10/12/23: New Sun Princess Ship Features Sensational New Collaboration with The Magic Castle™

[lx200gps]

42 minutes ago, XBGuy said:

 

 

There is another thread floating around here on the Princess board reporting a Magic Castle cruise happening right now on the Discovery Princess.  However, sadly, there have been no posts from anybody onboard;  It is on a 7-day California Coastal cruise, and I think it ends tomorrow (October 14).

 

 

We are currently on that cruise, arriving back in LA tomorrow. It's been a pretty low-key event so far, just a few folks with special Magic Castle lanyards walking around, a few dedicated, private events in the Vista Lounge, and some hanging signs in the Piazza etc. One magician theater show a few days ago, and a big show last night while docked in San Diego featuring someone named Michael Carbonaro, who I gather is pretty well known. There were some media folks on board, as well as a few Princess head office folks, and the show seemed pretty important. Beyond that, it's been pretty quiet magic-wise, time will tell how well the whole Magic Castle tie-in will work. Logically, one would assume that the magic/illusionist shows will be better than average going forward.

Edited October 13, 2023 by lx200gps

[XBGuy]

Thanks, for the report, @lx200gps.  

 

Michael Carbonaro used to have a TV show called "The Carbonaro Effect."  It ran for a few seasons, and I would catch it whenever I could.  The tricks wee amazing, but I always questioned how much of it was video trickery--i.e., editing.

 

I just looked at YouTube and there are numerous "The Carbonaro Effect" videos out there.  It appears that some of them reveal how the trick was done.  I'll think about whether or not I want to know.

[Coral]

53 minutes ago, voljeep said:

how does the Crystal demographic compare to the Princess demographic?

 

and where did the Crystal cruises originate from?

https://cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/2012/07/crystal-cruises-new-magic-castle-at-sea/ 

[lx200gps]

40 minutes ago, XBGuy said:

Thanks, for the report, @lx200gps.  

 

Michael Carbonaro used to have a TV show called "The Carbonaro Effect."  It ran for a few seasons, and I would catch it whenever I could.  The tricks wee amazing, but I always questioned how much of it was video trickery--i.e., editing.

 

I just looked at YouTube and there are numerous "The Carbonaro Effect" videos out there.  It appears that some of them reveal how the trick was done.  I'll think about whether or not I want to know.

Thanks, I recollect seeing the name before but had no real knowledge of him. While his tricks were fine, though  no real improvement over other magicians I had seen, his overall performance did seem a bit more polished, maybe a bit higher end.

[beg3yrs]

5 hours ago, XBGuy said:

Thank you to @beg3yrs for posting the above pictures from inside the Magic Castle mansion in Hollywood.  That is how it looks today and how it looked 45 years ago,  I am sure that the Sun Princess venue will share many decorative cues from the mansion, but I would be surprised (and very pleased) if it looked a lot like those pictures.

...

 

Sorry but those photos aren't from inside the Magic Castle mansion. They're computer renderings of what the venue will look like in the Sun Princess - provided courtesy of Princess itself.

I had to reduce the resolution so CC would accept them. If you want the originals at full size, go HERE.

Edited October 14, 2023 by beg3yrs

[dides]

13 hours ago, XBGuy said:

There is another thread floating around here on the Princess board reporting a Magic Castle cruise happening right now on the Discovery Princess.  However, sadly, there have been no posts from anybody onboard;  It is on a 7-day California Coastal cruise, and I think it ends tomorrow (October 14).

Yes, I posted some pictures from another site of the big reveal on the Discovery Princess cruise:on the main Sun Princess thread  

 

Edited October 14, 2023 by dides

[XBGuy]

13 hours ago, beg3yrs said:

Sorry but those photos aren't from inside the Magic Castle mansion. They're computer renderings of what the venue will look like in the Sun Princess - provided courtesy of Princess itself.

I had to reduce the resolution so CC would accept them. If you want the originals at full size, go HERE.

 

Well. color me embarrassed. 🫢

[beg3yrs]

28 minutes ago, XBGuy said:

 

Well. color me embarrassed. 🫢

Yes but according to your previous post, you're pleased!

[milogurd]

OOPSIE! - Here is what was in the email from Princess...

...sleight of head?

 

[Wishing on a star]

I don't know why one would be concerned with the look/feel of the venue.

It was designed that way!!!!

It is supposed to be like a castle... which is mystical and not brand new.

I can see the whole vibe of the old time, magical thing.

Seems the cocktails are to be like magical elixers.

It isnt supposed to look bright and clean and modern.

Don't get me wrong, I LOVE a new bright and clean and modern feel to the main public areas, my cabin, etc.  That is what I look for!

But, this is a specific 'experience'.

I like that they put so much design and detail into the venue.

Edited October 14, 2023 by Wishing on a star

[Wishing on a star]

I will say that I do not know if I am impressed by the new 360' experience.

Most of the video effects seem so basic and 'general'... 

While I, like most, have not see this new venue, what I am seeing online seems basic and lackluster????

Perhaps someone here can give better insight and description?

[Spudd]

On 10/13/2023 at 3:08 PM, voljeep said:

how does the Crystal demographic compare to the Princess demographic?

 

and where did the Crystal cruises originate from?

 

Crystal demographic is older and richer than Princess. They had the Magic Castle on all cruises when it was running, didn't matter where it originated from (and Crystal sails all over the world, they try to make itineraries that can be strung together to make longer voyages). 

 

They didn't have their magicians under contract - they were guest entertainers so one magician would come for a few cruises (maybe 2-3) and then be replaced by a new one, etc etc. 

