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II’m watching the stars spin like a supernova on a 30-foot LED screen. Acrobats spin through constellations, balancing on hoops suspended in mid-air, before a sudden burst of light: a dancer strides forward, pouring champagne into a pyramid of shimmering glasses in the middle of the atrium.
This is the brand new “Celestial Champagne Soiree” star princess – A futuristic spin on the traditional Captain’s Toast.
As the screen reveals the ship’s senior crew, it feels like I’m seeing old friends.
I still remember the first time I stepped on it princess cruises The ship, back in 2018. Ornate, wooden beams and gold chrome railings crown princess Led to a palatial piazza.
Seven years later, as cruise ships race to modernize, it’s great to see that many traditions survive. As soon as I join I feel like I’ve come home ‘Star Princess’ from the first sailing of barcelona,
star princess The new Sphere-class is the second, following the launch of sister ship sun princess Last year. Like SunIt is wider, brighter and more open than the 42 meter CrownOf 36m. The capacity of other ships in the fleet has increased from 3,000 to 4,300 passengers, yet this one feels less crowded and more functional.
The iconic spiral stairs have disappeared, replaced by hidden metal stairs along the piazza. It’s easy to find a quiet corner for a coffee or enjoy one of the pop-up acoustic sets in the airy, open atrium.
Richard Parker, Princess Cruises’ director of guest experience, told me that the piazza, which spans decks seven, eight and nine, is designed to be used differently on this ship, but he’s also been surprised by the response.
he told Independent: “We found this place for entertainment. That wasn’t necessarily the purpose on earlier ships.
“But further star princess We have designed it with strict seating arrangements and a platform that rises above the floor.
“My favorite image is of all three doing Zumba on deck – it’s something I hadn’t considered when we were designing the ships.”
Richard revealed that the circular design of the ship was actually drawn on a napkin during a dinner in Sweden in 2017.
Read more: What to expect on the Star Princess cruise ship
Sun And star Its layout is unique compared to the rest of the fleet, with a glass sphere in the middle of the ship. At the rear is a glass structure called “The Dome”, which has comfortable sunbeds and seating for shows.
The piazza offers unmatched views from every direction, and it’s no surprise that the ship is scheduled to sail for Alaska during the summer of 2026. Guests will be able to view icebergs, mountains and cliffs from inside and on deck.
As I wander around the outskirts of the ship, I recognize familiar places from previous voyages I’ve been on. Crown, emerald And Search princess Such as the International Café, where the cookies are just as soft and chewy as I remember, and the Live Lounge – where guests continue to give their best and worst attempts at karaoke.
On deck, the Wake View Terrace at the stern and the Sea View Terrace at the bow both offer rival panoramas: one stretching endlessly across the back of the ship from the infinity pool, and the other giving guests the same sweeping views as the captain.
The cabins have also been refreshed: lighter decor, marble-look paneling, cleverly placed charging points near the bed and tuck-away plug adapters that prevent the usual cable clutter on the dressing table. It feels more like a boutique hotel room than a cruise cabin.
lessons have been learned from sun princess, Very. First Circle The class ship features an activity space called Park19, complete with a “rollglider” ride and ropes course. Never used or replicated due to equipment problems star,
Instead, I was impressed to see a new sports court, featuring a running track, basketball and pickleball. I thought I would be the first to see the sunrise from this area, but people were already using it long before it was light.
The Sanctuary also has a special area for suite guests, with its own pool and bar. It was a nice surprise to ring a bell on an ornamental grass wall, then a hand appeared and offered a glass of champagne.
Read more: MSC Cruises reveals plans for two new €3.5 billion mega cruise ships
Evenings on board are when the ship really comes alive. “Love by Britto” (£45 per person or included in the Princess Premier Package), is a seven-course dining experience created with artist Romero Brito and chef Rudy Sodamin. Heart motifs include everything from crockery to carrots.
At Umai Teppanyaki (£45 per adult and £23 per child or included in the Princess Premier Package), chefs wield knives and crack jokes while expertly cooking juicy tuna and steak.
Onboard entertainment also pushes the boundaries. “Spellbound” (£35) is a speakeasy-style magic show created in conjunction with Hollywood’s Magic Castle. I still don’t know how an artist guessed random dates and words written by the audience.
The Princess Arena theater space has also been renovated, so it now hosts events, making performances like the “Viva la Musica” salsa dance show uniquely immersive. You don’t just watch – you can’t stop yourself from dancing.
On the final night, a candlelight concert in the Dome brought things full circle. Hundreds of lights were reflected across the glass on the stage, while an acoustic guitarist seated in the middle sang along to the crowd’s favorite songs.
The passengers continued singing and dancing in time with both the music and the waves. It felt like we were at a concert in Wembley Stadium, not in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea.
As I looked through the glass, I could see real stars beyond the digital ones, and was sad to go home.
how to do it
Seven Day Eastern Caribbean Cruise star princess From £430 per person, based on departure from Fort Lauderdale on 6 December 2025. book now,