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This summer, I took my family on their very first cruise. There were six of us in total, spanning three generations and ranging in age from 30 to 75. Our ship was Sun Princess, one of the newest additions to the Princess Cruises fleet, sailing through the Mediterranean from Barcelona to Rome.
It was not only their first cruise. It was also my first time sailing with Princess.
Having previously cruised with an eclectic mix of cruise lines, from Royal Caribbean to Mein Schiff, I knew better than to arrive with a rigid list of expectations. Every cruise line has its own personality, its own pace and its own idea of what a holiday at sea should feel like.
So I boarded with open arms and, perhaps more importantly, an open mind.
Seeing cruising through fresh eyes
There is something revealing about travelling with first-time cruisers.
Things I might normally take for granted suddenly became exciting again. The first sailaway. Disembarking in a new port. Ordering a drink without reaching for a wallet. Seeing that sunset for the first time. IYKYK.
Watching my family experience those moments reminded me that cruising still has the ability to feel almost improbable.
You unpack once, yet each morning brings a new city and country. Dinner, entertainment, transport and accommodation all exist within the same floating world. For experienced cruisers, that convenience can become familiar. For first-timers, it feels a little like discovering a secret.
It was an awakening to see the entire experience through their eyes.
A Mediterranean itinerary with real variety
Our itinerary called at Palma, Corsica, Marseille, Genoa and La Spezia, where the ship stayed overnight.
It was a varied route, with zero sea days, and one I would happily recommend to travellers flying over from the United States or Canada who want to experience more than the best-known Mediterranean ports.
There were glamorous harbours, working cities, rugged coastlines and historic old towns. Each stop felt distinct from the last.
La Spezia is often treated as a gateway to Florence and Pisa, and both are understandably popular choices. However, I would suggest looking a little closer to the coast and visiting Cinque Terre instead.
Its colourful villages, steep hillsides and dramatic sea views make it feel completely different from the larger Italian cities. The overnight stay also removes some of the usual pressure. You are not constantly checking the time or worrying about missing the ship, which allows the destination to feel like part of the holiday rather than a hurried excursion.
That slower rhythm would become one of the defining themes of the entire cruise.
When a cruise package actually feels inclusive
For our sailing, I booked the Princess Plus package for the whole family.
I did not want anyone feeling as though they had to worry about spending money. The last thing you want is for people to feel they cannot eat or drink what they actually want because they are worried about the cost.
In practice, the package made the cruise feel genuinely close to all-inclusive.
You could very easily embark, enjoy the week and disembark without spending anything onboard. My family kept asking whether I had paid for things behind the scenes and just fibbed the true cost. I had not. They were simply surprised by how much was covered.
Like previous cruises, I had assumed that some of my usual favourites, particularly speciality coffees and espresso martinis, might sit outside the package. They did not, and the drinks menu turned out to be far more imaginative than I expected. Some favourites included the Fig & Honey, Key Lime Pie, Bueno, 24K Gold Margarita and Dirty Banana.
The cocktail list was enormous, filled with drinks I had never encountered before. It became part menu, part adventure. Ordering a cocktail occasionally felt like selecting something from a dessert trolley, which is absolutely not a complaint.
The food was best when it was most relaxed
Dining onboard was interesting because, for me, the strongest food was not always found in the most formal settings.
The poolside bistros were a real highlight, particularly the Mexican and pizza. Princess has built a strong reputation around its pizza, and on Sun Princess it lived up to the praise. It was crisp, fresh and exactly the sort of food you want after returning from a long day ashore.
There is something satisfying about sitting outside, still slightly tired from exploring, with a slice of pizza and the Mediterranean passing by.
Service in the Main Dining Room could occasionally be slow. But equally, we were a party of six, so it’s expected.
A slower meal encourages you to stay at the table. To continue the conversation. To notice the coastline. To accept that there is nowhere else you urgently need to be.
Sometimes slow service is simply slow service. But sometimes it also reminds you that you are on holiday.
A big ship that knows how to be quiet
Sun Princess is a large ship, but it rarely felt impossible to escape the activity.
For something that could comfortably be described as a mega ship, you are never far from seeing the ocean. Whether you are walking through a public space, sitting down for a drink or finding somewhere quiet to work, the sea always seems to find its way back into view.
That was one of the biggest surprises for me.
Large modern ships can sometimes feel designed around constant stimulation. There is always a performance, activity or spectacle competing for your attention. Sun Princess certainly has plenty happening, but it also offers spaces where nothing much happens at all.
My favourite retreat was The Dome, an adults-only space where I managed to spend a few hours working. As a remote graphic designer, I occasionally need to open the laptop, even while travelling.
Working from a quiet corner of the ship, surrounded by natural light and ocean views, felt considerably less offensive than working from my usual desk.
The Dome was peaceful without feeling empty and elegant without becoming overly formal. On a ship carrying thousands of guests, finding a space that feels almost private is no small achievement.
A cruise that did not need to shout
My family felt genuinely spoilt throughout the week. They loved the destinations, the drinks, the food and the novelty of waking up somewhere new. But more than anything, I think they loved how easy it all felt.
Before sailing, I was not entirely sure who Sun Princess was for. Was it aimed at traditional cruisers? Couples? Families? People who wanted formality?
By the end of the cruise, the answer felt much clearer. Sun Princess is for people who want to truly relax.
It is for travellers who want to step away from regular life without replacing it with an exhausting schedule of activities. It is for people who enjoy good food, thoughtful spaces and a sense of occasion, but do not need every moment to be theatrical.
It is for families like mine, who wanted to spend time together without constantly organising where to eat, what to do or how much everything would cost.
There were areas that could be improved. Service was not always fast, and some dining experiences were stronger than others. Yet those imperfections did not define the cruise.
What defined it was the feeling of having permission to pause. To sit a little longer over lunch. To watch the coastline instead of checking a phone.
