By
Alex Smith |
Princess’ Cruises Sun Princess is to offer a range of new culinary experiences, the cruise line has revealed.
Spellbound by Magic Castle is the latest in Princess Cruises’ new category of ‘Extraordinary Experiences’, following the debut of 360: An Extraordinary Experience onboard Discovery Princess and Enchanted Princess in 2023. The dining experience will begin in an exclusive area of the Horizons Dining Room with a shared dinner, before guests are escorted to the Spellbound Bar. Magicians sponsored by the Magic Castle private club in Los Angeles will perform illusions in themed rooms while cocktails are delivered by servers using sleight-of-hand. Three experiences will be available each night at 5pm, 7pm and 9pm at limited capacity.
Also among the new venues is Kai Sushi by Makoto Okuwa, which was developed in partnership with Chef Makoto Okuwa. The chef is a specialist in Edomae-style sushi, which combines fresh raw fish and cooked rice which is seasoned with vinegar. He operates restaurants in the USA, Brazil, Mexico and Panama, and has been recognised by the non-profit James Beard for his achievements in the culinary arts.
Chef Darren McGrady, a former personal chef to members of the British royal family, will lead a Royal Afternoon Tea for guests in Sun Princess’ Good Spirits at Sea Lounge. McGrady will share his experiences via visual media, interacting with the live host while guests are served tea, scones with clotted cream and jam, tea sandwiches, cookies and pastries. Tea pairings include Earl Grey, English Breakfast, Lapsang Souchong, Assam and Matcha, and gusts can request a glass of champagne for an added charge.
French winemaker Gérard Bertrand, meanwhile, will host a wine tasting designed especially for Sun Princess in the Good Spirits at Sea Lounge. Guests will be able to taste a selection of wines from Gérard and his team discuss the landscape and stories of the region they were made in through visual media.
Princess’ head of culinary arts, Rudi Sodamin, has also worked with the Culinary Institute of America (CIA) to create new Horizons Dining Room menus for the inaugural Mediterranean season for Sun Princess. A team of CIA chefs will be onboard Sun Princess training the brigade of 252 galley team members to serve the exclusive dishes.
Alongside the new venues, Princess has also partnered with Four Sixes Ranch Brand Beef to serve the company’s beef steaks across the ship. The steaks will be sourced from Four Sixes Ranch Brand Beef’s network of ranches across the USA.
In total, Sun Princess will feature 30 dining and lounge venues, including the main dining room, the three-story Horizons restaurant.
Sun Princess’ main dining room, the Horizons restaurant, is spread over three stories
“With its unrivalled 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.”