She’s big, bold and beautiful, with elegant, contemporary lines; modern statement art bringing color, movement and a sense of joy to public rooms, stairwells and corridors; and a gastronome’s dream scenario of options, flavors and indulgences when it comes to food, from seafood and steak to teppanyaki and hot pot and more.

Star Princess. The second Sphere-class ship in the Princess fleet, this 4,300-passenger ship checks all the boxes for fun, entertainment, activity, relaxation spaces and surprises (more on this later), but where she really shines is her stellar cuisine scene.

Irresistible tastes and artful plates

Inventive and approachable, Star Princess elevates dining into an artform and, as I discovered on my recent cruise to the Caribbean, you can enjoy a different experience every night of a week-long voyage and still never make it to all of the various dining concepts. Each restaurant, including the specialty venues, offers a distinct flavor, setting and mood, yet all share a commitment to beautifully plated and delicious cuisine.

Catch by Rudi delivers a refined yet playful dining adventure with exquisitely plated seafood dishes, each showing off culinary maestro Chef Rudi Sodamin’s flair. While my dining companion raved about the surf and turf, I went with the Poivre Perfection—steak frites with peppercorn sauce and, something I can’t resist, frizzled onions. The Shrimp on the Rocks with huge meaty shrimps chilled just so and their flavor heightened with the tangy horseradish cocktail sauce was sublime.

Love by Britto is a feast for the senses, blending world-class cuisine with vibrant artistry. Created by pop artist Romero Britto and Sodamin, the restaurant offers a whimsical prix fixe menu, an edible color palette where design and imagination merge into flavor bombs like the handcrafted pumpkin ricotta ravioli with carrot foam, salad of beets, figs and goat cheese and icy palate cleanser of granita of pink champagne and rose petals.

Makoto Ocean brings the artistry of sushi master Makoto Okuwa to sea and Japanese dishes, like the garden uramaki (inside-out sushi) with asparagus, carrot, avocado, cucumber and pickled daikon radish rolled in seaweed and molded in seasoned rice.

The Crown Grill pairs a polished steakhouse atmosphere with generous choices, from tender filets to richly marbled rib-eyes. In spite of these temptations, I opted for the beefsteak tomato entrée, richly colorful and stacked with grilled vegetables. With vibrant seasonings, it was a delicious garden-fresh alternative.

Sabatini’s Italian Trattoria is a celebration of rustic elegance, with (my favorite) olive oil-balsamic vinegar dipping sauce for fresh-baked breads, handmade pastas and regional wines. I cannot resist the comfort food call of spaghetti and meatballs, and this dish was perfection, amply sauced and finished with fresh basil.

Butcher Block by Dario is a carnivore’s dream, curated by famed Italian butcher Dario Cecchini. This is the sizzle and the steak; culinary showmanship meets expertly prepared beef: beef tartare, rump roast carpaccio, thick Italian Panzanese steak and T-bone steak, rounded out with a crock of veggies for dipping in olive oil, baked potato and the restaurant’s signature chianti pork “butter”—a dense spread we tried on the Tuscan bread (a hit) and potato (sour cream was preferred).

Alfredo’s Pizzeria serves authentic, hand-stretched Neapolitan pizzas that are out of this world. I ate lunch here solo one afternoon, so ordered my favorite pizza toppings: bacon, tomato, red onion and extra sauce. The wood-fired oven delivered a pie that hit golden-bubbling perfection. The green salad dressed in a simple vinaigrette was tasty, too.

International Café is the ship’s heartbeat for coffee lovers, and the coffee is outstanding, and the honey lavender latte (fragrant, floral and soothing), had a huge fanbase. The café also serves a variety of fresh pastries, breakfast and other sandwiches, light bites and sweet treats, and the seating puts you at the lively Piazza, the three-level hub where Zumba, live music, games and other activities fill the day’s agenda.

O’Malley’s Irish Pub channels the warmth of a neighborhood pub with hearty comfort fare like fish ‘n’ chips, chicken wings with several types of sauces and drunken mussels, plus pints of Guinness and craft brews and a lively whiskey list. Evenings bring acoustic sets, pub trivia and other entertainment.

Grab ’n Go was a fun option, a glass case filled with freshly prepared salads and sandwiches, including my favorite, the ham and Swiss sub—so savory and satisfying and ideal for when you want a little something but not necessarily a full sit-down meal.

Foodies will want to purchase the Princess Premier or Princess Plus package so they can experiment at the various dining concepts. The packages not only include dining at specialty and casual restaurants, but cocktails, wine and other alcohol, specialty coffees and teas and bottled water, Wi-Fi, photography and reserved theater seating. (Visit the website for package details.)

Of course, there is no charge for dining in the main dining rooms—the Aurora and Celestial, gorgeous with three levels of tableclothed dining—nor at the Eatery buffet and Americana Diner, International Café and Lido and Promenade deck eats like pizza, tacos, ice cream and more.

