Long gone are the days of all-you-can-eat buffets and sugary frozen drinks being your only option on cruise ships–fans of fine dining and elegant cocktails are now able to get the same elevated food and beverage experiences they love on land while at sea, thanks to Princess Cruises.
The newest ship in the brand’s fleet, Star Princess, set sail this month for its inaugural Caribbean voyage after being christened by Academy Award winner Matthew McConaughey and his wife, Camila, and I was on board to experience the ship’s innovative food and beverage program.
Along with stops at Princess Cays, a private resort in the Bahamas, and Nassau, I got to experience the ship’s excellent fine dining restaurants, dazzling entertainment, and the exclusive Sanctuary Club.
Related: Princess Cruises Adds 13 New Shore Excursions, Including One Perfect for Wine Lovers
Star Princess Builds on Food and Beverage Offerings of Sun Princess
Steak tartare at Butcher's Block by Dario aboard Princess CruisesPrincess Cruises
Star Princess is the second ship in Princess Cruises’ Sphere class, a new style of cruising that emphasizes community through a three-level piazza in the center of the ship, where non-stop activities and entertainment abound while surrounded by comfortable seating and nearby restaurants and bars. Guests can jump into the action of interactive games and activities, or sit back and observe while enjoying a drink or snack. Restaurants like Makoto Ocean and Alfredo’s Pizzeria are open to the piazza, as are Bellini’s Cocktail Bar and Crooners, where you can lounge with a cocktail in hand as you listen to live music.
Just like Sun Princess, some of the fleet’s most innovative dining experiences are available on Star Princess. There’s Love by Britto, a romantic restaurant at the back of the ship that offers phenomenal ocean views and creative takes on classic dishes. A balsamic heart balances delicately on an oyster amuse-bouche, a pink champagne granita cleanses the palate as an intermezzo, and entrees include a pistachio-crusted roasted rack of lamb and a crispy Chilean sea bass with caviar mousseline.
The Butcher’s Block by Dario is another standout dining experience, but fair warning: meals are served family-style, and you may end up sharing a table with strangers who will become friends. You’ll have multiple courses of beef served in different styles, from tartare to succulent, olive oil-dressed steak bites, with a moist citrus olive oil cake to finish the meal.
The true stars of the food and beverage experience aboard Star Princess are the cocktails. You can get a selection of beer, wine, and cocktails at every fine dining restaurant on board, and there’s a full-service bar on the pool deck where you can also find adult beverages, including blended ones. But if you’re looking for elevated cocktail experiences, there are a few bars you can’t miss while on board.
With live music and eclectic decor, O’Malley’s Irish Pub transports you, with one repeat cruise passenger telling me that of all the bars on all the ships he’s sailed on, the pub on the Star Princess is his favorite because it made him feel like he was in Ireland. In fact, O’Malley’s was expanded on Star Princess due to its popularity on Sun Princess, giving guests more space to enjoy the pub.
Cascade Bar, located next to The Dome, a glass-enclosed venue that can go from pool to stage in minutes, features signature cocktails inspired by water, like Amazonia, which features cachaça, banana, kiwi, mango, agave, and lime. Glacier Water is as fun to look at as it is to drink, with a bright blue color thanks to blanco tequila, Blue Curaçao, lime, violet liqueur, and orange bitters.
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An Exclusive Speakeasy on Star Princess
A cocktail from Spellbound aboard Princess CruisesPrincess Cruises
The standout cocktail experience on board is at Spellbound, a collaboration with Hollywood’s Magic Castle. Step through a subtle door in the piazza and be transported into old Hollywood glamour via themed rooms with layered decor that pays homage to master magician Cardini as jazzy takes on modern music play in the background.
Roaming magicians will dazzle you with their tricks, and four hourly magic shows are available to attend from 6 to 9 p.m. It should be noted that while admission is an additional $45 per guest, it not only grants you access to one of the shows but it includes two cocktails at the bar, which can be redeemed throughout the rest of the night. Several guests told me they planned to stop in for a pre-show cocktail, go to dinner, and end the evening with a nightcap back at Spellbound.
The signature cocktails at Spellbound were my favorites on board, from A Ticket to a Bygone Era, which features butter-washed Woodford Reserve, Skrewball peanut butter whiskey, nixta licor de elote, and a popcorn rim, to The Inner Circle, which reminded me of an elevated sidecar with its clarified Meili vodka, Cointreau, fresh lemon juice, jasmine honey syrup, and orange bitters.
If you liked Trix cotton candy yogurt as a child, then you’ll love Iris “The Spirited Piano” with its Absolut Vanilla, Fruit Loop-infused milk, lemon, and egg white. It’s tart at first before becoming rich with vanilla, easing you into a cozy depth.
Tuxedo is visually fun, with black salt running down the side of the glass and a tiny tuxedo drink topper. It’s sweet and tangy with a smoky background, and surprisingly refreshing. Made with Pantalones reposado tequila, Ilegal mezcal, Chambord, fresh lime juice, agave, charcoal, and egg white.
