Karryon joined Star Princess for her official naming ceremony and inaugural Caribbean cruise recently, setting sail from Fort Lauderdale. So, what’s it really like on board Princess Cruises’ newest ship? Here are the seven insider takeaways this first-time Princess cruiser discovered on the latest Sphere Class ship.
Star Princess, the brightest new star and the 17th ship in Princess Cruises’ global fleet, is making waves and doing things differently, starting with her celebrity godparents: Camila and Matthew McConaughey.
The dynamic duo brought their star wattage to Princess Cruises’ newest ship’s naming ceremony in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on 6 November 2025, smashing a bottle of their Pantalones Organic Tequila instead of the traditional Champagne against the bow.
The second Sphere Class ship is also breaking boundaries, bringing modern design and main character energy to the perennially popular brand through exclusive retreats, more specialty dining and world-class entertainment and magical onboard moments.
Star Princess Captain Gennaro Arma, who oversaw the ship’s construction from the start, says: “Every vessel has a soul, and this one shines brighter than most. From the moment her keel was laid to her first touch of water, Star Princess was built with pride, precision and passion.”
“Star Princess is a ship built for discovery, joy and light, and we will do our utmost to ensure that light shines brightly wherever she sails,” he says.
As a new-to-Princess cruiser, here’s what I learned on board and from the experts, and what you need to know about this dazzling new ship.
Brand-new Sphere Class innovation
Star Princess is the second in Princess Cruises’ all-new Sphere Class, joining sister ship Sun Princess as the largest and most advanced vessels in the fleet. But what differentiates the 4,300-guest Star Princess from other Princess ships?
Star Princess features a fresh, modern look with stylish, neutral hues and expanded public spaces designed to appeal to both the loyal Princess cruiser and new-to-cruise travellers.
Sphere Class propels the brand forward, creating a resort-at-sea vibe with plenty of onboard amenities and must-have features, such as fast Wi-Fi plus plenty of nooks to retreat to despite the ship’s size.
Princess Cruises President Gus Antorcha says the brand is synonymous with cruising, dating back to the Love Boat, which brought modern-day cruising into everyone’s living room. The brand has evolved while staying true to its core values, focusing on exploration, travel and discovery.
“Star Princess really embodies the direction where we’re going, which is: it’s elegant, it’s beautiful, but it’s approachable, it’s comfortable. It’s very much who we are – it’s in our DNA,” Antorcha says.
Enhanced sense of space and light
One thing that stands out about Star Princess is the space and light, most notably within the striking glass sphere of the Piazza in the ship’s midsection, which floods the interiors with natural light, bringing the outdoors inside. The design creates an open, airy feel that’s perfect for travellers who want modern aesthetics and uninterrupted views.
Even the two-storey Lotus Spa and spacious fitness centre are drenched in light, along with the open SkyDeck pickleball/basketball court and running/walking track.
My Deluxe Balcony Stateroom on deck 12 is similarly spacious and bright, featuring floor-to-ceiling glass sliding doors that open up the cabin, leading to a decent-sized balcony with a table and two chairs.
Beds can be made up in a twin or queen configuration, and the stateroom includes a flatscreen TV, couch and a separate desk in the living area. There’s plenty of storage for luggage under the bed, plus a generous wardrobe with hangers and shelf space.
The bathroom is also well-equipped with a rain showerhead and a separate nozzle and space to store all your toiletries. Thoughtful touches include a Drybar hairdryer, bathrobes and sensor lights at night.
Princess Cruises Vice President APAC Matthew Rutherford tells me that Aussie cruisers aboard the newest ship can make the most of the epic Arctic vistas on her inaugural Alaska season next year, following the Caribbean program.
“Australians will have a front-deck view of the glaciers in a bucket-list destination and the unique experience of cruising on a bucket-list ship,” he says.
The Dome: A first-at-sea showstopper
Inspired by Santorini terraces, The Dome is a multi-deck, multi-use space with a relaxation area and pool by day and entertainment by night, including the SeaView Bar.
On my cruise, The Dome created an intimate backdrop for the new, night-time Candlelight Concert Series, a projection space for Barajolka (Sand Artist) and the celebratory venue for the Culinary Showcase after the Star Princess Naming Ceremony, highlighting its flexibility.
This new glass dome venue really amps up the wow factor with curated programming that activates the tiered amphitheatre space, or simply a spot to kick back and relax by the pool.
Princess Cruises CCO Jim Berra tells me that the new live entertainment components, including Broadway-inspired performances, unique staging and intentional music choices, will elevate onboard spaces and resonate with Australians.
