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Yahoo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
This Might Be the Foodiest Cruise Ship in Europe—And It Sails From Rome to Athens
This Might Be the Foodiest Cruise Ship in Europe—And It Sails From Rome to Athens originally appeared on Parade. When the original Love Boat hit the airwaves in 1977, viewers were introduced to Princess Cruises' ship, the Pacific Princess, through its famed Acapulco itinerary. Thanks to beloved characters Captain Stubing, Julie, and Gopher, a cruise craze was born. Now, almost 50 years later, Princess Cruise is still celebrating its Love Boat legacy while embracing innovation every step of the way. And one big way in particular is aboard its newest vessel, Sun Princess, which was christened in 2024 by Ted Lasso star Hannah Waddingham. With its innovative and truly over-the-top food program boasting 30+ gourmet dining options, passengers on European cruise sailings have something remarkable to come back to every night of their trip. Along with its sister ship, Star Princess, setting sail for the first time this fall, this cruise ship is the standout choice for official foodies only. An innovative sustainability program to help cut down on food waste completes the innovative offerings. I got to take a taste earlier this year on board a 7-day sailing from Rome (Civitavecchia) to Athens, and in addition to delectable excursions in Naples, Sorrento, Crete, Istanbul and Mykonos, I ate my way through each of the 5-star restaurants, on-board buffets, casual pubs and eateries and even a British afternoon tea conceived by Queen Elizabeth's chef himself. And I can truly say, it was remarkable and incredibly value-driven. Here's a review of all the food & beverage experiences available on board—and what blew me away most. Related: What Is the Sun Princess? Meet Princess Cruises' Newest Mega Ship From what seems like a nearly 24-7 entertainment schedule in the ship's central piazza-a towering three-story glass sphere in the middle of the ship—to its nightly packed arena performances, there's a buzzing energy aboard the Princess, but make no mistake, this is no "party boat" cruise—everything about the experience from quick, iPad enabled boarding to modern deluxe balcony rooms to its zen-luxe Sanctuary Club, is high end. "By thoughtfully evolving our packages, we're ensuring they reflect what our guests truly desire—more flexibility, enhanced culinary experiences and opportunities to explore ashore—all the while retaining the exceptional benefits they've come to expect,' says Alfredo Jimenez, Princess Cruises Vice President, Onboard Revenue. 'Ultimately, it's about delivering an even more rewarding and personalized vacation experience." Assembled by a team of visionary designers and engineers, the cruise ship has an open, flow-like atmosphere, encouraging myriad little discoveries, whether it's the "secret" wake-view infinity-edge pool at the boat's aft, the luxury shopping boutique with pre-loved Gucci and Goyards on the way to dinner or live session guitarists at the Irish Pub. Sixteen (!) lounges and bar spaces, two cafes and five pools with live entertainment mean there's never a wait for a signature Aperol spritz, a Chipotle-style taco at the poolside truck or an after-dinner gelato or espresso. Need something off-hours? OceanNow delivery service will come to your GPS-enabled location anywhere on the cruise to hand-deliver a snack, beverage or amenity in 15 minutes. (Seriously, I tried it a few times—it was amazing.) With three main floors with fine and casual dining, a casino, a ship-length pool deck, a full-service spa & fitness center, jogging and pickleball spaces and glass-dome top deck with DJ nights, the ship feels like it has so much to explore, even for weeklong and multi-week sailings. At-sea days offer plenty of low-key fun, in the form of Cruise Director Cole's hourly dance parties in the piazza, water aerobic classes, live rock at the pool decks and ongoing trivia games at Princess Live! There's even an upscale, formal-dress-only immersive magic/cocktail experience called Spellbound that has to be seen to be believed. Related: Why the Sun Princess Might Be the Best Foodie Cruise in Europe While Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Norwegian and Disney cruises also sail out of the popular European ports, Sun Princess tops them all, in number and celeb-chef