Last Updated on 01/26/26 by Rose Palmer
With over 30 restaurant and bar options on the Sun Princess, there were more choices than I could reasonably try on a one week cruise – but I did my best! These were all my wonderful dining experiences on the Sun Princess.
The Sun Princess was the ideal venue for a long-overdue mother-daughter trip. I describe the ship in great detail in my post, “Here Comes the Sun – A Complete Sun Princess Review With Photos and Tips for the Best Cruise.”
Since there were so many restaurant options on the Sun, a separate post describing all the food venues was warranted. My daughter and I both had the Princess Premier package, so we focused on eating at the specialty and casual dining restaurants, as well as special dining experiences like the Chef’s Table and an Ultimate Balcony Breakfast.
In this post, I describe all the food choices on the Sun Princess and go into all the details about the many meals we personally experienced. Food tastes are a personal preference. I liked everything I tried at each of the restaurants and thought it was quite good, and some, like the Chef’s Table and Love by Brito, were excellent.
I have a separate post about the extensive bar and drink options on the Sun Princess.
The Sun Princess dining options – complimentary dining
Even if I didn’t want to try any of the specialty restaurants, there were more than enough complimentary dining choices offered with the standard fare.
Main Dining Rooms – Decks 6,7, and 8
The multi-level main dining rooms were situated at the back of the ship with expansive views looking out through a huge wall of windows. The dining rooms were very bright and spacious and could hold a large number of guests at one time.
But along with function, there were also lovely design details that made the space attractive. The large windows let in a lot of light, while a multi-story sculpture decorated the center of the dining rooms across all three levels.
Both the Soleil and Eclipse dining rooms served the same menus. The only difference is related to making reservations for dinner (or not).
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I actually didn’t get a chance to eat in the main dining room on this cruise, but on other Princess ships, I found the food in the main dining rooms to be quite good.
Soleil dining room, deck 5 – traditional seating
The Soleil dining room offered traditional dinner seating with two fixed seating options per night at 5 PM and 7:30 PM. This was ideal for guests who liked to eat at the same time each evening, at the same table, and with the same wait staff.
Note that I could only access the Soleil dining room via the aft stairs or elevators.
Eclipse dining room, deck 6 – reservable, flexible anytime dining, and walk-in anytime
The second level was the Eclipse dining room, which was available for reservable any time dining and walk-in any time dining. Reservations could be made in 20-minute increments starting at 5 PM.
There were two separate lines at the entrance to the dining room: one for guests with reservations and one for walk-in guests without reservations.
The Eclipse dining room was also where the special Chef’s Table dinner was held.
Sanctuary restaurant, deck 7 – for guests in suites and Sanctuary Collections cabins
This level of the dining room was reserved exclusively for guests staying in suites or in a Sanctuary Collection cabin. The menu here was just a little different from that in the Soleil and Eclipse dining rooms.
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Coffee Currents – deck 7
A combination coffee, drinks, and sweets bar, this alternative to the International Cafe was not as busy, especially during the morning coffee rush.
I tried one of the huge donuts that were served here, and it definitely needed to be shared.
International Café – deck 9
The International Café is one of my favorite food venues on a Princess ship, and I was glad to see an expanded version on the Sun Princess.
I am not a morning person or a big breakfast eater, so I preferred to come here for a continental breakfast or brunch of an almond croissant and a yogurt parfait. This was also a good spot for a quick lunch or a snack after I came back on board from an excursion.
The International Cafe was also one of the spots to order specialty coffees and teas. The food at the International Cafe was part of the basic cost of the cruise, but the coffee was an extra charge unless I purchased one of the special fare packages offered by Princess.
This was the only food venue that was open 24 hours, so it was always ready to satisfy my nighttime snack cravings as well.
The Eatery – Deck 9
The buffet on the Sun Princess was very large and had many, many choices at each meal. What distinguished this buffet was that most of the food was dished out by the Princess staff. I liked this because I felt that it made the whole process more hygienic. However, it did slow up the line somewhat.
I did not get a chance to eat here, but the times I walked through, I was immensely impressed by the huge number of choices. The food selections at the buffet were incredibly diverse.