Several cocktails on the menu are also theatrical experiences, with bartenders putting on a show (and doing a little magic) as they prepare them. The Opening Act packs a punch, so if you’re looking for something to sip on, this is your cocktail. It’s made with butter-washed Sláinte Irish whiskey, Frangelico, Licor 43, Giffard banana liqueur, and egg white. My favorite cocktail I had at Spellbound was the Swan Walker, named for Cardini’s wife and lifelong assistant. It’s pretty and feminine, with a delicate edible flower floating on top. It’s made with Una vodka, Aperol, strawberry purée, fresh strawberries, condensed milk, and whole milk, but don’t let the dairy intimidate you, as the drink is light and airy.
Princess Cruises Continues the Cocktail Partnerships
Handshake Speakeasy collaborates with Princess Cruises on exclusive cocktailsPrincess Cruises
As if having an on-board speakeasy wasn’t enough, Princess is doubling down on the cocktails in a new partnership with Handshake Speakeasy, which was named The Best Bar in North America 2025 by World’s 50 Best Bars for two consecutive years. The Mexico City-based bar has created five exclusive cocktails that will only be available on Princess Cruises. I sampled them ahead of the official launch, and can confidently say they’re spectacular, particularly the Banana Bread Old-Fashioned and the Hibiscus & Spice.
Three of the cocktails will be available at Crooners:
Pan Am Punch, made with Bacardi Superior, Aperol, lemon, and orgeat.Green Tea, made with Bombay Sapphire gin, lemon, vanilla, coconut, and matcha tea.Banana Bread O.F., made with Rittenhouse rye whiskey, banana, walnut brown butter, and maple.In addition to being able to get a glass of bubbly from a gloved hand after ringing a bell at the champagne wall, cruisers who have access to The Sanctuary Club will also have exclusive access to two additional Handshake cocktails:
Hibiscus & Spice, made with Pantalones tequila blanco, hibiscus, lime, cinnamon, Cointreau, and vanilla.Red Fruit & Roses, made with Elyx vodka, strawberry, rose water, jasmine tea, and lime.“At Princess, we’re always searching for ways to elevate our guests’ experiences, and this partnership with Handshake Speakeasy represents the best of the best in cocktail culture,” said Sami Kohen, Princess Cruises Vice President of Food and Beverage, in a statement shared with Parade. “These are cocktails you simply can’t get anywhere else in the world. We’re thrilled to bring these world-class creations to the Princess fleet and offer our guests an unforgettable experience at sea.”
There are different access levels on Princess Cruises, just like on other cruise lines. All guests on board have access to buffet-style dining, casual eateries, swimming pools, and shows, but if you want to access additional perks without paying for everything individually, it may be a good idea to bump up to a Princess Plus or Princess Premier package.
Both packages give you unlimited specialty coffees and teas, as well as up to 12 bottles of water a day, but if you plan to partake in cocktails, wine, beer, spirits, fountain soft drinks, or zero alcohol cocktails, note that Princess Plus has a limit of 15 drinks a day (up to $15 each) while Princess Premier has no limit on drinks up to $20 each. Princess Premier also offers unlimited casual and specialty dining meals, while Princess Plus offers a limit of four casual dining meals per guest and no specialty dining meals.
While many people use cruises as a way to disconnect, if you would rather not unplug entirely, Princess Plus gives you Wi-Fi access for one device per guest, while Princess Premier gives you Wi-Fi access for four devices. While not as fast as my internet back home, I found I was able to easily check e-mail, scroll social media, and even make FaceTime calls while at sea.
For 2026 cruises and beyond on both Star Princess and Sun Princess, Princess Premier costs $105 per person/day (pre-cruise) and $110 per person/day (on board), while Princess Plus costs $70 per person/day (pre-cruise) and $75 per person/day (on board).
What the Staterooms Are Like on Star Princess
Like her sister ship, Sun Princess, the build of Star Princess was heavily influenced by guest feedback. Princess Cruises got rid of walk-in closets, instead featuring smartly laid out storage that provides plenty of space to store luggage, hang clothing, and put things away in drawers and cubbies. By doing this, Princess was able to give every room on the ship a sofa, allowing guests to have more space to spread out and enjoy their staterooms. There are more USB plugs and more plugs by the beds thanks to customer feedback, and natural materials abound.
This aligns with what Princess Cruises President Gus Antorcha said while speaking to journalists on board, noting that the brand’s target guest is someone who “likes comfort, likes connection... but in an elegant, refined atmosphere.”
Star Princess Sails From Tropical Paradise to Stunning Northern Wilderness
Star Princess is currently sailing her inaugural season in the Caribbean, including stops in western Mexico, after which she will sail west through the Panama Canal to begin her inaugural Alaskan season. Bookings are available now for voyages on Star Princess in 2025, 2026, and 2027.
Next: This Bobby Flay-Helmed Cruise on Norwegian Brings a Food Festival to the High Seas
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