Sky Princess

The 2019-built Sky Princess cruise ship is the 4th Royal-class vessel in the Princess Cruises fleet, together with the fleet mates Royal Princess (2013), Regal Princess (2014), Majestic Princess (2017), Enchanted Princess (2021) and Discovery Princess (2022). From the same class is also the P&O UK liner Britannia (2015).

The vessel (IMO number 9802396) is currently Bermuda-flagged (MMSI 310780000) and registered in Hamilton.

History - construction and ownership

Princess Cruises is a USA-based passenger shipping company headquartered in Beverly Hills CA. A former subsidiary of P&O Princess Cruises (1977-founded), in 2003, the company merged with Carnival Corporation - the world's largest cruise shipowner. Among Princess Cruise Lines Ltd's assets is the Caribbean private island resort Princess Cays (on Bahamas Eleuthera Island's southern end), located approx 80 km (50 mi) from Nassau.

The 3600-passenger ship Sky Princess is among the largest cruise ships sailing the seas. The vessel was built at Fincantieri shipyard, Italy and has 19 decks. Sky Princess features an impressive number (16) of bars and restaurants and a luxury spa. The ship offers unique features to her guests, such as a glass-enclosed walkway over the ocean known as the SeaWalk.

Decks and Cabins

Sky Princess staterooms (1834 total, in 38 categories) include 1438 cabins (80% of all) with step-out balconies. The ship also has 36 wheelchair-accessible and no Oceanview-category cabins. The largest are the 2-Room Sky Suites (950-1010 ft2 / 88-94 m2 plus 700 ft2 / 65 m2 terrace).

The boat has 18 decks, of which 15 are passenger-accessible and 10 with cabins.

Sky Suites (new cabin category) are Princess Cruises first staterooms for 5 people and with 270-degree top-deck views. These are also the fleet's largest cabins and with the fleet's largest balconies. Both Sky Suites are located midship on Sports Deck 18 (portside and starboard). Each Sky Suite has a wraparound terrace and provides a private view of the outdoor "Movies Under the Stars" theatre (fleet's biggest outdoor LED screen).

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

There are many for-fee dining options onboard Sky Princess, but guests who would rather not pay are offered enough quality and variety to satisfy. Those who prefer tradition will choose between the three main dining rooms: Allegro, Concerto and Symphony.

Horizon Court and Horizon Bistro are the buffet options, providing a more casual vibe. Passengers who want to have lunch in their swimsuits can take a burger from Trident Grill or a slice at Prego Pizzeria. Indoors, Alfredo's features delicious calzones, salads and thin-crust pizza. Allegro Dining Room is the only option for free dinner with traditional set dining. Passengers can eat at 5:45 p.m. or 8:15 p.m. Allegro's menus are diverse and offer a soup or salad course, an appetizer, pasta and an entree. There is also a special dessert menu.

Follows the complete list of Sky Princess restaurants and food bars.

• Symphony Restaurant (midship location; offers “Anytime Dining” for Dinner; with “Wine Cellar” area serving “Wine Maker’s Dinner” for $40, capacity 12 guests)
• Alfredo’s Pizzeria (121-seat; the largest complimentary pizzeria at sea)
• Concerto Restaurant (forward Dining Room; offers “Anytime Dining” 5:30 p.m. -10 p.m.; serves “Wine Maker’s Dinner” package for $40)
• Allegro Restaurant (aft Dining Room; offers formal dining and two fixed dinner seatings at 6 pm or 8:15 pm; “Chef’s Table Lumiere” private dining for $115, 12 guests)
• OceanFront is a specialty seafood bar with a-la-carte menu (sushi, sashimi).
• Crown Grill (160-seat steakhouse/seafood restaurant, reservations recommended; on select days serves British Pub Lunch, complimentary)
• Salty Dog Grill (Deck 5) and Alfredo's Pizzeria (Deck 7/fleet's largest) are self-serve complimentary fast food venues. The rustic Salty Dog Gastropub is a new venue where passengers can watch sporting events, gather over small bites and drinks, and partake in Ernesto Burger by chef-partner Ernesto Uchimura (founding chef of the original Umami Burger and owner of the new LA-based restaurant and bar, Electric Owl).
• Calypso Cabana (food bar offering picnic baskets, desserts, champagne and wine packages)
• World Fresh Marketplace (self-service buffet restaurant, complimentary); Horizon Buffet (indoor sitting) and Horizon Terrace (outdoor seating)
• Swirls Bar (ice cream)

Sabatini’s Trattoria (a la carte-priced specialty restaurant on Deck 7) offers a 3-course Italian/seafood menu. Sabatini’s is open between 6 pm - 11 pm, and reservations are recommended. This space blends the spaciousness of a contemporary setting with classic Italian accents, featuring handmade pasta courses (via partnership with celebrity chef Angelo Auriana) which are prepared daily. Sabatini’s Trattoria also offers “Sabatini’s Bites” during wine tastings.