distinction. Recognized by Condé Nast Traveler's Reader's Choice Awards 2024 as its overall favorite mega cruise, I could see why fans loved it. Celebrity-chef-driven dining options left nothing to be desired. Whether you felt like Italian Tuscan, a classic New York steakhouse, a romantic, intimate sunset meal or incredible fresh-caught selections at Makato sushi or Rudi's, you have your total pick. But beyond similar dining options typical with longer-stay cruiselines, it was truly the 5-star-level service that made these restaurants feel at the highest fine-dining level as opposed to typical all-inclusive and cruiseline options where it's more of a revolving door getting cruise-goers in and out. With pre-booked reservations, and standard multi-course menus, you truly felt as though you were dining in a New York-City restaurant, but with the ease of everything being taken care of pre-trip. Here is a rundown on each option, including some standout meal options: Related: 30+ Dining Options Onboard, Including These Celebrity Chef Experiences Princess offers seven fine-dining options, available through the Premier Pass, one large eatery and one diner-style breakfast, lunch and dinner buffet, a casual pub-style eatery, Horizons sit-down multi-level main restaurant for lunch and dinner, pool-side fare at the Lido deck, two coffee bars for quick lattes and baked goods on the go, plus with Spellbound by Magic Castle, an immersive hours-long cocktail and magic experience. Here were favorite menu moments from celeb-chef stand-outs: Makoto Ocean by Chef Makoto Okuwa: Premier pass guests can choose à la carte sushi options or go for the 9-course Makato Ocean Signature Sushi Course—a stunning sushi masterclass including everything from blue fin tuna nigiri to stone crab temaki. Every bite was an explosion of flavor. The Butcher's Block by Dario Cecchini: This Italian chophouse serves its upscale multi-course menu of antipasti, carpacchio, tartare and prime cuts like T-bone steak family-style so everyone can take a taste of the deliciousness. The Catch by Rudi Sodamin: Conceived by the most decorated chef working at sea today, Chef Rudi's menu celebrates the ocean's bounty with exquisite, but not stuffy dishes including Tale of Citrus—a lobster-tail salad that's as beautiful to look at as it is to eat, filet mignon and lobster tail surf and turf and sole à la minute, fileted tableside. Crown Grill Steakhouse: An NYC-style steakhouse with experienced waitstaff that seem to know just when your dirty martini needs refilling. Menu stand-outs include Black-and-Blue Onion French Soup with Jack Daniels, and Filet Mignon, NY Strip and Kansas City Strip cuts. Sabatini's Trattoria Italian Dining: This Tuscan-style menu includes antipasti, pasta and main courses that celebrate favorites like panzella bread salad and carbonara. Try to see if the chef-table special menu is on offer for a truly rare treat in acclaimed Italian dining. Umai Teppanyaki: Yes, teppanyaki-style dining with goofy chefs cooking up your food with a side of dad jokes has become a favorite at all-inclusive resorts and cruises for a reason—it's fun with big groups. The fresher-than-fresh rock shrimp, lobster tail and steak served up with all the banter make it stand out. Love by Britto: Truly the most romantic and inventive restaurant on the ship, every menu item seemed conceived from an artist's palette, including the oyster with lemongrass, kafir, mirin and gold flakes amuse bouche to the duet of Prime Beef & Wagyu entree and a heart-shaped brioche—every item felt served with a side of love. What It's Like to Stay in a Deluxe Balcony Cabin on the Sun Princess Brand new as of February 2024, the ship has 2,162 staterooms, including interior and ocean-view rooms, balcony rooms, cabanna rooms, suites and Sanctuary Club-level accommodations. Bathrooms include a spacious stand-up shower, separate toilet area and full sink. Rooms are equally airy, including a queen-size bed with Egyptian cotton linens and turn-down service, a comfortable lounge area, SMART TV, bar with refrigerator and plenty of space to stow multiple luggage and unpack two separate wardrobes. More than 1,500 rooms include balconies with privacy slides on either side, perfect for after-dinner stargazing or early morning views of the port. Compared to other ships, the average square footage may be similar, but vacationers have commented that they