Princess Cruises has unveiled additional dining experiences on its new Sun Princess ship; announcing what it calls “an unrivalled collection of culinary options – from celebrated chefs and celebrity collaborators, as well as ingredients sourced from high-end purveyors, and a line-up of exciting and new experiences”.
Here – in the words of Princess Cruises, itself – is a flavour of what’s on offer:
Spellbound by Magic Castle – the Next “Extraordinary Experience” from Princess
The cruise line has announced that Spellbound by Magic Castle will be the latest in Princess Cruises’ new category of “Extraordinary Experiences,” following the wildly successful 360: An Extraordinary Experience, the remarkable, multi-sensory culinary journey that debuted last year aboard Discovery Princess and Enchanted Princess.
Spellbound by Magic Castle blends the captivating world of magic with the art of culinary and mixology to create an extraordinary innovative immersive dining experience, steeped in magic and adventure.
Just announced, the evening will begin in an exclusive area of the Horizons Dining Room for a delectable, shared dinner before being escorted to the secluded Spellbound Bar, nestled behind a non-descript door where magic and mixology awaits. Talented, Magic Castle-sponsored magicians perform incredible feats of illusion in themed rooms and theatrical cocktails are delivered by sleight-of-hand servers. With three nightly offerings at 5pm, 7pm and 9pm at limited capacity, advanced bookings are required with a $149 per person cover charge.
Sushi Master Makoto Okuwa Comes Aboard for Kai Sushi
Sun Princess guests eager to try something new will savour Kai Sushi by Makoto Okuwa – reshaping traditional sushi with a creative approach. Through this exclusive partnership, the Master of Edomae-style sushi, Chef Makoto Okuwa, brings his 25 years of experience to Sun Princess with a new concept crafting playful, exquisitely presented dishes paying tribute to Japanese traditions. Edomae-style sushi is a rather modern Japanese cuisine initially created by the Edo (old name for Tokyo) fast food businesses during the 1820’s, combining fresh raw fish and cooked rice which is seasoned with vinegar. Chef Okuwa is proud to bring his own variation of sushi appealing to a wide array of palates to Sun Princess. With popular restaurants in Miami, Brazil, Mexico City and Panama and showcasing his skills on Food Network’s popular Iron Chef, Chef Okuwa has been recognised by the prestigious James Beard Foundation. Cover charge is $39/person.
Makoto joins other celebrated collaborators with dining options aboard Sun Princess. In addition to Kai Sushi by Makoto, guests can enjoy “The Butcher’s Block by Dario,” where the world’s most famous butcher, Dario Cecchini, grills up perfectly prepared beef and steak; “The Catch by Rudi” a culinary odyssey curated by renowned chef Rudi Sodamin that showcases the ocean’s treasures in an exceptional dinner concept; “Love by Britto” which will offer exquisite cuisine against a backdrop of breathtaking views curated by world-renowned artist Romero Britto; and destination-inspired one-of-a-kind cocktail creations at Good Spirits at Sea from celebrity mixologist Rob Floyd.
Royal Afternoon Tea with British Royal Chef Darren McGrady
Chef Darren McGrady, former personal chef to Queen Elizabeth II, Princess Diana, Prince William and Harry, plus serving five U.S. presidents – leads a sophisticated Royal Afternoon Tea with Sun Princess guests in the Good Spirits at Sea Lounge. Chef McGrady shares his experiences and stories via visual media, interacting with the live host while guests enjoy a spot of tea and the traditional fixings of scones with clotted cream and jam, tea sandwiches, cookies and pastries. Tea pairings include Earl Grey and English Breakfast, along with more exotic varieties like Lapsang Souchong, Assam and Matcha, and guests may request a glass of bubbly for an added charge. Priced at $30 per person, Royal Afternoon Tea is offered on select sea days and can be reserved in advance.
Sip Wine with Master Winemaker of the Year*, Gérard Bertrand
French winemaker Gérard Bertrand, known around the world for his Cote des Rosés, award-winning rosé and several top-selling French wines, hosts a special wine tasting designed especially for Sun Princess wine enthusiasts. At this special event hosted in the Good Spirits at Sea Lounge, Sun Princess guests will be immersed in the flavours of these bio-diverse wines, the landscape and stories of the region as Gérard and his team interact with them through visual media. Guests can reserve this special event, priced at $40 per person.
Inaugural Menus Created in Collaboration with the Culinary Institute of America
Princess Head of Culinary Arts and Master Chef Rudi Sodamin has teamed up with the esteemed Culinary Institute of America (CIA) to craft all-new, delectable Horizons Dining Room menus for the inaugural Mediterranean season for Sun Princess. Under Chef Rudi’s supervision, a team of CIA master chefs will be onboard Sun Princess training the brigade of 252 galley team members to serve up memorable dinner menu items.
In addition to these new collaborations, beginning March 1 Princess will be serving some of the best beef steaks from Four Sixes® Ranch Brand Beef. Drawing from the traditions and legacy of the 154-year-old Four Sixes Ranch, Four Sixes Ranch Brand Beef is nurtured on the legendary ranch itself and across a thoughtfully chosen network of ranches. These locations prioritise quality, effective range management, and sustainability.
The addition of Four Sixes Ranch Brand Beef takes place exactly one year after the world-renowned coffee brand, Lavazza, became the line’s official coffee partner, ensuring guests will enjoy the essence and quality of real Italian coffee no matter where they sail with Princess.
Sun Princess guests sailing on the first three cruises can now book dining reservations in Horizons Dining Room, Sabatini’s, Crown Grill, Kai Sushi by Makoto, The Butcher’s Block by Dario, The Catch by Rudi, Umai Teppanyaki and Umai Hot Pot. In the coming weeks, all guests sailing on upcoming Sun Princess voyages will be able to book additional dining experiences.
“With its unrivaled blend of creativity, quality, choice, and expertise, Sun Princess will set a new standard for food and beverage excellence,” said John Padgett, president of Princess Cruises. “Food and drink excellence is synonymous with experience excellence aboard Princess ships.”