A sybarite’s delight

Star Princess has several spaces made for luxuriating in the finer things, beginning with the staterooms, welcoming in a neutral palette splashed with blue accents. The bed and bedding are a dream; it’s top quality from the poufy comforter and cushy pillows to the “goldilocks” mattress swaddled in soft linens and feels akin to drifting to sleep in a plump cocoon. The padded slippers are a nice touch, and the robe feels like being draped in a soft hug.

A standout among noteworthy in-room features: In the compact but well-organized bathroom, the shower pressure is fabulous, the water hot and the shampoo, conditioner and body wash delightfully citrusy scented with Beekman 1802’s Fresh Air products—exactly what’s needed after a day poolside or following a Zumba or samba dance class in the Piazza.

Another space is the Sanctuary, Princess Cruises’ ship-within-a-ship concept, a private enclave for Sanctuary Collection suite passengers. Think elevated escape, serenity, attentive service and gourmet dining with lots of perks. These include the Sanctuary Restaurant, exclusively for Sanctuary Collection guests; access to the Signature Suite Lounge, a quiet space for morning coffee; and the Sanctuary Club, with its own swimming pool and shaded cabanas that can be reserved for the day.

The Lotus Spa is another tranquil haven, and passengers can purchase passes for the Thermal Suite for a day of wallowing in the comforts of heated tiled loungers, a therapy pool, sauna and steam rooms. We used our passes on a port day and practically had the place to ourselves. Truly, there is no better way to relax than lying on a heated tiled lounger in the hush of the spa and dozing off while listening to an audio book.

Spellbound by Magic Castle is an exceptional speakeasy experience, a wonderful surprise hidden behind a door marked with an “S” and offering a fun escape into a world of smoke-and-mirrors glam and mystery. Here, illusionists perform sleight-of-hand tricks; mixologists whip up their own magic with cocktails like the Spirited Piano, vodka sweetened with Fruit Loop infused milk, and the Tequila-based Tuxedo; and musicians play smooth, lounge-style jazz in an Art Deco setting.

Despite her sweeping atrium, glittering boutiques and spaces that balance grandeur with intimacy, Star Princess is more than just a pretty face; she works hard to entertain, with splashy shows in the Princess Arena, amazing acrobatic spectacles, live music, art auctions, trivia games, a full roster of exercise classes, wellness talks, spa events, infinity pool, hot tubs, walking/running track, covered sports court with pickleball, basketball, archery range, games for kids and much more.

This ship stays busy round the clock—all the better to build up an appetite for sampling Star Princess’s outstanding cuisine.

Plan Your Travels

Princess Cruises’ Star Princess sails the Caribbean and Alaska, departing from Fort Lauderdale, Port Everglades and Port Canaveral, Vancouver, Los Angeles and Seattle. Fares include meals in the two main dining rooms, plus Lido and Promenade dining options; entertainment, including shows and live music; beverages including water, iced tea, juice and filter coffee. Specialty dining, alcohol, specialty coffees and soft drinks, admission to Spellbound, gratuities and Wi-Fi are additional; however, passengers can use the Princess app onboard without buying the Wi-Fi package.

One feature I would like to see on every cruise ship is a guest laundry, and Star Princess does not disappoint with its laundry rooms equipped with washers, dryers, ironing board and a detergent/dryer sheet dispenser. There is a fee, but for those of us who like to do our own washing, the minimal cost is well worth it. For more information about sailing with Princess Cruises, visit www.princess.com.

Ship your luggage and skip the hassle (and hauling)

For my Princess Cruises’ Star Princess voyage, which was part of a multi-let journey that included stops at two different destinations in Florida, I tried a service called Ship&Play to send my luggage ahead of me.

Ship&Play offers travelers an alternative to hauling bags and bulky gear by sending it directly to a traveler’s destination. The company then picks everything up afterward to send it home for a seamless, stress-free service that lets travelers pack light and focus on fun. No visiting the airport kiosk to get a bag tag or waiting in long lines to check your bag on the front end—and no sifting through a sea of bags on arrival at your destination.

Here’s what I liked about the service: Ship&Play lets you plan and pack ahead for anxiety-free packing that is backed by an on-time delivery guarantee. I felt organized, knowing everything I needed was already packed, and relieved to check this off my list. Not having to carry my bags to and through the airport and onto the plane gave me a true sense of freedom.

Here’s what I didn’t like: I felt the lack of control over my luggage and worried my bags wouldn’t arrive on time (they did). In fact, my bags reached the destination even earlier than expected.

The bottom line: Ship&Play is a solid service that can help with logistics, planning and organization, especially with a tricky, multi-leg journey, and remove the stress of dealing with bags on travel day. My bags showed up as scheduled and were waiting for me at my destination in Florida and I loved not having to haul them to the airport and either get in line to check them or struggle with hefting them into the overhead bin. For more information, visit www.shipplay.com.

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