As I walked through the Eatery one day, I made note of the following stations: Il Pastio make-to-order pasta; Antipasto and Focaccia; Oriental; Gluten-free, Sugar-free, Fruit; Bakery and Pastry; Health Corner; Kids Favorites; International; Tex Mex; Poke Bowl; Red Ginger Noodle.
The Grab and Go section was convenient for a late-night snack or if I just wanted to take something quick back to my room. In between the main meal set-ups, I also saw that sandwiches, salads, and cookies were available.
The Eatery dining room also had drink stations with pitchers of ice water, lemonade, iced tea, hot coffee pots, and hot water for tea.
Americana Diner – deck 9
At the back end of the Eatery, I found the Americana Diner. This fun and funky space was designed to feel like a typical retro 50’s diner, which offered typical diner comfort food. Although it didn’t open until later in the day, breakfast items were available on the menu all day, which was a nice option for late risers like myself.
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For our meal here, we tried some of the typical brunch fare. I had the Diner’s Hash, and my daughter had the Buttermilk Pancake Stack. I also tried the Coffee and Donuts Milkshake, which was like having breakfast in a glass. This was classic American diner food, which is always fun to have on occasion.
The staff at the Americana Diner worked hard to serve their customers.
Promenade Pizzeria – Deck 9
Another pizza-by-the-slice spot for those hanging out on the Promenade deck. This was a thicker-crust version compared to the pizza on the Lido deck.
Lido deck pool eateries – Deck 17
Located next to the pools, these quick bite venues offered a lot of variety and were a popular lunch option.
Lido Slice
I always like Princess’ thin crust “best pizza at sea” for a quick lunch or a snack after an excursion. Along with the popular standards, each day also had a different specialty pizza.
Lido Tacos
Serving a variety of Tex-Mex items, we enjoyed a couple of tacos as a quick, light meal after embarking on the ship.
Lido Grill
This was the spot to go to for a quick burger, hot dog, and fries.
Lido Greens
A new addition on the Sun Princess, this healthier option for made-to-order salads looked really good.
Coffee and Cones
Also located on the pool deck, this spot provided a variety of goodies. The soft serve ice cream was a nice treat that was part of the standard fare, but all other offerings were extra without a package. I tried the orange granita, but even though it was icy, the sweetness didn’t make it as refreshing as I had hoped.
Room service on the Sun Princess
One of my favorite indulgences on a cruise is to have room service breakfast delivered in the morning. I filled out the dedicated breakfast card, put it on the outside of my door before I went to bed, and then, like magic, I had my food and drink brought to me in the morning at my chosen time. (There was no charge for this delivery if using the breakfast card.)
With the Plus or Premier packages, any kind of room service, any time of day, was included. With the standard fare, there was an initial service fee.
Other included dining opportunities
Suite guests, guests staying in Sanctuary Class cabins, along with Platinum and Elite loyalty guests, also had other included dining opportunities.
Platinum and Elite members’ cocktail hour
For Platinum and Elite Captain’s Circle members, a daily reception was offered in the early evening. A beautifully presented selection of small bites made for a nice appetizer before dinner. Discounted drinks were also available for purchase for those without a package.
Signature Suite Lounge – Deck 15 and 16
For suite guests and guests staying in a Sanctuary Class cabin, this dedicated lounge also provided a selection of foods and beverages throughout the day.
Casual dining on the Sun Princess
The Casual Dining restaurants on the Sun Princess were more relaxed eateries that cost extra without one of the special fare packages.
Travel tip: Princess Cruises offers different types of booking packages that include drinks, gratuities, dining, and more. Depending on the type of package purchased (or not), extra fees may be incurred for casual and specialty dining.
I share all the details explaining the Plus and Premier Princess drinks and fare packages Princess Cruises Drinks Packages and Fare Packages – Which One is Best?
O’Malley’s Irish Pub – Deck 7
One of the casual restaurants on board the Sun, O’Malley’s, offered a trifecta of food, drinks, and entertainment. The menu was typical pub grub, and the bar specialized in drinks made with Grace O’Malley whisky, along with all the typical cocktails and beers.
I didn’t get a chance to eat here (though I have enjoyed the food at O’Malley’s on other Princess ships). However, I did have a nice drink while listening to one of the musicians one evening.
Alfredo’s Pizzeria – Deck 9
Another casual dining restaurant, Alfredo’s Pizzeria, was a sit-down restaurant that offered a set menu that let me choose an appetizer, a pizza or pasta dish, and a dessert. I could also have ordered just an individual pizza of my choice if I didn’t want that much food.
