Class war as the Sun Princess changes upset elite passengers

Sun Princess was never expected to be perfect from the get-go. She was delayed in her launch and then there was the stop-start-stop of Park 19, the upper deck waterpark that suddenly ran dry.

I know this because I sailed on the vessel shortly after her launch. And I was at the shipyard when she was built.

Now, there’s a major reshuffle of where the top restaurants will be located across the ship, and it’s fascinating to read between the lines as to why this is afoot – especially given the cost that will be involved in such a refurb and relocation process, as well as the disruption this will cause to guests who have booked for the ship’s debut Caribbean season in October.

As a former Sun Princes sailor – you can see my videos at cruisepassenger.com.au – I really want to take a bite out of the reasons why the moves are being made and what this means for future cruisers.

Here are the moves in a nutshell: The swish and exclusive Sanctuary Collection restaurant is being moved from the busy Piazza area on deck 7 to deck 8. The Catch by Rudi is now moving to deck 7. The Butcher’s Block by Dario is moving to deck 7 forward. Crown Grill will now be found on deck 7 aft. And The Americana Diner will be located on deck 9 aft. And all the passengers go round the outside, round the outside, round the outside… it’s a legit do-si-do! And the million-dollar question is: why?

I was a lucky passenger on board the Sun Princess when she first set sail in the Mediterranean earlier this year, and I can say some of it genuinely makes sense.

For a start, the Sanctuary Collection is the restaurant that is designed exclusively for the elite passengers who pay top dollar for the private and luxurious areas of the signature suite class. It was a tad odd to find this located in the busiest heart of the ship, at the Piazza, like a baby elephant attempting to hide behind a telegraph pole.

No-one knew what was behind the door and even if they did, it made them feel excluded, knowing they would never be allowed in. Those that could access it on the other hand, had obviously paid to escape the prying eyes of the general riff raff onboard and probably didn’t enjoy shuffling their way through the ship’s shenanigans in order to get to and from dinner. So, with this move, we approve!

But there is some nervous chatter about how these elite guests will feel once they realise that the new Sanctuary Restaurant won’t just be catering to the Suite guests, but also to the mini suites and premium balcony guests. Ooh la la! Quelle Scandale!!

Dear readers, it’s at this moment that I should remind all passengers, be they premium or above, that we are all still sailing with Princess…the ultimate family friendly cruise line, and no matter how much you pay, you are highly likely, at some stage or another, to encounter some rowdy kids, some slow-walking oldies, some all-you-can-eat fans, some hens parties and some casino-playing passengers.

So un-twist those knickers and book on a five star luxury line if you wish for uninterrupted serenity whilst onboard.

But also for the record, having personally dined at the Signature Restaurant while onboard, I am entirely confident the crew in this exceptional dining room will be ready to make you feel very, very special, no matter how many diners are allowed through the doors.

I am also un-surprised, and just quietly, also quite amused by the relocation of The Catch restaurant. If you’ve never heard or seen the famous chef behind this creation, Rudi Sodamin, then you’ve been missing out. Perhaps known equally for his flamboyant colourful wardrobe and thick Austrian accent as he is for his culinary creations, Chef Sodamin has somewhat of a cult following for the flair of his food – seafood artworks in fact. No joke, he has published coffee table books with photographs of his seafood platters delicately placed on crew member’s heads, like Melbourne Cup fascinators, prawns and seaweed dripping delicately over the left eye, a lobster balanced precariously over the right ear… why on earth wouldn’t the Sun Princess want to capitalise on this ostentatious showpiece of all things cruise-worthy in the prime location of the ship?

Besides this, the steep costs Princess pays for the fresh seafood that is poured into this onboard dining experience is no doubt part of the plan and it needs to pay its own way. You see my point. Like the prawns, this restaurant must be perched somewhere for all to see.

Now, the choice relocation of the Butcher’s Block by Chef Dario is equally as politically succulent. When I experienced this extravaganza of meat during my cruise, I couldn’t help but think this was an extremely American concept. There is barely anything served in this restaurant except red meat, different cuts of red meat, other parts of red meat and a fair bit of cow thrown in.

The place mats give you an idea of what you’re in for, with a picture of a cow and all the different cuts that you’ll be experiencing. And if that doesn’t tell you, then the live chef demonstration will, complete with microphone and large butcher’s knife, hacking, stabbing, sawing and flaying the beast from block to plate before your very eyes. Vegetarians, be warned.

And even the heartiest carnivores may find it difficult to stomach the amount of meat that’s herded your way from serving to serving. But, as the ship is set to sail to Fort Lauderdale in time for the Caribbean launch, the relocation of this restaurant is quite probably going to hit the mark with the new demographic waiting to have the first U.S. bite.

As for the American Diner, now to be found on deck 9, this is also quite a smart move given that it’s the all-day diner, offering the buffet style breakfast, lunch and dinner menus. From the hip pocket perspective, this one isn’t ever going to be making the cruise line an extra buck, so why position it directly under the hungry eyes of passengers on deck 7 who could easily access it, instead of opting for a specialty dining experience that costs extra? So, tuck it away, make it less enticing and steer the hungry crowds towards the colour and extravaganza of meat and seafood by Dario & Rudi. It’s a no brainer really.

While I really could dive deeper on this juicy topic, it’s fair to say that Princess is being strategic in these decisions.

Afterall, the Sun Princess is just the first in the new Sphere class ship series and with the Star under construction, the Sun was always going to be the first-born that we parents make our rookie error mistakes with. We iron them out as we go, then we try and raise the middle child a little better and if we are lucky, the baby gets any attention at all.

I can’t wait to see how she holds up to the US market and all the savoury gossip that’s sure to come our way.

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