⊳ Artist Romero Britto partnered with winemaker Villa Sandi on Love Prosecco , which is served at the Love by Britto restaurant and available in bars across the Princess fleet . Bottom right : A mushroom soup “ cappuccino ” at Love by Britto showcases the concept ’ s unique tableware .
was rolling out the three dining options across its fleet .
PHOTO CREDIT : © CREDIT JAMES MORGAN , GETTY IMAGES FOR PRINCESS CRUISES
Top left : The Sphere is a suspended glass Sphere Piazza at the center of the Sun Princess . Bottom left : Princess elevated its main Horizons Dining Room on the Sun to a three-story space with aft views and increased flexibility and choice with three different dining options .
stories of the region .
“ Both are unique and intimate experiences that our guests have really enjoyed thus far ,” says Kohen .
Princess is recognized for its wine selections that include more than 250 labels of wines designed to pair with the menus . The company last year partnered with Caymus Vineyards to offer a five-course Caymus Winemaker Dinner , available on all ships in the fleet .
DAWN OF A NEW SHIP CLASS
Princess began its journey in 1965 when founder Stanley B . McDonald chartered a Canadian Pacific steamer called Princess Patricia for cruises from Los Angeles to Mexico . The Pennisular & Oriental Steam Navigation Company ( P & O ) acquired Princess in 1974 and expanded the fleet considerably . Carnival Corp . bought P & O Princess International in 2003 .
The newest ship is the third to be named Sun Princess ; the first ship sailed from 1974 to 1988 and was used to shoot the pilot episode of The Love Boat in Mexico . The second , which sailed from 1995 to 2020 , had the largest number of balcony cabins at that time , and the cruise line ’ s first 24−hour cafe .
The new Sun offers the most balconies and sun decks on any Princess ship , and the largest casino ever built by the line . Sun Princess is also the first LNG ( liquefied natural gas ) vessel for the company , reducing greenhouse gas emissions with energy recovery systems for eco-conscious cruising .
A sister ship , Star Princess , will be the second in the Sphere Class of ships for Princess and is scheduled to launch in fall 2025 . The design emphasizes expansive ocean views , with architectural elements such as The Dome — the cruise industry ’ s first geodesic feature on the top deck — and The Sphere , a suspended glass Sphere Piazza at the center of the ship .
In addition to the new food and beverage venues , Princess elevated its main Horizons dining room on the Sun to a three-story space with aft views . Chef Sodamin teamed up with the Culinary Institute of America to create its inaugural menus .
The cruise line also increased flexibility and choice with three different dining options for Horizons : traditional , reservable or walk-in anytime . The move was popular with guests : Princess Cruises in April announced it
FULL STEAM AHEAD
Cruising has come a long way since The Love Boat set sail , when the buffets ruled and most ships served dinner at two fixed times — early and late seatings . Guests were also typically assigned to a seating and table , with the same people , for the entire cruise .
The cruise lines have had to navigate the changing preferences for more flexibility , different options , higher quality and specialty offerings . They also have to keep raising the bar to appeal to consumers with greater expectations .
In another step Princess has taken to update and differentiate its beverage program , the company in late May revealed the Love Line Premium Liquors collection with celebrity partners . The exclusive line of wines and spirits includes Voli Vodka by Pitbull and Melorosa sauvignon blanc and cabernet sauvignon from Jason Aldean .
It also includes Love Prosecco , a collaboration between Romero Britto and winemaker Villa Sandi . The prosecco is served at Love by Britto and available in bars across the Princess fleet .
The Love Line collection made its debut on the Sun Princess and rolled out to all the ships in the fleet throughout the summer . “ It further elevates the onboard experience by providing guests with premium , specially crafted beverages they won ’ t find anywhere else ,” says Kohen .
“ Our guests are looking for unique dining experiences , which is why we ’ ve added so many new and exciting programming and venues onboard our ships ,” he notes . The partnerships formed with celebrity collaborators in the F & B space “ have also elevated our offerings immensely , especially on Sun Princess .” •
14 Cheers • Fall 2024 www . cheersonline . com