Sun Princess cruises typically cost $1,200–$6,500+ per person for a 7-night voyage depending on cabin category, with interior cabins starting around $170/night and suites running $500–$900+/night. Budget an additional $100–$200/person/day for drinks, gratuities, specialty dining, and excursions on top of the base fare.
Photo: Royal Caribbean International
Sun Princess launched in February 2024 as Princess Cruises' largest and most technologically advanced ship ever — and that 'newest ship' premium is absolutely baked into the price. You'll pay noticeably more than you would for an older Princess vessel on the same itinerary, so walking in with realistic expectations about the total cost will save you a rude awakening at checkout.
Sun Princess Base Cruise Fares: The Real Numbers
Prices below reflect 2025–2026 sailings on Sun Princess, primarily Mediterranean and Caribbean itineraries. These are per-person, double-occupancy fares for a 7-night cruise — the most common itinerary length.
| Cabin Category | Budget End | Mid-Range | Splurge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Interior Cabin | $1,190 ($170/night) | $1,540 ($220/night) | $1,960 ($280/night) |
| Oceanview Cabin | $1,470 ($210/night) | $1,890 ($270/night) | $2,380 ($340/night) |
| Balcony Cabin | $1,750 ($250/night) | $2,450 ($350/night) | $3,150 ($450/night) |
| Mini-Suite | $2,450 ($350/night) | $3,500 ($500/night) | $4,550 ($650/night) |
| The Sanctuary Suite | $5,250 ($750/night) | $6,650 ($950/night) | $9,100+ ($1,300+/night) |
| Reserve Collection Suite | $3,850 ($550/night) | $5,600 ($800/night) | $7,700+ ($1,100+/night) |
Important: These are base fares only. The true all-in cost for most travelers runs 40–70% higher once you factor in gratuities, drinks, specialty restaurants, and shore excursions.
Photo: Carnival Cruise Line
What's Actually Included in the Sun Princess Fare
Princess operates on a semi-bundled model with their Princess Plus and Princess Premier packages — and understanding what's included (or not) is where most travelers get confused.
Standard (base fare includes):
- Main dining room meals and buffet
- Pool, fitness center, entertainment
- Basic activities and shows
- Port taxes and fees (usually added at checkout, not always visible upfront)
Princess Plus ($60/person/day — heavily recommended):
- Deluxe beverage package (normally $75–$95/person/day on its own)
- Crew appreciation (gratuities, normally $18–$20/person/day)
- Two specialty dining meals
- Wi-Fi (one device)
Princess Premier ($80/person/day):
- Everything in Plus
- Unlimited specialty dining
- Premium Wi-Fi (multiple devices)
- Photo package
- Fitness classes
| Add-On | A La Carte Cost | Included In |
|---|---|---|
| Deluxe Beverage Package | $75–$95/person/day | Plus & Premier |
| Crew Appreciation (gratuities) | $18–$20/person/day | Plus & Premier |
| Specialty Dining (per meal) | $35–$65/person | Plus (2 meals), Premier (unlimited) |
| Wi-Fi (1 device) | $24–$30/day | Plus & Premier |
| Wi-Fi (unlimited devices) | $35–$45/day | Premier only |
| Shore Excursions (per person) | $50–$250+ | Not included in any package |
| Spa Treatments | $100–$300+ | Not included in any package |
Bottom line on Princess Plus: If you drink more than 2–3 alcoholic beverages a day, Princess Plus pays for itself on drinks alone. Most travelers should buy it.
Photo: Carnival Cruise Line
Key Factors That Drive the Sun Princess Price
1. Itinerary and Season Mediterranean sailings (May–September) command a 15–30% premium over off-peak Caribbean departures. Peak summer weeks in July and August push prices to the high end of every range above.
2. Booking Window Sun Princess has been selling out quickly as Princess's flagship. Booking 12–18 months in advance typically locks in the best fares. Last-minute deals exist but are rare on this ship given demand — don't count on them.