I’ve always enjoyed the unique pizza offerings at Alfredo’s, especially the Cal Italia.
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Sun Princess specialty dining restaurants
The Sun Princess offered more specialty restaurants than other Princess ships. Along with the classics like Sabattini’s, The Crown Grill, and The Catch, the Sun Princess also had Umai Teppanyaki and Hot Pot, Makato Ocean, The Butcher Block by Dario, and Love by Brito.
On this ship, the Princess Premier package with its unlimited specialty dining made a lot of sense. I booked this cruise at the last minute and was not able to make restaurant reservations via the app before the cruise, but I had no trouble reserving all the restaurants I wanted once I was on board the ship.
Gelato – Deck 5
I love gelato and always try a flavor or two on each cruise. Note that my gelato order was an extra charge with the Standard package, but was included with the Princess Plus and Premier packages.
Butcher Block by Dario – deck 7
This specialty restaurant was for true carnivores. The highlight of the menu was the many different cuts of meat. I didn’t have the opportunity to eat here, but the menu looked intriguing.
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The Catch by Rudi – deck 7
This (mostly) seafood restaurant is the brainchild of Princess’s Head of Culinary Arts, Rudi Sodamin. Since I love seafood, I’ve eaten at The Catch on other Princess ships, and each time I try something different on the menu. I’ve never been disappointed.
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Crown Grill – Deck 7
Princess’s traditional steak restaurant is always a popular choice for specialty dining. Even though I am not a big red meat eater, I still enjoy the Crown Grill for all of its non-steak options.
I thought this new version of the Crown Grill was a very elegant space to enjoy a special night with a special someone.
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One of my favorites is the crispy, cheese-filled bread – I could easily make a meal just from that, but since there were four courses, I had to pace myself.
I began with the Colossal Lump Crab Cake starter, followed by the Caesar Salad. My daughter enjoyed her Black and Blue Onion Soup.
For the main entree, I had the lobster while my daughter chose a steak fillet, which we both liked very much.
For dessert, there was really only one choice for both of us, the Baked Alaska Our Way, a delectable concoction of ice cream, cherries jubilee, all drenched in chocolate sauce.
Umai Teppanyaki and Hot Pot – deck 8
This Japanese-style restaurant is a new addition to Princess and was very popular. I could not get a reservation ahead of time, but was able to book a table for two once I boarded the ship.
Umai is actually two restaurants in one. At the teppanyaki tables, groups of diners sit around a hot grill and interact with the chef as he prepares the meal.
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Umai Teppanyaki table on the Sun Princess
In contrast, the Umai Hot Pot tables are set up for individual diners to cook their own main course proteins and veggies.
Our teppanyaki dinner started with a prelude of steamed edamame and miso soup, followed by our choice of starter. I had the Prawn Cracker Shrimp, and my daughter picked the Tonkatsu, which was a panko breaded pork served with katsu BBQ sauce.
The Umai Teppanyaki dinner was a combination meal and show experience. The chef provided entertaining banter as he cooked our entrées to order. He clearly enjoyed his task and was having a good time engaging with all the diners at our table. The jokes were well practiced and delivered with good timing, and there was the expected acrobatics as guests tried to catch food in their mouths, but it was all in good fun.
I had ordered a Umai Pink Cocktail at the start of dinner, but since it was a little on the sweet side, I chose to drink it with the macha ice cream dessert instead.
Makato Ocean – Deck 8
I love sushi and like to try it whenever I can. This specialty restaurant was open for both lunch and dinner. I was able to just “walk in” at lunch time without a reservation and was seated very quickly. With a prime position located next to the big sphere windows, the table here came with lovely sea views as well as good food.
I had the Sushi Sampler Set and liked everything on my plate. I also had a great gin and tonic made with Japanese gin and Indian tonic water.
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Sabatini’s – deck 8
I always try to eat at Sabatini’s when I am on a Princess ship. What’s not to love about Italian food? And once again, this restaurant didn’t disappoint. The restaurant design was stunning – a mix of classical elements with a modern twist.
The food and service were also top-notch, and as always, it was way too much food. Bu oh soooo good!
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Next to the restaurant, we could watch the chefs making the fresh pasta every day.