love the freshened up, new room decor and premium space to spread out when relaxing or sleeping. Where the Sun Princess Sails: Rome to Athens and Beyond Princess' Mediterranean cruise route stops in major European ports along the Mediterranean Sea, making 7-21-day loops. As a cruise-goer, you can choose from port embarkation in Barcelona, Rome (Chittiavechia) or Athens, and there are overnight shore stay and cruise-shore excursion options as well. Sun Princess itinerary 2025 sailings are still available for last-minute bookings, and you can score some great deals through travel agents and other online booking sites. One tip I learned from repeat cruisers on board the ship was to make the $100 deposit / booking credit at the end of the cruise since that allows for the most credits and savings possible. Is the Princess Premier Package Worth It? Here's What It Includes Like most cruiselines, Princess offers base rates for staterooms, which include access to continental and International-style buffet dining, unlimited coffee and bakery items, dinner at main dining room Horizons and even basic room-service menus. While these options were totally adequate and offered everything from made-to-order omelettes, burgers, steak—you name it—partaking in the ship's Premier Pass is how you access all of its fine dining options, unlimited cocktails and wine and unlimited WiFi access. As of July 2025, full premier pass access costs about $100 per person, per day and includes: Unlimited beverages, including alcoholic beverages like Duck Horn, Stag's Leap and Woodford Reserve Bourbon, hand-made coffee drinks, smoothies and bottled water. (Ideal for topping up before and after excursions.) Unlimited specialty dining, including all the restaurants listed above. (Though for some premium cuts and seafood options, there are additional charges.) Unlimited WiFi aboard the ship for four devices. This is actually huge and can save you hundreds on International roaming charges. On Princess Sun, it worked perfectly, and I never had an issue with outages. Unlimited reserve seating for Princess theater arena shows, Broadway-style performances, comedy acts and magician shows. Unlimited photos, Princess prizes and crew gratuities. A new shore excursion credit, varying by voyage length: $100 (6–9 days), $200 (10–20 days), and up to $300 for voyages of 21+ days. Sanctuary Club—Princess Sun's VIP level access reserved exclusively for adults—includes its own balcony suites, fine-dining restaurant and top-level pool deck. While we were able to sit pool-side and get served via it's super-funky (and highly social-media-friendly) Champagne wall where you ring a bell and are served a glass of chilled bubbly from an eerily gloved hand(!), I found the boat to be not too packed to really need it. Everything you'd want, from artisanal cocktails at Good Spirits to fine dining was available with the Premier Pass. It's also incredibly affordable, working out to about $3,000 per person for a 7-day sailing. Of course, there are always upcharges, and for meal options such as Wagyu steak at Teppanyaki, or whole lobster at Rudi's, there are additional costs, however, I found them to be totally reasonable for what was offered, and when thrown in as extras, you might not find the additional charges to be more than a few hundred on top of your stay. Final Verdict: The Sun Princess Is the Best New Cruise for Food Lovers I can safely say that this cruise is definitely a food lover's dream, and I was already envisioning coming back for a 50th birthday group party thanks to its plethora of options for every taste and food preference without the hassle of having to book everything myself. Even gluten-free foodies say it is the boat to beat when it comes to special diets. And beyond the culinary options, it was the overall always-on entertainment, anticipatory service of all waitstaff, hospitality of the cruise director, total professionalism of the experience and quiet-luxe style that made Princess standout among a sea—no pun intended—of competition. It's truly the best cruise for foodies in Might Be the Foodiest Cruise Ship in Europe—And It Sails From Rome to Athens first appeared on Parade on Jul 28, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on Jul 28, 2025, where it first appeared.
Boston Globe
31-07-2025
- Boston Globe
Are cruises accessible? A wheelchair user with 40-plus cruises under her belt weighs in.
