-Suite on Deck 9, whether there is a curtian separator between the bed and sofa? The renderings for the cabana mini-suites don't appear to show one, which seems odd given it's a mini-suite. Thanks!