I’m writing this from a padded lounge chair in The Sanctuary, a personal hideaway at the top of Sky Princess. On a ship that can carry more than 3,600 passengers, two attendants are at my beck and call and there are no other guests in sight.
As Princess ships have grown, so have the options to dine and relax. The original Pacific Princess from decades ago could carry just 600 passengers and most everything happened on one deck. By comparison, the new Sky Princess has multiple public decks and you might miss out on some of the prime attractions on this new addition to the Love Boat fleet.
While many of the choices are included in the fare, here are some splurge-worthy experiences you really ought to consider:
Seek out serenity in the Sanctuary
On other days during the cruise, I’ve found perfectly cozy quiet places to chill on deck. But The Sanctuary really does have the feel of being on your own yacht, right down to the monogrammed towels.
There’s a fee, but it’s money well spent to settle into a plush lounger on the highest deck of the ship in an adult-only retreat with the definition of attentive service. Located at the rear of Deck 18, it’s far from the action going on elsewhere on the ship and even though it gets fully booked on our Western Caribbean cruise from Ft. Lauderdale, it never feels crowded. Waiters will bring chilled towels and flavored waters, fruit or snacks. You can also order breakfast or a full lunch–from edamame to bento boxes or burgers and pizza. If you’re there later in the day, you can order afternoon tea and sandwiches.
Some advance planning is essential because it is a popular option, particularly on sea days. You also reserve the specific location you want to sit, so it helps to scope out where there is sun and shade during the time you choose. Lounger rental is $20 for half a day and $40 for the full day. Private cabanas for up to four people start at $140 and they’re so large you can arrange to have an open air massage on a table inside.
Have a mellowing spa day
There was something so tension-releasing about the Aroma Stone Therapy massage that I fell asleep at some point in the middle of it. A specialty of the Lotus Spa, it uses heated stones in combination with enticing fragrances to simultaneously release mental stress and muscle tension.
The Lotus Spa features a wide range of treatments designed on the themes of relaxation and harmony. While the spa offers each service separately, guests can also opt to schedule a full day of services that can include ionithermie, acupuncture, and medi-spa treatments, like Dysport and Restylane fillers.
Sky Princess’ spa also features one of the fleet’s largest thermal suites, The Enclave, which includes a vast hydrotherapy pool with rain shower, Turkish hammam, saunas, a Laconium (dry chamber), heated benches and stone beds. You can buy a couples pass good for use throughout the cruise or daily passes are available for $40.
Unlike most ships, the fitness center and gym on Sky Princess is in a completely different location than the spa and you might not find it unless you search diligently. While the spa is on Deck 6, the gym is on Deck 17 and its panoramic view of the sea over the ship’s bow is definitely an attraction. There’s a full range of Precor weight machines, treadmills, ellipticals, stair climbers and bikes. Group classes are scheduled in a separate studio. Some exercise and stretch sessions are complimentary, while yoga, cycling, 4D Bungee FIT, Functional HIIT classes, and individual training sessions come at additional fees.
Sabatini’s, a restaurant you’ll want to revisit
Artwork in Sabatini’s on Sky Princess
Sabatini’s the Italian restaurant on Deck 5 feels instantly welcoming with its contemporary art glass dividers and sunny staff. It features a trattoria menu inspired by Los Angeles-based chef Angelo Auriana but including family recipes from Italian chefs across the Princess fleet.
There’s a cover charge of $25 a person that covers a choice from each of five courses on the menu, soup/salad, antipasti, pasta, main entree and dessert. I particularly enjoyed the showy presentations by personable staff. The experience was so delightful on our first visit that we made reservations for a second evening on our cruise.
Experiencing the Crown for an evening
Princess’ signature steakhouse, Crown Grill on Deck 7 features one of the most appealing bars at sea, located in the atrium just outside the restaurant. There’s live music, often a piano player or guitarist that can be heard inside the restaurant to give it a soothing atmosphere. While the menu is very traditional steakhouse featuring prime chops, steaks and seafood, the preparation and side dishes are outstanding. It’s definitely an experience worth the $29 cover charge.
Join the Chef’s Table Lumiere–if you can
The experience at Chef’s Table Lumiere consistently gets rave reviews and it was unfortunately fully booked throughout our cruise. It’s a six-course meal designed and prepared by the head chef who’s in attendance and served at a beautiful glass table with a stunning crystal centerpiece that’s located inside the Cielo Dining Room on Deck 6.
It isn’t offered every night of the cruise and each event is limited to 12 people, so it tends to book up before the cruise even begins. There’s a charge of $115 that includes wine and from the reviews on line, the consensus is that it’s a bargain at that. Next time for sure.
Grab a certified authentic Gelato
Ice cream delivery for the youth program –Photo by Wallace Immen
Yes you can get complimentary ice cream elsewhere, but the gelateria claims to be one of just a handful of ice cream shops outside of Italy certified as serving authentic Italian gelato. There are 14 flavors to choose from daily including salted caramel, pistachio, tiramisu and stracciatella along with 10 types of gelato crepes. You’ll also find three flavors of sorbet and no-added sugar vanilla and chocolate. The price is $2.50 for two scoops and if you’ve shopped for gelato recently you know that’s not out of line at all. Gelato is also being included in Princess Plus and Premier packages.
Of course, you don’t have to pay up to enjoy dishes inspired by award-winning master chef Rudi Sodamin, who is Princess Cruises’ head of culinary arts. Sky Princess has three main dining rooms: Soleil, Cielo and Estrella which have different decors but the same menus. You can dine when you please without reservations between 5 and 9:30 p.m. A tip though: making a reservation in advance will ensure quick seating at busy mid-evening times when there might otherwise be a wait.
Those who prefer a traditional reserved table and the same dining companions every night can arrange that in a part of the Cielo Dining Room on Deck 6.
Other complimentary options are Alfredo’s Pizzeria in the Atrium, which is a first for a Princess ship, and the World Fresh Marketplace buffet on Deck 16 that has a number of laneways featuring appetizers and entrees and a whole corridor of desserts.
My disappointment with the Marketplace was that many of the selections in the buffet were the same each evening and things are so self-serve that you may not be able to find someone to take a drink order. And Alfredo’s, which features optional outdoor seating, is one of the busiest dining spots onboard; so be prepared for a 10 to 15 minute wait to order, particularly during lunch hours.
It’s your choice, but it’s also your vacation. With so many options for making the Sky Princess cruise more memorable, why not take advantage of them?
Story by Wallace Immen, The Cruisington Times
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