6 Reasons to Sail the New Sky Princess
by Stacey Zable /Princess Cruises’ Sky Princess, which made her debut in October in Europe, began sailing out of Fort Lauderdale this month to the Caribbean, and will journey there through spring 2020. The 3,660-guest Sky Princess offers a combination of new features and Princess favorites onboard.
1. New entertainment includes original productions and a jazz theater.
Three original productions are new to the ship. “5 Skies” follows a gamer as he tries to find the Sky Princess; his journey is filled with contemporary music, acrobatics, and digital effects. “Rock Opera” combines avant-garde costumes with classic rock, opera and musical theater; the show features a special guest appearance by Brian Justin Crum from “America’s Got Talent: The Champions” during Sky Princess’ inaugural season. Making its debut earlier this month, “Jim Henson’s Inspired Silliness” combines comedy, music and a new cast of puppets that is sure to delight guests of all ages.
Also, new onboard Sky Princess is Take 5, the “only jazz theater at sea.” It is an inviting space that features live jazz.
2. Activities just got more immersive.
New to Sky Princess is Phantom Bridge, which opened this month; jumping on the popularity of escape rooms, this immersive experience combines digital and physical elements. More traditional interactive fun can be found at the Princess Live! lounge for the ship’s trivia, games and karaoke. The Movies Under the Stars on the pool deck runs movies and filmed concerts day and night. Nighttime movies feature cozy blankets to cover guests on the lounge chairs.
3. The dining experience is excellent.
The level of food in the three main dining rooms — Estrella, Cielo and Soleil — as well as the specialty restaurants, is excellent. The specialty restaurant, called Sabatini’s Italian Trattoria, truly stood out, with highlights including its fresh pasta, veal marsala, and the not-to-be-missed desserts. Keeping with the Italian theme, the complimentary Alfredo’s Pizzeria offers nice salads and made-to-order elevated pizzas. The Good Spirits Bar makes culinary cocktails that come with a take-home recipe card and very knowledgeable bartenders.
4. Adults-only relaxation areas deliver peace and quiet.
For those guests who seek a quieter spot for lounging at the two main pools with the Movies Under the Stars screen, they should head to the complimentary adults-only Retreat. It has its own pool that is bordered by lounge chairs, plus a bar. Guests who want to pair quiet with a bit more pampering, can pay for the privilege of the adults-only Sanctuary. It offers upgraded plush lounge chairs and the option of cabanas. The Sanctuary also has a hot tub, currently only found on Sky Princess. The utmost of relaxation and pampering can be found at the Lotus Spa with the Enclave thermal suite. My treatment that combined a salt scrub and a massage was excellent. I followed it up with a dip in the hydro-therapy pool and time on the heated loungers in the Enclave.
5. OceanMedallion delivers new conveniences.
Sky Princess is the first MedallionClass new-build offering technology that focuses on higher personalized service and interactive options. Favorite elements include the ability to locate friends and family or shipmates onboard, a chat feature, and the digital schedule for the week.
6. Sky Suites cater to luxury travelers.
The two new Sky Suites making their debut on Sky Princess are for luxury travelers. The highlight of the suites is that they feature the largest balconies at sea, at 700 square feet, according to Princess. For Sky Suite guests, the large balconies are like having your own private sundeck, including one area with an outdoor television, lounge chairs and lounge bed. Another part of the balcony faces the Movies Under the Stars screen by the pool deck, and Sky Suites guests are able to pick the movie of their choice to be seen on the screen once during the cruise.