After sailing an inaugural season in the Mediterranean, Carnival’s Princess Cruises’ new Sun Princess ship crossed the Atlantic to make its U.S. debut this week. Sun Princess was scheduled to arrive in Fort Lauderdale’s Port Everglades on Oct. 9 to begin its first Caribbean cruise season.
Due to Hurricane Milton, the U.S. Coast Guard Captain of the Port (COTP) set Port Condition YANKEE for Port Everglades on Oct. 8 ahead of Sun Princess’ scheduled arrival Oct. 9. This port condition means sustained tropical storm force winds are expected to arrive within 24 hours and prohibits inbound vessels from arriving.
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Sun Princess changed its course Tuesday (Oct. 9) to sail south and away from Florida, but not before three passengers were evacuated from the ship due to medical emergencies unrelated to the weather. U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Miami airlifted the most critical passenger from the ship and two others were evacuated via fireboat by Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue.
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Image source: Princess Cruises
Sun Princess is set to begin its first Caribbean season on Oct. 14
On Wednesday, Sun Princess was waiting out the storm in calmer seas off the coast of Cuba, giving passengers a taste of the ship’s upcoming Caribbean season as it extends its 16-day transatlantic repositioning voyage from Southampton to Port Everglades.
The ship’s captain hopes Sun Princess will be able to make its arrival in Port Everglades on Friday, Oct. 11. Crew will then prepare for a five-day Caribbean Getaway voyage visiting Amber Cove and Grand Turk that will kick off the ship’s inaugural Caribbean season on Oct. 14.
The rest of the season will feature an array of seven- and 14-day cruises offering both Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries. Many passengers will take in the beauty of the Caribbean from their cabins on Sun Princess, which features more balconies than any other Princess ship.
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Princess Cruises’ largest ship yet and the first in the cruise line’s Sphere class, Sun Princess is designed to wrap passengers in expansive ocean views with an outward and suspended Sphere Atrium that takes the central Piazza hub of the ship to a new level.
Another standout feature of the new ship is The Dome, a first-of-its-kind geodesic, glass-enclosed dome. An innovative entertainment space inspired by the terraces of Santorini, The Dome transforms from a pool deck by day to an entertainment venue with a stage for shows by night. Shows that light the night include acrobatic performances created in partnership with the renowned Cirque Éloize.
Next-level ‘Love Boat’ offers unique dining and entertainment experiences
Designed with elevated spaces and experiences focused on taking the Princess cruise vacation experience to a new level, Sun Princess also features new culinary experiences in state-of-the-art venues, luxurious staterooms, expanded shipboard shopping with more than 200 premium brands, and the line’s largest-ever casino.
Featuring 30 restaurant and bar venues with a variety of celebrity collaborators offering high-end culinary experiences, Sun Princess is a foodie destination at sea.
Related: Princess Cruises makes another key adult beverage change
Culinary highlights include Love by Britto, an artistic-inspired dining experience celebrating love, in partnership with Romero Britto; The Butcher’s Block by Dario, in partnership with the world’s most famous butcher, Dario Cecchini; Makoto Ocean, in partnership with Master of Edomae-style sushi Makoto Okuwa; and Umai Teppanyaki, where world-class cuisine intertwines with captivating performance.
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Sun Princess also features the latest concept from Princess’ Extraordinary Experiences, Spellbound by Magic Castle. A collaboration with Hollywood’s legendary Magic Castle, the magic-themed immersive bar and entertainment experience includes world-class magicians performing mind-bending feats of magic, themed rooms, and theatrical cocktails served with sleight of hand.
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