I started with the Insalata Mista, followed by the Burrata Caprese as the Antipasto course.
For my pasta course, I chose the perfectly prepared Spaghetti a la Carbonara as the first course and Chicken Parmigiana as the second course.
It was a lot of food, but I had a little room left for my favorite Tiramisu and a cup of coffee.
Love By Brito – Deck 17
Set all the way aft with stunning ocean views, Love by Brito was a very special restaurant for a very special meal. Whether it’s with a partner, or, as in my case, with my daughter, I thought this was a perfect venue for celebrating with someone you love.
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I made sure to book our dinner reservations just before sunset, which made this evening even more magical.
Our meal started with a glass of bubbly made especially for Love by Brito, which was a refreshing aperitif as we perused the menu.
The love theme was creatively captured in all aspects of the table setting and throughout each course, starting with the heart-shaped brioche bread accompanied by butter spelling the word LOVE.
Our meal started with a (not so small) Amuse. I chose the Pumpkin Ricotta Ravioli with Carrot Foam. My daughter loves oysters, so it was a given that she had the Oyster With Lemongrass Kafir, Mirin, and Gold Flakes.
For the second course, I had the Tuna and Avocado, Pomegranate, Togarashi, which tasted like a deconstructed sushi roll. My daughter tried the Cappuccino of Wild Mushroom, which was served in a demitasse cup with foam that made it look like a real cup of coffee.
The Intermezzo palate cleanser was a refreshing Granita of Pink Champagne served with scattered rose petals.
Even though I was starting to get full by this point, I did not send back the main entree: Duet of Prime Beef and Wagyu, Cracked Pepper, and a Red Wine Reduction, which was delicious. My daughter also loved her Pistachio Crusted Roasted Rack of Lamb with Date Pudding and Truffle Jus.
We both agreed that this meal needed to end with chocolate, so we both had the Chocolate Lava Cake, with Fresh Berries and Raspberry Cream. And because this wasn’t enough, a plate of petits fours also accompanied the desserts.
In place of coffee with our dessert, I opted for the Espresso My Love cocktail, while my daughter tried the Strawberry Love Potion cocktail, both of which paired quite well with all that chocolate.
Everything about this meal was fabulous. From the setting to the food to the service, I thought it was all fantastic.
Special Experiential Dining on the Sun Princess
Besides all these many food venues, Princess also offered some great special dining experiences that were a foodie’s delight or were just a great way to celebrate that once-in-a-lifetime moment. Even the Chef’s Table (which I’ve tried on other Princess ships) was an exceptionally unique taste experience.
Note that these experiential dining experiences are not covered by either the Plus or the Premier fare packages.
Caymus Winemaker Dinner – Deck 7
This special dining event is a unique partnership between Princess and the Caymus vineyards in Napa Valley. The menu and the paired wines were specially developed by Caymos founder Chuck Wagner. I’ve experienced the Caymus Winemaker Dinner on two other Princess ships, and it was fantastic each time.
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Frescobaldi Grand Tuscan Dinner – Deck 8
The Frescobaldi family has been making wine in Tuscany for 700 years. This special Italian menu and wine pairing served at Sabatini’s takes the flavors of the Frescobaldi restaurant in Florence and brings them to the Sun Princess. Six dishes are perfectly paired with classic Frescobaldi vintages.
- Carpaccio Di Mare Mediterraneo – delicate tuna and scallop carpaccio topped with sturgeon caviar, salmon caviar, black truffle and a vibrant citrus dressing.
- Branzino Con Caponata alla Siciliana – seared sea bass served atop tangy Sicilian caponata, drizzled with fresh basil oil.
- Pinolata Senese – light and airy Tuscan pinenut cake with rich custard cream.
- Cantucci Biscotti Con Grappa di Vino Luce – crunchy almond biscotti Grappa di Vino Luce for the perfect Tuscan dip.
Royal Afternoon Tea – Deck 7
Unlike the afternoon tea offered on other Princess ships, which was included in the standard fare, the Royal Afternoon Tea was a special dining event on the Sun Princess that came with a price (and was not included in either the Plus or Premier package).
This unique tea experience was offered on select sea days and required a reservation. The event was held in the intimate Good Spirits Bar, which meant that seating was quite limited.