Is that cruise ship friendly to mobility-challenged guests? Sylvia Longmire is happy to share her opinions on the good and bad features she's discovered onboard. Courtesy photo Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Love me tender? Not so much. Notice she says, 'If you get lucky.' Tendering (where passengers are transported from the cruise ship to the shore using smaller 'tender' boats, when the ship cannot dock directly at the port) can be a challenge, the cruise veteran says. 'I cruise a lot with Celebrity Cruises, and all of their Edge class ships have accessible tendering with the magic carpet,' a cantilevered, floating platform that extends from the side of the ship, making it easier for guests to embark and disembark. 'But I've had nightmare scenarios with other cruise lines when I've been picked up and carried in my chair from the ship's platform to the tender while the boat was bobbing up and down due to choppy seas. I thought I'd have a heart attack!' Advertisement Thus, Longmire recommends that wheelchair users choose itineraries where ships are docked at ports of call, or simply be OK with skipping a tender port. 'I've done this plenty of times. I always hit the spa while the ship is empty!' You've got the ship to yourself while everyone else is in port — not a bad thing. How accessible is it? As for the ships themselves: Modern cruise ships on major cruise lines follow the guidelines from the Americans with Disabilities Act. Accessible staterooms are typically oversize, with wider doors, lower counters, roll-in showers, and grab bars alongside toilets, Longmire notes. Balconies are usually accessible too. Public spaces, including dining rooms and theaters, have room to accommodate wheelchair and scooter users. The larger, newer ships are the best option when it comes to accessibility, but the cruise line you choose is also important. 'You're going to get a fairly standard accessibility situation with US-based cruise lines like Royal Caribbean, Carnival, NCL, Princess, Disney, and so on,' Longmire says, but 'my worst cruise-ship nightmares have been aboard the newer MSC ships.' Very few of the doors in the MSC Seascape's public areas are automatic, she notes, and the elevator system was unreliable. In addition, she discovered that MSC's private island, Ocean Cay, was not accessible. 'There are no beach mats for wheelchairs, and no access to food or beverages because it's all in the middle of the sand (and thus not navigable for wheelchairs). The shuttle is not accessible, so you have to rely on your own battery power or manual power to get around the island,' Longmire says. Advertisement Sylvia Longmire is a full-time wheelchair user and accessible travel expert at Courtesy photo Also disappointing from an accessibility standpoint: Princess Cruises' Sun Princess. 'The medallion system was great for unlocking my stateroom door, but there was no automatic door opener,' she says. On some decks, there was a double-door system to reach outdoor spaces. 'One door would be touchless/automatic to open, but the next set of doors were manual and heavy. It made no sense at all,' Longmire says. 'They also didn't have one single lowered table in the casino (to accommodate a wheelchair), and I really wanted to give them my money for blackjack.' Longmire has shared her concerns with the cruise companies. The Globe reached out to both cruise lines, but neither responded by press time. That said, a few cruise lines have won her heart. 'My absolute favorite is Virgin Voyages, with Celebrity Cruises a close second,' Longmire says. They both have all of the standard ADA accessibility features, but there's this: 'a general sense that they've thought of you and want to include you.' It's not surprising that Celebrity embraces this group, since their demographic skews older, so they have plenty of passengers who rely on mobility devices, she says. 'Virgin has a younger demographic, but an extremely inclusive business culture, so they want everyone to have fun.' Examples include accessible karaoke spaces, pool lifts on their ships and on their private beaches, lower tables in the casinos, and designated spaces for wheelchair users all over the ships, she notes. Disney was also great for accessibility, 'but I only cruised with them once when my sons were younger,' Longmire says. Advertisement Take me to the river We suspected that river cruises would be a no-go for this group, given that many lines are European-owned, and therefore not subject to ADA requirements. Plus, river boats are often stacked up next to each other, so you need to walk through one vessel to get to another, and so on, before you finally hit pavement. But if you're pining for a river trip, Longmire has a recommendation: the Vakantieschip Prins Willem Alexander ( Accessible travel blogger/expert Sylvia Longmire has been a full-time wheelchair user for 10 years. She travels extensively, and shares the ins and outs of accessible travel online and in her travel guidebooks. Courtesy photo The kindness of strangers Forty cruises! That's a lot of safety drills and champagne toasts. What has surprised Longmire the most on these journeys? The kindness and grace she's received from local people. 