Bistro Sur La Mer (cover charge US$35 per person) was an authentic Parisian bistro with a fine dining dinner menu featuring French cuisine by Michelin-star chef Emmanuel Renaut. In 2023, La Mer was replaced with "The Catch by Rudi" - Princess Cruises' first seafood-dedicated restaurant (introduced on Enchanted Princess) via partnership with celebrity chef Rudi Sodamin, who is also the Head of Princess Culinary Arts (onboard dining program).

• The menu is predominantly of seafood dishes based on the freshest catch (sustainably sourced seafood from the current itinerary's ports of call) but also includes surf-and-turf options (including prime beef steaks), as well as vegetarian dishes, gourmet appetizers and desserts.
• The specialty dining experience features creative and engaging food presentations, distinctive settings, and guests being welcomed at the tables with a cocktail crafted by Rob Floyd/celebrity mixologist and liquid chef).
• The menu features "The Daily Catch" items (showcasing the freshest sustainably sourced seafood from local ports of call), international fusion influences (playful twists on seafood favorites like Asian-fried calamari), Rudi Sodamin's contemporary interpretations of classic dishes (like lobsters with garlic butter crust), and signature inventions from his personal repertoire (like Towering Trio, Whole Dover Sole). The Seafood Trolly is a true feast as the dish is piled high with fresh lobster tails, shrimps, oysters, mussels, and other seafood.
• The Catch by Rudi's wine selection is carefully curated to pair with seafood. The waitstaff is knowledgeable (sommelier instructed) to offer recommendations for white, red, rose, and sparkling wines from various coastal wine-growing regions.

The Catch by Rudi's cover charge is US$39 pp and is also included in the Princess Premier package (premium add-on).

In April 2024 Princess Cruises announced that starting September 14th (2024) fleetwide would be introduced 3 distinct main dining/dinner table service options – Traditional, Reservable, and Walk-in Anytime. By the new program (introduced with Sun Princess) on each ship are allocated 3 separate dining rooms - one for Traditional dining (offering early and late dinner seating), one with Reservable times, and one for Walk-in Anytime (open-seating). The new options are integrated with the OceanNow service, allowing anything to be ordered anytime, and delivered anywhere onboard.

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

The bulk of performance action takes place in the 2-level Princess Theater (decks 6 and 7). This is the ship's main show lounge with palladium-style seating and grand-style evening show productions.

Theatre lounge doesn't offer tables or drink holders, so if you order one preshow or come with a drink, you'll have to hold it. The entertainment program is excellent and varied, with a beat that is quite innovative. In addition to the production shows, the Princess theatre hosts other acts including vocalists and instrumentalists.

In comparison to Royal-Class Princess ships, Sky Princess has the new Wakeview swimming pool (aft-located) plus 2 deep-water top deck swimming pools and Retreat Pool (adults-only), also more Jacuzzis (including 2 cantilevered, over the deep-water pools). The expanded Sanctuary area offers new design and twice as many private cabanas as the sisterships. Vista Lounge is also redesigned. Princess Live is a new cafe serving quick bites, specialty teas and barista-made coffees.

Follows the complete list of Sky Princess lounges, clubs and other entertainment venues for kids, teens and adults.

• The Piazza Atrium (3-deck open floor area; features live performances entertainment and lobby Bar Piazza)
• Princess Fine Arts Gallery; Photo Gallery & Shop; Limelight photo studio; Platinum Studio
• International Cafe (24-hour specialty coffee bar and patisserie)
• Vines Bar (wine/seafood/sushi bar)
• Gelato (the largest ice cream bar at sea)
• Library (with Internet stations); Internet Cafe (24-hour)
• Princess Sky Theatre (2-level musical and show productions; hosts workshops, seminars, game shows)
• Celebrations Shop; Calypso Cove Shop; Essence Shop; Meridian Bay Shop; Facets Shop
• Club 6 Disco & Bar; Churchill’s Lounge & Bar (cigar bar); Bellini’s Bar; Crooners Lounge & Bar; Princess Live Lounge; Vista Lounge; Concierge Lounge (Suite guests only); SkyLight Bar; Seaview Bar
• Princess Casino (gambling lounge and bar)
• Wheelhouse Bar (piano bar during the day and an English pub nightly)
• Lotus Spa complex; Beauty Salon; Fitness Center (with Aerobics Studio)
• Wedding Chapel
• Movies Under the Stars (LED screen outdoor cinema)
• The Game Lounge (Video Games Arcade); Teen Center; Youth Center; Remix Disco & Lounge (teen club)
• The Sanctuary (adult-only sundeck / open-air relaxation complex)
• SeaWalk (glass-bottomed cantilevered walkway, 18 m/60 ft long)
• Fountain Pool area; Retreat Pool area
• Princess Sports Central - Center Court (volleyball, basketball, European football); Tennis Tables, Game Lounge virtual gaming, The Greens golf nets, Golfing Cage, Laser Shooting; Jogging Track
• "Take 5" (located on deck 6 midship-portside) is world's only jazz theater at sea. The new jazz-themed bar lounge features a chic setting, live performances by renown jazz musicians (including iconic female singers), hand-crafted premium cocktails (developed by Rob Floyd/master mixologist), guest performers, late-night themed parties, daily enrichment programming (with engaging speakers and workshops). Custom media content is displayed on lounge's TV screens.