“We’ve really thought about the live entertainment components and theatrical performances and delivering something that people haven’t seen before,” he says, highlighting two new original shows: Meridian and Illuminate.
“It’s all designed to be very unique but still resonate with [our core consumer].”
All-new food and beverage concepts that wow
The theatre isn’t confined to entertainment offerings, Star Princess brings nostalgic faves, expanded specialty dining and new F&B concepts to the table with 30 dining and bar venues.
New additions include seafood-forward The Catch by Rudi, carnivore fave The Butcher’s Block by Dario and Makoto Ocean, a freshly caught edomae-style sushi bar that received the tick of approval from Japanese trade partners on board.
With dining designed to make memorable moments, other standouts include the Love by Britto, where the epic views and heart-shaped details in the creative multi-course menu will melt yours, and Alfredo’s Pizzeria, certified by Ospitalità Italiana for authentic excellence and considered the best Neopolitan-style pizza at sea.
Another unmissable new venue is Spellbound by Magic Castle – a 1920s-style immersive speakeasy meets sleight-of-hand show experience, complete with hidden elements, mystic memorabilia and truly mind-blowing cocktail mixology.
I don’t want to give too much away, but it’s a definite must-do, as is the stylish Crooners Bar – boasting exclusive cocktails created for Star Princess by Handshake Speakeasy in Mexico City, named number one in the World’s 50 Best Bars of 2024.
Princess Cruises F&B Vice President Sami Kohen tells me these partnerships form part of the food and beverage innovations as the brand continues to explore new dining concepts, including more tableside moments and health-conscious options.
“We go around the world, we visit different places, and we connect people and cultures so, it is important for us to be connected outside the cruising world to be able to offer these unique experiences for our guests,” he says.
Elevated Sanctuary Collection onboard amenities
Talk about high living on the high seas! First introduced on Sun Princess, the Sanctuary Collection is a “ship-within-a-ship” concept and an exclusive haven that screams quiet luxury.
Sanctuary Collection Suite guests enjoy access to the Sanctuary Club top-deck retreat along with elevated amenities, such as private dining and relaxation, wellness classes and the Princess Premier beverage bundle.
The Sanctuary Club is the perfect luxe spot to hide away or Instagram your best life. It’s an onboard Med-style beach club with a private pool, complete with inflatables; a restaurant, bar and self-serve spread of nibbles with waiter service to your cabana or lounger; DJs to provide the tunes and top-deck aft views. There’s even a bell to ring for Champagne with white-glove service behind a hidden wall.
Rutherford says the Sanctuary Club, with its dedicated outdoor spaces and private dining with non-reservation access, is so unique to the brand and a true selling point for Australian travellers.
“The Sanctuary Club – that ship-within-a-ship experience – will appeal to Australian travellers along with other features that are really resonating with guests to give Star Princess a 70 to 80 per cent NPS rating that is unheard of,” he says.
It’s another way Star Princess caters to travellers who want extra comfort without the ultra-luxe price tag.
High-tech solutions for seamless cruising
The award-winning OceanMedallion is a game-changer for effortless cruising at sea, customised. Wave goodbye to cumbersome cards on lanyards for a sleek, wearable disc-shaped device that comes with its own accessories.
Every passenger receives a free Medallion for touchless boarding, keyless stateroom entry on approach, dining reservations, payments and on-demand services. It’s exclusive to Princess Cruises and provides an innovative digital identity on board.
As part of the Princess Premier package, the OceanNow location-based delivery feature allows you to order drinks, food and other items wherever you are on the ship (in select locations), using the Medallion. It’s a seamless smart solution that really enhances your onboard experience and one I definitely will miss at home.
The Princess Premier package also includes MedallionNet for Wi-Fi at sea up to four devices and all alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, including specialty coffees.
Star power meets heavenly itineraries
After maiden cruises in the Mediterranean in October 2025, Star Princess will debut Caribbean sailings from Fort Lauderdale before moving north for her inaugural Alaska season in mid-2026.
This flexibility makes it easy to pair with land itineraries or pre- or post-cruise stays, particularly for the fly-cruise market that’s popular among Aussies and Kiwis, Rutherford notes.
“Australians love cruising and they’ve realised they can have a great cruise experience around the world. There are all these places that they never thought they could go to and, with cruising offering so much choice and a great way to see the world, I think that’s why fly-cruise is growing so much,” he says.
I’ll leave the last word to Star Princess godparent Matthew McConaughey, who blessed the ship, saying: “Our hope is that with the great expectations of the passengers and crew who come onto the ship, you return home with bigger smiles than you left with.”
Find out more at princess.com
The writer travelled for Karryon as a guest of Princess Cruises.
