Princess Cruises Announces Exclusive Packages for Magic Castle™ Conjurer's Cruise Aboard the New Sun

[LACruiser88]

July 26, 2024 9:30 AM EDT   Princess Cruises Announces Exclusive Packages for Magic Castle™ Conjurer's Cruise Aboard the New Sun Princess, with Headliner Michael Carbonaro

Limited Spots for Magical Packages Now Available to Book  Actor and Magician Michael Carbonaro to Headline Exclusive Event on November 9 – 16 2024 Sailing   FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla., July 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Princess Cruises, in collaboration with Hollywood's legendary Magic Castle™, has unveiled three exclusive packages for its second Conjurer's Cruise onboard the brand-new Sun Princess.   Sailing November 9-16, 2024, roundtrip from Ft. Lauderdale, this magical journey will feature headline performances by acclaimed actor and magician Michael Carbonaro.     Guests will have the opportunity to be mesmerized by Spellbound, the newly launched "Extraordinary Experience." The Conjurer's Cruise will feature a series of ship-wide, custom-curated magical events and activities, making this a once-in-a-lifetime voyage of wonder and illusion. In addition to the magic onboard which is available to all registrants, three magical enhancements are now available for guests to purchase to enhance their onboard experience.   The "Apprentice" Package, priced at $275 per person, includes an exclusive "Meet the Magicians" welcome reception and fun-filled farewell social. Guests will also receive a guided tour of Spellbound with Erika Larsen, president of Magic Castle Enterprises and member of the famed Larsen family of magicians. Apprentices will also be granted early access to seating for performances in the Princess Arena and will receive special commemorative merchandise.   For $545 per person, the "Enchanter" Package includes all Apprentice benefits, plus a special breakfast event featuring the Conjurer's Cruise magicians and members of the Larsen family. Guests will also enjoy the full Spellbound experience, including dinner, reserved seating for all magic lectures and performances in the Princess Arena, as well as a special late-night cocktail party and magic show featuring surprises galore.   The top-tier "Conjurer" Package is available for $795 per person. In addition to all Apprentice and Enchanter benefits, this package offers a magic class for beginning, intermediate or advanced students taught by a world-renowned magician. Guests will receive a coveted invitation to attend an intimate Spellbound cocktail soirée with Michael Carbonaro and the entire cast of Conjurer's Cruise, as well as a Bridge tour with the Captain of Sun Princess. Additional perks include exclusive merchandise, a signed photo of the magicians, and a welcome gift in their stateroom.   With limited spots available, these packages can be reserved through a Travel Agent or by calling 1-800-Princess, and referencing Magical Enhancement Packages.   This spectacular seven-day cruise will provide all cruise participants an opportunity to lift the veil of The Magic Castle. Top magicians will astound guests throughout the ship, and the art of magic will be featured in ways never before seen on a Princess ship, including:   Dynamic Piazza magic showcases, Princess Arena magical revues, recurring Princess Theater magic shows, uniquely tailored talks and lectures, and lively pop-up magic gatherings Magic Castle countdown to midnight themed event Kid-friendly magic shows and activities Magic-themed Movies Under the Stars Curios and artifacts from magic's rich history on display Magic jam sessions   Exclusive to the stunning and newest Love Boat, Sun Princess, Spellbound by Magic Castle is the latest in Princess Cruises' new category of "Extraordinary Experiences," blending the captivating world of magic with the art of culinary and mixology to create an innovative, immersive experience. Guests enjoy dinner featuring a specially-designed menu, followed by an evening in Spellbound, a specially-themed and immersive venue steeped in magic and adventure featuring talented Magic Castle-sponsored magicians performing incredible feats of illusion and theatrical cocktails that are conjured by sleight-of-hand bartenders. Hollywood's world-famous Magic Castle is known as the mecca of magic and the legendary home to the Academy of Magical Arts.   The Victorian mansion in the Hollywood Hills is a private clubhouse, accessible by only members and their guests and has championed the art of magic and cultivated the careers of magicians and illusionists for over 60 years with close-up performances to full-stage illusion shows.   "After the huge success of our first Conjurer's Cruise in 2023, our second themed cruise is sure to be another celebration of the magical arts, connecting the astounding amazement of the mysterious world of magic to guests," said Erika Larsen, president of Magic Castle Enterprises. "This voyage sets sail on the beautiful Sun Princess where Spellbound made its official debut at sea, presenting the world's only alternative authentic experience of our beloved and exclusive Magic Castle."   The 177,500-ton, 4,300-guest Sun Princess offers an array of exciting new culinary and entertainment offerings, as well as luxurious staterooms and suites across a broad spectrum of categories. With the most balconies and sun decks on any Princess ship, guests can take in the sunshine and crystal-clear waters of the Caribbean from the comfort of their stateroom. Plus, Princess delivers a premium vacation with the line's award-winning, signature Princess Medallion Class experience which offers unparalleled service and personalization. To sign up for this captivating vacation experience, visit princess.com or click here to see the voyage.

[PacnGoNow]

Whoa!  Expensive.  Guess some will jump on it. 🥴

[moviegal]

Oh my gosh, that sounds so neat!

[KLM3164]

I’m on this cruise but will pass on these extra packages. Interesting though that we haven’t received any notice from Princess on these packages. We’ve got Spellbound booked which will be enough for our group.

[SD_Dolfan]

Will Michael Carbonaro be performing for the entire ship, or only in this intimate $$$ event?