On the sisterships Enchanted and Sky, Princess Cruises introduced the exclusive "Jim Henson’s Inspired Silliness" - a 30-min live production show themed on Jim Henson’s hilarious puppetry works. James Maury Henson (1936-1990) was a US puppeteer, animator, cartoonist, actor and filmmaker best-known as the creator of "The Muppets" (TV show created in 1955). The cruise company's new production show (hosted at Princess Theater) includes singers and dancers, high-tech visuals, comedy acts and professional puppetry. The show starts with a video introduction by James Henson's son (Brian) and features new puppets from Henson’s Creature Shop plus newly designed characters.

The Experience Center (Deck 18 aft-starboard) has max capacity 6 people and no age restrictions. This is ship's Escape Room hosting the "Phantom Bridge" game that combines physical and virtual/digital elements for unique puzzle-solving experiences at sea. The attraction is part of Princess Cruises' onboard enrichment program (Discovery at SEA) and offers interactive (real-world + virtual) adventure gaming experiences with 700+ different outcomes. Phantom Bridge's gaming sessions last 23 min each and allow passengers to navigate the virtual cruise liner, watch as the generated simulations change, uncover the clues and solve puzzles (current game's mystery). The implemented technologies include a physical steering wheel and touch-screen surfaces (in the room), projection mapping, top-notch sound-, lighting- and digital effects, hidden physical elements (throughout the ship).

Itineraries

Sky Princess itinerary program starts with an inaugural Mediterranean cruise season in Europe. The program includes all 10 voyages with 8 different itineraries. The inaugural cruise was scheduled for October 20, 2019.

The 7-night maiden voyage (October 20) is a one-way Adriatic and Mediterranean cruise itinerary from Piraeus-Athens to Barcelona, visiting the ports Kotor Montenegro, Corfu Greece, Messina Sicily (Italy), Naples Italy. In November 2019, the ship offers a Transatlantic repositioning cruise (Nov 17 - Dec 1) from Europe to Florida-Caribbean (14-day crossing from Barcelona to Fort Lauderdale).

The Caribbean cruise program is based on 7-day roundtrips from homeport Fort Lauderdale (starting December 1, 2019).

Summer 2020 the ship spends in Northern Europe, being homeported in Copenhagen (Denmark), Warnemunde-Rostock (Germany) and St Petersburg (Russia). Baltic Sea cruises are priced between USD 2300-2800 pp. Fall 2020 the liner is homeported in NYC New York for 7-day "Canada and New England" cruises (priced ~USD 1000-1100 pp).

The vessel's powerplant includes four Wartsila marine diesel engines (model 46F, 2x 12V and 2x 14V) with combined power output 62,4 MW (83,700 hp). The propulsion system is based on two azipods with combined power output 18 MW (24,000 hp).

The ship has Fincantieri Monfalcone yard/hull number 6268, volume 145281 GT-tons, DWT-deadweight tonnage 11772 tons, LOA length 330 m, beam 38 m (max width 47 m/including the Navigation Bridge's wings), max draught 8,6 m.

In April 2016, Princess Cruises (via Carnival Corporation) signed a shipbuilding order for 2 new liners, scheduled for deliveries in 2019 (Sky) and 2020 (Enchanted). These are 4th and 5th Royal-class ships (same-designed as Royal,Regal and Majestic) constructed at Fincantieri Monfalcone shipyard as part of a previous agreement between Carnival Corporation (shipowner) and Fincantieri (shipbuilder). At that time, Carnival Corp had a total of 16 shipbuilding orders, with scheduled deliveries between 2016-2020. All these new liners are fleet's largest and feature Movies Under the Stars (outdoor theatre), Piazza Atrium, 80% balconied staterooms, new dining venues.

