I’ve always indulged in land-based vacations. Take me to a nice hotel, preferably an with a nice beach nearby, and I’m a happy camper. Despite numerous recommendations and invitations from family and friends I was never inclined to , mainly because I’m claustrophobic.
The idea of being locked in a cabin at sea simply did not appeal to me. My three-night stay on the during its debut excursion from the U.S.
—sailing from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to Nassau, Bahamas—radically changed my outlook. Even on that quick getaway, there was so much to see and do. Here’s how my maiden voyage at sea went down.
During his presentation to the media and travel advisors onboard, John Padgett, President of Princess Cruises, touted the Sun Princess as giving “Big ship choice, with small ship personalization...
essentially, yacht class service. That’s a combination no one else can touch.” They say that size doesn’t matter, but this megaship can accommodate 4,300 guests! There are 2,157 guest staterooms (51 of which are accessible for folks with special needs, and 100 connecting) and 80 suites.
As I toured the premium and mini-suites in the all-new which has access to an exclusive top-deck relaxation area and other amenities, I marveled that they were bigger than some New York City apartments. The height of luxury indeed. The well-appointed cabin in which I stayed on Deck 11 sleeps 4, has a queen-size bed, a comfy sofa, a desk and chair, and a private balcony complete with 2 lou.