'I'm astonished at the length locals will go to make sure you can experience as much as possible with a disability,' she says. 'Given that tour operators and residents deal with thousands of cruise passengers being dumped in their neighborhood every day, they're all about hospitality,' she says, and proudly share their culture and history with a stranger who might not otherwise be able to enjoy it. 'I can't tell you how many times I've been picked up and carried, both in and out of my wheelchair, just so I can experience something awesome in a foreign port.' Advertisement As for the cruise lines, they could do better when it comes to making passengers with mobility challenges feel welcome, Longmire says. 'When was the last time you saw a TV commercial for a cruise line that included a wheelchair user? I've been doing this for a very long time, and I never have. And that makes no sense whatsoever because every time you go on a cruise, you're going to see dozens of people using wheelchairs, scooters, and walkers. 'People with disabilities spend $50 billion on travel in the US, so I don't understand why cruise lines and the rest of the hospitality sector aren't more aggressively marketing directly to us.' They also haven't recognized the powerful peer-to-peer social media groups — many on Facebook — that focus on accessible travel. 'Cruise lines need to tap into the community and make us feel more seen and desired as future passengers.' 'Everything You Need to Know about Wheelchair Accessible Cruising' is available at Connect with Longmire at Diane Bair and Pamela Wright can be reached at
Times
20-07-2025
- Times
Win a seven-day Mediterranean cruise with Princess Cruises worth £4,200
Explore sun-drenched Italy, Turkey and Greece with this prize of a seven-day Mediterranean cruise for two with Princess Cruises. Your ship will be the Sun Princess, the latest addition to the fleet. It arrived in 2024 and is bigger, glossier and more modern than any other Princess Cruises ship, decked out with a swish two-storey dining room, a two-storey spa with a thermal suite, plenty of outdoor pools and a theatre where you can catch a different show every night. You'll board the ship in Civitavecchia, the gateway to Rome, before sailing to Naples, the gorgeous Greek islands of Crete and Mykonos, and the Turkish beach resort town Kusadasi. As you'll be staying in a balcony stateroom, you'll have plenty of opportunities to take in the view en route as well as when you get off the ship to explore. The journey finishes in Piraeus, the port of Athens. Included in the prize are economy flights from the UK and transfers in destination up to the value of £400 per person, all meals in the main restaurant (there's an extra fee for speciality dining), entertainment, drinks, wi-fi package and gratuities. The sailing date is May 2, 2026. For more information, click here. For your chance to win, simply vote in each category in this year's Times and Sunday Times Travel Awards. There are 17 categories in total. Click here to vote. For the full list of prizes, see closes at 23.59pm on August 31, 2025. Open to residents of the United Kingdom who are aged 18 years or older, excluding employees and agents of the Promoter and its group companies, or third parties directly connected with the operation or fulfilment of the Promotion and their affiliates, and their immediate families and household members. One entry per person. Winners will be selected at random from all valid entries. No cash alternative and prize is non-transferable. Winner and guest responsible for getting to and from UK airport at their own expense. Subject to availability, Prize is only applicable to the single departure date provided (May 2, 2026). Prize must be taken as stated and cannot be deferred. Winner and his/her guest(s) must travel on same itinerary. All parts of Prize must be used in conjunction with same booking. The Prize does not include travel insurance (adequate insurance is a condition of travel), parking, pre- or post-cruise hotel stays, shore excursions, spa treatments, personal expenses, casino, or additional gratuities. The Winner and their guest must have a full valid passport (with validity for six months or more beyond the date of travel) to take the trip. The Winner of the cruise will be bound by Princess Cruises' booking terms and conditions and policies (visit Princess Cruises reserves the right to substitute a Prize of equal or greater value and reserves the right to hold void, cancel, suspend or amend the promotion or withdraw the Prize where it becomes necessary to do so, including but not limited to where the cruise is cancelled for reasons outside of Princess Cruises' reasonable control. Actual offerings may vary from what is displayed in marketing materials. Prize is subject to global travel restrictions. Princess Cruises will use the personal data you provide for the purpose of administering this competition and to facilitate redemption of Prize. Personal data will be processed in accordance with Princess Cruises' privacy notice at Your information will be used to administer this Promotion and otherwise in accordance with our privacy policy at and those of the partners. Promoter is Times Media Ltd. Full T&Cs apply — see
The Herald Scotland