In late-January 2017, Carnival Corporation announced 2 more shipbuilding orders. The new ships were ordered for the fleets of Princess (Royal-class / Discovery Princess) and Holland America Line (Pinnacle-class / Nieuw Rotterdam). Carnival had signed an MoA (memorandum of agreement) with Fincantieri to construct both vessels, with scheduled deliveries in 2021 (for HAL, at Marghera yard) and 2022 (for Princess, at Monfalcone yard). By the time when both contracts were finalized (February 2017), Carnival Corporation had a total of 19 new ships scheduled for deliveries between 2017-2022.

The vessel's construction officially started with the steel-cutting ceremony on September 8, 2017. On July 5, 2018, at Monfalcone shipyard was held the keel-laying ceremony, traditionally signifying the start of its physical construction. The process is mainly an assembly of pre-fabricated blocks (modular components) joined together at the yard's drydock facility.

Sky Princess was officially delivered to Princess Cruises on October 15, 2019, at Monfalcone Shipyard. The ceremony was attended by Laura Castelli (France's Deputy Minister of Economy and Finance), Giuseppe Bono (Fincantieri's CEO), Micky Arison (Carnival Corporation's Chairman), Arnold Donald (Carnival Corporation's President and CEO), Stein Kruse (Group CEO for the subsidiaries Holland America, Seabourn, Carnival Australia, Carnival UK), Jan Swartz (Group President of the subsidiaries Princess Cruises and Carnival Australia).

Sky Princess is the 17th vessel built by Fincantieri for Princess Cruises. As of October 2019, Fincantieri built a total of 95 cruise liners (since 1990), of which 68 for Carnival Corporation and 49 being on order or under construction.

Fun facts: It takes 3 million man-hours to build a Royal-class liner. For its construction are used 37,000 tons of steel. For instance, about 12,000 tons of steel were used for constructing the Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles. The paint used for the vessel is 95,000 gallons (360,000 L), which is two times more than the quantity consumed for Golden Gate Bridge (re-painted annually). The electrical cables wiring the whole vessel are long 2484 ml (4000 km) which is enough to link NYC with LA.

The vessel was launched/floated out from drydock on February 14, 2019. On the same day (Feb 14th) was held the keel-laying ceremony for the sistership Enchanted Princess (2021) and the steel-cutting for the 6th/final ROYAL-Class liner Discovery Princess (2022). Sky Princess' float-out was led by godmother Kerry Ann Wright (2nd officer for Princess Cruises) nominated as Madrina by her fellow crew. The ship's 6-day Mediterranean Sea trials were successfully completed in early-September.

Princess Cruises Sky Princess was officially christened on December 7, 2019, in Port Everglades (Fort Lauderdale Florida USA). The liner has two godmothers (former NASA personnel) - Kathryn Patricia Hire (1959-born, former astronaut, now US Navy Reserve Captain) and Frances "Poppy" Northcutt (1943-born, NASA Apollo Program engineer).

The ship's first commanding officers were Heikki Laakkonen and Michele Tuvo (Captains), Fabio Braccelli and Mladen Ratkovic (Chief Engineers), Terri Cybuliak and Richard Harry (General Hotel Managers), Giovanni Cardile and Brian Whelan (Staff Captains).

Sky Princess refurbishment 2023 review

The ship's first drydocking was in 2023 (2023 (April 19-May 6).

The 16-day project (conducted at Damen Verolme Rotterdam in Rotterdam Holland) was mainly for regularly scheduled maintenance works and minor technical upgrades. 2023 (April 19-May 6) Rotterdam Holland

It involved ~700 contractor workers in addition to the ship's own ~1200 crew members.

The works included installing a new air lubrication/hull system, underwater hull cleaning and painting, renovation of some staterooms and public spaces. "The Catch by Rudi" (new seafood restaurant) replaced the "Bistro Sur La Mer".

Inaugural itineraries 2019

The following tables show the ship's "Inaugural Cruise" itineraries (by destination) as departure dates, call ports, port times and regions. Prices shown are per person (USD), lowest category Inside Cabin rates based on double occupancy.

7-day "Inaugural Cruise" (Athens to Barcelona) - prices started from USD 1890 pp

14-day Inaugural Transatlantic cruise (repositioning from Europe to Florida-Caribbean) - prices started from USD 1260 pp.

3-day "Sky Princess Inaugural Getaway" (maiden Caribbean voyage)

7-day inaugural Western Caribbean cruise - from USD 830 pp

14-day inaugural Caribbean East/West Adventurer cruise - from USD 1590 pp

7-day inaugural Eastern Caribbean cruise - from USD 800 pp

Godspeed!