My experience started with a selection of flavors from the London-based fine tea producer, Ahmed Tea. Even though there were a number of tempting flavors to choose from, I went with my perennial favorite, Earl Grey.
The event was hosted by one of the bar staff along with the renowned Royal Chef Darren McGrady, personal chef to Queen Elizabeth II, Princess Diana, and Princes William and Harry, who came to us via the video monitor.
Throughout the tea time, Chef McGrady shared entertaining tidbits about the history of tea, the “right” way to drink tea (milk first or tea first?), and anecdotes about being a chef to the Royal family.
While watching the videos by Chef McGrady, servers walked around with platters of sandwiches, scones, and little cakes. The scones were accompanied by strawberry jam and clotted cream, of course. We also learned that the chocolate ganache cake we were tasting was Queen Elizabeth’s favorite cake.
I always love a good afternoon tea, and I really did enjoy this one.
Chef’s Table – Deck 7
I’ve tried the Chef’s Table on many Princess ships, and this was without a doubt the most impressive in both flavor and presentation. This dinner was served just once on my cruise to only twelve guests at a dedicated table in the Eclipse dining room.
This was an eight-course meal, and even though each serving was small, I was stuffed by the end of the night. Everything was so delicious that I didn’t want to not eat every bite.
Note that the menu may vary depending on the executive chef managing the kitchens.
First course – Bouchées Gourmandes
Langoustine tartare with fennel and lemon pulp; air-cured bresaola with truffle dumpling and nori hollandaise; foie gras mousse with caviar and port jus.
Second course – Wild asparagus soup
Asparagus puree with mushroom extract, olive oil pearls, and sweet peas.
Third course – Carrots and pomegranate
A roulade of thinly sliced carrots with chervil and kombu vinaigrette with soy pumpkin seeds.
Fourth course – Cucumber and elderflower granita
A delicious palate cleanser served with mint, artichoke liqueur, and accompanied by black tapioca pearls.
Fifth course – Chilean sea bass
Perfectly prepared sea bass fillet with Stilton scalloped potatoes, hibiscus butter, sea grapes, and crustacean essence.
Sixth course – Sirloin
A tender sirloin fillet accompanied by baby root vegetable tarte tatin, purple parsnip puree, churned bearnaise, and burnt frisée powder.
Seventh course – Citrus Perfume
Lemon pearl ice creams with grapefruit preserves, passion fruit and jasmine gelee, and pistachio financier.
Eighth course – Mignardises
Finished the meal with coffee and small sweet bites.
The meal was perfectly paired with a dedicated wine specifically chosen by the ship’s sommelier.
Ultimate balcony dining
I think that one of the nicest ways to celebrate time with someone you love is an Ultimate Balcony Breakfast, which was one step above room service. This truly was the ultimate way to indulge and relax on our last sea day and to celebrate our great mother-daughter cruise.
Room service attendants brought a larger table for our balcony, which they covered with a nice tablecloth. Then they covered the table with plate after plate of food, bubbly for mimosas, along with hot coffee and tea.
It was a lot of food that we truly enjoyed as the sun and ocean breezes warmed us up. After such a filling brunch, we didn’t need any more food till dinner.
Ordering via the Ocean Now app
A great feature of the Princess App while on board was the ability to order a drink or food and have it delivered wherever I was sitting. If I wanted something to drink or eat, I could have it brought to me anywhere on the ship.
There was a one-time per-person delivery fee with the standard fare package. However, the cost of delivery was included with the Plus and Premier packages.
With so many wonderful food choices on the Sun Princess, I would happily go back and taste them again. I would love to take a longer cruise next time so that I could try the options I did not get to eat at on my first cruise.
Please note that I received some media perks from Princess Cruises. All content and opinions are my own and based on my personal experiences.
Links to all my cruising content, including all my other Princess cruises, can be found on my Experience – Cruising page.
Other Princess cruising stories:
All about my 360 dining experience: The Princess 360 Experience – A Performance for all the Senses
All about dining on the Sky Princess: Discovering the Sky Princess Dining Options, Including the Chef’s Table Experience
All about dining on the Majestic Princess: All My Memorable Princess Dining Options Including the Chef’s Table
Dining on the Sapphire Princess: My Sapphire Princess Dining Experiences Including the Chef’s Table
Thanks for visiting.
Rose
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