Star Princess

The main pool deck has two pools and hot tubs, shaped for morning laps or for sitting on the edge with your feet in the water. Lido Slice, Lido Tacos, Lido Grill, Lido Greens and Coffee & Cones keep lunch easy, and the Movies Under the Stars screen, a Princess original, shows first-run films and sports. Above it all sits the Dome, a glass-enclosed lounge and stage with an indoor/outdoor pool and the Cascade Bar at its entrance.

Star Princess has outdoor retreats at both ends. Forward, the Seaview Terrace and Seaview Bar are adults-only (16 and up), with a pool that extends into the Dome, hot tubs on either side and wraparound bar seating. Aft, the Wake View Terrace has an infinity pool looking straight off the back of the ship, two hot tubs, a full bar and daybeds. The aft is Danny’s favorite spot on any ship, especially when sailing past glaciers.

The Sanctuary Club sits at the top of the ship, all the way aft, and is reserved for Sanctuary Collection guests in suites, mini-suites and select balconies. It has a pool big enough for laps, a hot tub, extra-padded loungers, a small buffet and food delivered to your lounger. Private cabanas cost extra. Full-suite guests also get the Signature Suite Lounge, with two-story windows and a suite concierge, and Sanctuary guests dine at the Sanctuary Restaurant all day.

The Piazza is the ship’s gathering place, spread over three decks with three-story windows. A moving LED screen and a DJ booth set the stage for aerial acts and pop-diva tribute shows from morning to late night. Around it are Coffee Currents, Bellinis (home of the champagne waterfall), the Crooners piano bar, the International Café and Makoto Ocean, a sushi restaurant created with Japanese chef Makoto Okuwa, where Danny has had some of his best sushi at sea.

The Princess Arena is the main theater, and it’s new for Princess: a theater in the round where the floor rises and lowers as part of the stage, backed by a huge LED screen. It hosts two Broadway-style production shows plus guest entertainers, all included in your fare. Princess Live! mixes lounge and stage, with trivia, game shows, and music and dancing at night. Nearby, the casino has added a much larger smoke-free section.

The specialty lineup runs deep. Umai offers teppanyaki with a show, plus hot pot, which is rare at sea. Sabatini’s Italian Trattoria serves handmade pastas, minestrone and tiramisu. The Crown Grill is bigger on this ship and adds Nolan Ryan’s Good Stock beef, including ribeye and tomahawk, next to the classic strip and filet. The Catch by Rudi covers seafood, with an optional seafood tower. Some of these may be included in a package.

O’Malley’s Irish Pub is where Danny likes to spend his evenings. Expect piano sing-alongs, booths by the windows, low tables and high-top pub seating. Food here costs extra, and there’s a burger and fish and chips on the menu. Nearby, Good Spirits, created with mixologist Rob Floyd, has a demonstration kitchen with overhead cameras so you can learn to make cocktails, and the classic Wheelhouse Bar pours drinks outside the Crown Grill.

Star Princess has three main dining rooms. The Aurora, on the lowest level, offers traditional seating, with the same table, tablemates and waiter every night. The Celestial, just above it, is for anytime dining, roughly 5:00 to 9:00, restaurant style. Tables seat two to ten, with booths too. Menus keep Princess classics like steak, salmon and shrimp alongside new dishes. The Eatery and the Americana Diner handle casual meals.