Edited July 26 by SD_Dolfan

[LACruiser88]

41 minutes ago, SD_Dolfan said:

Will Michael Carbonaro be performing for the entire ship, or only in this intimate $$$ event?

Sounds like it will only be for the $$$ event...  

[2theship]

We booked this cruise before it became the "Conjurers Cruise" so I think we'll skip the packages. I know that there a lot of magic fans in this group so I'm sure they'll find an audience for it.

[LittleTinker]

Spellbound....soooo over rated.

[Dani24]

We've been to the Magic Castle in Hollywood, and it was an awesome experience. This looks really interesting, although the price is very steep (especially since it's per person). For that price we could just go back to the Magic Castle and enjoy a delicious meal, multiple intimate shows, and even stay at the Magic Castle hotel next door (which has awesome service), and still have money left over. 

[lx200gps]

We were on the first Magic Castle cruise last year, so-identified long after we had booked the trip.  It was interesting, and IIRC Carbonara's show was in the main theater open to all, but there was nothing about the trip we would have paid extra for. We did see a few folks with the special name tags around the ship. Unless you are a VERY big magic fan I wouldn't advise spending the hundreds of extra $$$s for the few extra perqs that come with it.

[CruizerBill]

We were part of a small group of 40-ish pax on the 2023 inaugural MCC Cruise who participated in the special program. I will share our experience as a possible precursor for what may come. We had already booked the 2023 cruise before the Magic Castle(MC) collab announcement(~3 mos before sail). We later contacted Princess to have our names added to the group; there was no additional cost for us. Presumably, we were guinea pigs for this year's sailing. 

 

At embarkation, all participants received a custom lanyard and placard for entrance to program events. We began collecting signatures on the back, which started a trend.

           

 

Onboard representing MC were Randy Pitchford(Owner), Erika Larsen(Pres.), Liberty Larsen(daughter/performer), and about 12 performing magicians. Some of the magicians came on or left during the cruise.

 

We attended private sail-away and farewell socials and group dining most nights in a separate section of one of the main dining rooms. If you're familiar with Reserve Dining on the Discovery, we sat adjacent to that. I recall a group breakfast and brunch, as well. A magician or two would go around and perform close-up magic. There were public and private events both on and off the ship. Princess provided reserved seating for designated shows in the main theater. The only event requiring a fee was an optional private theater show in San Francisco at The Magic Patio.

 

We were pleasantly surprised at how friendly and engaging the MC reps and magicians were. The program exceeded our expectations. 

 

My thoughts on Value.

We have been on several themed Princess cruises. Most offer themed experiences at a premium. We are on the Majestic this weekend to Alaska with Jeff Corwin. I recall some of those theme-hosted excursions costing several hundred dollars for just a few-hours excursion. Considering that these packages offer experiences spanning multiple days, some will reconcile the cost. Obviously, the packages offer little value if you have no affinity for Magic.

 

 

 

 

 

Inaugural Magic Castle Farewell Social. MC Pres. Erika Larsen(front row center, colorful dress), Cruise Dir Duvall(front row center, white jacket), Group members, and Princess coordinators.

 

 

 

 

[Honolulu Blue]

6 hours ago, CruizerBill said:

We were part of a small group of 40-ish pax on the 2023 inaugural MCC Cruise who participated in the special program. I will share our experience as a possible precursor for what may come. We had already booked the 2023 cruise before the Magic Castle(MC) collab announcement(~3 mos before sail). We later contacted Princess to have our names added to the group; there was no additional cost for us. Presumably, we were guinea pigs for this year's sailing. 

 

At embarkation, all participants received a custom lanyard and placard for entrance to program events. We began collecting signatures on the back, which started a trend.

           

 

Onboard representing MC were Randy Pitchford(Owner), Erika Larsen(Pres.), Liberty Larsen(daughter/performer), and about 12 performing magicians. Some of the magicians came on or left during the cruise.

 

We attended private sail-away and farewell socials and group dining most nights in a separate section of one of the main dining rooms. If you're familiar with Reserve Dining on the Discovery, we sat adjacent to that. I recall a group breakfast and brunch, as well. A magician or two would go around and perform close-up magic. There were public and private events both on and off the ship. Princess provided reserved seating for designated shows in the main theater. The only event requiring a fee was an optional private theater show in San Francisco at The Magic Patio.

 

We were pleasantly surprised at how friendly and engaging the MC reps and magicians were. The program exceeded our expectations. 

 

My thoughts on Value.

We have been on several themed Princess cruises. Most offer themed experiences at a premium. We are on the Majestic this weekend to Alaska with Jeff Corwin. I recall some of those theme-hosted excursions costing several hundred dollars for just a few-hours excursion. Considering that these packages offer experiences spanning multiple days, some will reconcile the cost. Obviously, the packages offer little value if you have no affinity for Magic.

 

 

 

 

 

Inaugural Magic Castle Farewell Social. MC Pres. Erika Larsen(front row center, colorful dress), Cruise Dir Duvall(front row center, white jacket), Group members, and Princess coordinators.

I have no affinity for magic, but I appreciate the description of your experience onboard the Discovery. Thank you for it.

 

I've done a couple of 80s themed cruises from Princess.  No VIP packages were offered and all experiences onboatd were open to everyone. They also announced the theme relatively late (2 to 6 months before sailing), so most passengers weren't aware of the theme at the time of booking. I knew, in both cases, and booked because of the theme.