20-06-2025
- The Herald Scotland
Experience Greek isles and Roman nights on a stunning ten-night cruise
Then, board the luxurious Sun Princess for a seven-night full-board cruise across sparkling seas, soaking in coastal views, cultural treasures, and relaxing elegance onboard. From there, you'll head to Italy's third-largest city, Naples, a bustling metropolis that's rich in centuries-old culture and customs. Naples is also your gateway to the Isle of Capri, the fabled Amalfi Coast and the ruins of Pompeii, buried in ash by the cataclysmic eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 79 A.D. With an arrival at 7am and a departure at 7pm, you'll have plenty of time to explore this wonderful city and all that it has to offer. The next day is spent at sea, where you can relax and enjoy the many facilities on board. Highlights include live poolside music, an array of food and drink options and a kids club to keep little ones busy. You'll then arrive at Chania, on the iconic Greek island of Crete. It's a centuries-old mix of Minoan myths, well-preserved Venetian mansions, a mesmerizing Old Town complete with labyrinthine passageways, and atmospheric Kastelli Hill, once the site of a Roman acropolis. But Chania may be best known as the gateway to the breathtaking 4,000-year-old Minoan ruins at Knossos, home of the legendary King Minos and the part man and part bull known creature as the Minotaur. And around every corner of this idyllic area, you'll find picturesque villages, breathtaking views and architectural wonders that will remain with you for a lifetime. After another day at sea, the next port of call is Kusadasi on Turkey's Anatolian Coast. In Kusadasi, picturesque whitewashed stone houses rise in tiers behind the market district and the palm-lined esplanade is the centre of town life, with thousands of merchants offering wares to rival the famous Grand Bazaar in Istanbul. This stunning city was once a Roman provincial capital and is also home to several of Christendom's holiest sites, including the tomb of St. John the Apostle. You'll then get a full day (7am until 9pm) to enjoy the unique charm of the island of Mykonos. Needing absolutely no introduction, the white buildings of Mykonos must be one of the most-recognisable symbols of Greece. Your unforgettable journey with Orbis Travels – who have a 4.7 rating on Trustpilot – then concludes with a full day and night spent in Athens, where culture and history combine and the ancient Acropolis sits above the commotion of the modern city. Packed with busy shops and lively tavernas, Athens is the perfect place to round off your trip in style before flying back to the UK the following day. Departing on select dates from August, September 2025 and April to October 2026, this 10-night escape blends history, beauty, and leisure across two of Europe's most iconic cities. Call now on 0113 517 5272 Travel notes Price From £1,219 pp Return flights to Rome and out of Athens from Scottish Airports Departing on select dates from August, September 2025 and April to October 2026 Two nights in Rome at The Republic Hotel One night in Athens at Luwian Boutique Hotel THE SUN PRINCESS LUXURY and comfort are everything on board the luxurious Sun Princess, where Orbis passengers will enjoy a seven-night full-board cruise across sparkling seas, soaking in coastal views, cultural treasures, and relaxing elegance onboard. The Sun Princess includes an epic sphere atrium, first ever geodesic dome, innovative entertainment venues and premium suites. It is the newest and largest ship in the Princess Cruises fleet, representing a bold leap into the future of cruising. This innovative vessel blends modern design, cutting-edge technology and unparalleled luxury. With spacious, light-filled interiors inspired by the sun, Sun Princess introduces exciting new venues like The Dome, a multi-level entertainment and relaxation space with a glass-enclosed pool by day and dazzling shows by night. Guests can indulge in world-class dining, from the casual delights of Alfredo's Pizzeria to special experiences like Love by Britto. Interior cabins are Sun Princess' most affordable option. Featuring twin beds or a queen-size bed, a desk with a chair, a flat-screen television, a spacious closet, a bathroom with a shower, a hair dryer and other bathroom amenities, a refrigerator and digital security safe, they're perfect for guests who just want a comfortable spot to recharge. Ocean View cabins offer a room with an expansive view. They feature all the same amenities as interior cabins but with the added benefit of a window that brings an airy openness to the room. During the day, you can enjoy a variety of activities. Princess Cruises has partnered with many exciting brands to provide the best onboard experience possible. Destination-themed activities like live performances, music and dance lessons and the chance to try local dishes will give you a deeper connection to the places you visit. Sun Princess' art gallery boasts an extensive collection of impressive artwork from world-class artists. And if you prefer shopping for clothes, accessories and beauty products, the shops of Princess, which can be found on Decks 7 and 8, offer a wide variety of options.