3. Cabin Location and Deck On Sun Princess, not all balconies are equal. Cabins on the Piazza-facing atrium side look inward to the ship's stunning interior; pure ocean balconies command a slight premium. Decks 8–11 midship are the sweet spot for stability and proximity to amenities.
4. The Sanctuary Collection Sun Princess introduced The Sanctuary — a ship-within-a-ship concept with exclusive suites, private dining, and a dedicated sun deck. These cabins start around $750/night and go well past $1,300/night during peak Mediterranean season. They're legitimately special, but you're paying for an entirely different cruise experience.
5. Solo Travelers Princess charges a solo supplement that effectively means solo travelers pay roughly 150–190% of the per-person double-occupancy fare. No single-occupancy cabins exist on Sun Princess.
Practical Tips to Get the Best Value on Sun Princess
Book Early and Watch for Princess Promotions Princess runs regular promotions — often bundling Princess Plus into the base fare for free, or offering onboard credit of $100–$300/person. The "Best Price Guarantee" means if the price drops after you book, you can often get the difference as onboard credit.
Choose Shoulder Season for Mediterranean April–May and late September–October sailings are 15–25% cheaper than July–August peak weeks, and the ports are far less crowded. You still get excellent weather.
Get Princess Plus, Not Premier (For Most Travelers) Unless you're planning to eat at specialty restaurants every single night, Plus delivers far better value per dollar than Premier. The unlimited specialty dining in Premier sounds amazing until you realize you'll be full and tired by night 4.
Skip the Ship's Shore Excursions for Popular Ports Princess charges a significant premium for organized excursions — $80–$250+ per person for tours you can often book directly with local operators for $30–$100. In ports like Rome, Athens, or Barcelona, independent travel is straightforward. Save the ship's excursions for remote or logistically complex ports where missing the ship is a real risk.
Watch the Specialty Restaurant Spend Sun Princess has over 30 dining venues, including Sabatini's Italian Trattoria, Kai Sushi, and the Crown Grill steakhouse. Cover charges run $35–$65/person per meal, and it's easy to rack up $300–$500 in specialty dining alone over a 7-night cruise if you're not careful.
Use a Travel Agent for Cabin Selection Sun Princess's cabin layout is genuinely complex — the Piazza-facing balconies, The Sanctuary Collection, and Reserve Collection all have meaningfully different experiences attached to them. A Princess-specialized agent can navigate this without charging you extra and often has access to group rates with additional onboard credit.
What Does a Sun Princess Cruise Actually Cost All-In?
Here's the honest, full-cost picture for a 7-night Mediterranean sailing in 2025–2026:
| Traveler Type | Cabin | Package | Daily Extras | Total Per Person |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Budget-Conscious | Interior | Princess Plus included | $30/day extras | ~$1,800–$2,200 |
| Typical Couple | Balcony | Princess Plus | $50/day extras | ~$3,200–$4,000 |
| Comfort Seeker | Mini-Suite | Princess Premier | $80/day extras | ~$5,000–$6,500 |
| Luxury Traveler | Sanctuary Suite | Princess Premier | $150/day extras | ~$9,000–$14,000+ |
The "typical couple" scenario at $3,200–$4,000 per person for 7 nights is the most realistic benchmark for someone booking a balcony cabin with the Plus package and doing a handful of excursions. That's the number to plan around.
Sun Princess is a genuinely impressive ship and worth the premium over older Princess vessels if you engage with what makes it special — the Piazza, the new dining venues, The Sanctuary. But it's not a budget cruise, and pretending the base fare is your only cost is how people blow their vacation budget on day three. Price it out honestly before you book, and you'll have a great time.
Use CruiseMutiny to build your full Sun Princess cost estimate before you commit — including drinks, gratuities, excursions, and specialty dining — so you know the real number going in, not after the fact.