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
Forget the buffet: Here's why a cruise should be on your vacation bucket list
Many people flock to cruise ships for their vacation because you get everything you want and need in one place: multiple ports of call, spas, pools, live entertainment and, of course, buffets. For some, however, buffets are a deterrent, and many cruise ships are starting to realize they may not be what passengers want anymore. The realization couldn't come at a better time, as travelers are increasingly choosing cruise travel over land-based vacations, according to June 2024 research from JP Morgan, which noted that consumers are more and more "focused on value within discretionary categories, with the value spread between cruises and land-based alternatives standing at 25-30% today versus 10-15% pre-pandemic." As a result, cruise operators are overhauling their fleets and on-board offerings to appeal to these consumers. In April 2024, Norwegian Cruise Line placed its largest ship order ever to meet rising demand. And Disney announced at its D23 fan event last August that it will expand its cruise fleet to 13 ships by 2031. Cruise lines are also getting creative with their dining solutions to accommodate guests who favor a more selective experience in lieu of a massive standard buffet. Aboard Princess Cruises' Sun Princess, the latest ship added to the cruise line's fleet, you'll still find grandiose dining rooms and a buffet, however, guests are offered a served buffet rather than a serve-yourself concept. The cruise line has also teamed up with some of the top chefs from around the world to curate its unique dining experiences. The ship boasts over 30 restaurants and bar venues with celebrity collaborators, including mixologist Rob Floyd, world-renowned artist Romero Brito, supermodel Tyra Banks, famed butcher Dario Cecchini and many others. "We wanted to bring a new taste and flair to our guests," said Sami Kohen, vice president of food and beverage operations for Princess Cruises. "The cruise line industry has been around since the early 1960s and the traditional dining room is part of our dining choices, but it's not the primary one that we want to implement." Take Makoto Ocean, for example, an edomae-style sushi restaurant aboard the Sun Princess. Chef Makoto Okuwa, a famed Japanese chef known for his brick-and-mortar restaurant in Miami Beach, has brought his culinary talents to the high seas, serving his delicious sushi and specialty dishes to cruise guests. Another unique addition to the Sun Princess is Spellbound by Magic Castle. The members-only concept -- the original clubhouse is located in Los Angeles -- is now giving passengers a sneak preview of its sumptuous dining, extravagant cocktails, and magical entertainment aboard the cruise ship, treating them to "incredible feats of magic from talented magicians, surprises in themed rooms and theatrical cocktails delivered by sleight-of-hand servers," according to a press release. Meanwhile aboard the Disney Treasure, Disney's latest vessel and sister ship to the Disney Wish, the company is taking immersive experiences to a whole new level. The Treasure's Haunted Mansion bar is the first bar of its kind in the cruise line's fleet. The ship is the first vessel to incorporate storylines found in Disney theme parks into new experiences found on-board. Unique light shows, spooky handcrafted cocktails, and even appearances from Madame Leota herself are just some of the sneaky surprises you can expect from this elevated, adults-only experience. Over at Plaza de Coco, the Treasure is taking dinner and a show to a whole new level. Once you walk past a long corridor, you feel like you're no longer aboard a ship and have been transported to a plaza en La Ciudad de México (Mexico City). With authentic Mexican cuisine and delicious handcrafted cocktails paired with an incredible mariachi show and entertainment from Disney and Pixar's famous animated film "Coco," you'll surely be celebrating Dia de los Muertos with your newfound familia. "When you think about the entertainment part of it, I haven't been to a place where you can actually have live music and entertainment and have a menu like this where we are putting all these Mexican touches," said Disney Cruise Lines food and beverage expert Isai Coca. In addition to elevated dining experiences, travelers are also seeking greater flexibility. Many cruise lines are doing away with the concept of seated dinners and giving control back to passengers so they can plan their days accordingly, whether they're looking to do a little remote work, spend an extra hour at the pool, or just head back to their cabin for a midday nap. Carlos Justina, food and beverage director aboard the Sun Princess, says that giving control back to passengers when it comes to when they want to eat, plus the use of technology with the Princess App, actually helps the company to adequately prepare and deliver a stronger experience to guests. If you're moving on from the cruise vacations of yesteryear or are simply looking to embrace a fresh, experiential concept, cruise lines are listening -- and chances are, you'll find what you're looking for.