 

I went to the shows a few times on Crystal and it was a lot of fun. They only had around 15 guests max though (I don't know the true number but it was definitely less than 30). It was free of charge but space was limited so you had to reserve. Obviously Princess will probably charge. 

[beg3yrs]

Spellbound is now showing up in the Sun Princess deck plans next to the casino.

[Steelers36]

59 minutes ago, Wishing on a star said:

I will say that I do not know if I am impressed by the new 360' experience.

Most of the video effects seem so basic and 'general'... 

While I, like most, have not see this new venue, what I am seeing online seems basic and lackluster????

Perhaps someone here can give better insight and description?

You need to begin a new thread to ask for these impressions.

[Steelers36]

33 minutes ago, beg3yrs said:

Spellbound is now showing up in the Sun Princess deck plans next to the casino.

It will make it easier for the magicians to create a puff of smoke when something needs to appear or disappear.  They can run a pipe from the casino through the wall to the Spellbound stage.

[SCX22]

8 hours ago, Wishing on a star said:

I don't know why one would be concerned with the look/feel of the venue.

 

 

Victorian doesn't go with the theme of the Sun Princess.  In Princess' February 2023 Press Release, the words being used to describe the Sun Princess were "contemporary and state-of-the-art" and "bright designs inspired by sunlight."  Don't see how Victorian fits into any of this.  The renderings of this venue seem dark and antiquated (that one was a give away--Victorian is by definition old).  Once the partnership with Magic Castle ends this venue will stick out like a sore thumb even more.  Princess isn't known to gut a venue and start over, unlike Celebrity.  (But they are known for gutting and chopping up a ship for the sake of more cabins, the Island Princess.)  The most that has been commissioned has been to spruce up venues.  (Minus the removal of Skywalker's on the Grand Princess and that was forced due to balance issues.)  I don't see how this choice of decor will age well.  Might as well make the design choices seamless throughout the ship and stick to contemporary.  

 

Another example of how the only thing consistent with Princess is inconsistency.

 

Edited October 15, 2023 by SCX22

[Coral]

6 hours ago, SCX22 said:

 

Victorian doesn't go with the theme of the Sun Princess.  In Princess' February 2023 Press Release, the words being used to describe the Sun Princess were "contemporary and state-of-the-art" and "bright designs inspired by sunlight."  Don't see how Victorian fits into any of this.  The renderings of this venue seem dark and antiquated (that one was a give away--Victorian is by definition old).  Once the partnership with Magic Castle ends this venue will stick out like a sore thumb even more.  Princess isn't known to gut a venue and start over, unlike Celebrity.  (But they are known for gutting and chopping up a ship for the sake of more cabins, the Island Princess.)  The most that has been commissioned has been to spruce up venues.  (Minus the removal of Skywalker's on the Grand Princess and that was forced due to balance issues.)  I don't see how this choice of decor will age well.  Might as well make the design choices seamless throughout the ship and stick to contemporary.  

 

Another example of how the only thing consistent with Princess is inconsistency.

 

 

They've been able to take a chapel and turn into a store.  

[c-boy]

10 hours ago, SCX22 said:

 

Victorian doesn't go with the theme of the Sun Princess.  In Princess' February 2023 Press Release, the words being used to describe the Sun Princess were "contemporary and state-of-the-art" and "bright designs inspired by sunlight."  Don't see how Victorian fits into any of this.  The renderings of this venue seem dark and antiquated (that one was a give away--Victorian is by definition old).  Once the partnership with Magic Castle ends this venue will stick out like a sore thumb even more.  Princess isn't known to gut a venue and start over, unlike Celebrity.  (But they are known for gutting and chopping up a ship for the sake of more cabins, the Island Princess.)  The most that has been commissioned has been to spruce up venues.  (Minus the removal of Skywalker's on the Grand Princess and that was forced due to balance issues.)  I don't see how this choice of decor will age well.  Might as well make the design choices seamless throughout the ship and stick to contemporary.  

 

Another example of how the only thing consistent with Princess is inconsistency.

 

Princess is like a woman. Women reserve the right to change their mind.  Why don't you/we just wait and see what really appears, when the sun princess is finished. 

Edited October 15, 2023 by c-boy

[Wishing on a star]

SCX,   This is ONE venue on a huge ship, one of many.

Why would every single venue or area have to look exactly the same.

 

As I also just said recently, about the plans for the Signature area at the Sanctuary, and the current lack of any other adult access retreat area for any other guests...   Princess knows EXACTLY what they are doing.    I think that their deafening silence on this concern is very telling.

 

DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE the purpose and planning that goes into these plans.

 

Just as with SHARE and Curtis Stone...  there will be a contract.  It will last as long as Princess negotiates, based on the demand...   And, then, at some point, during a major dry-dock, the facade could be replaced.   In fact, it has probably already been designed as a 'facade' that can easily be taken down and changed.

I guess I do not understand to objection to the design of one venue...  One that is not a part of the overall cruise experience, like main dining rooms and dining venues, the theater, etc...

In fact, there is a danger to every single area and theme being the same basic corporate visualization.  

 

Not everyone will like the theme...  Not everyone will like any given detail.

That is the way it goes.

 

[jwattle]

20 hours ago, milogurd said:

OOPSIE! - Here is what was in the email from Princess...

...sleight of head?

 

It was spelled correctly in the email to travel advisors, sleight of HAND.

[PescadoAmarillo]

On 10/13/2023 at 8:24 AM, Steelers36 said:

https://www.magiccastle.com/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magic_Castle

Thank you for these links. Awareness of Magic Castle hasn’t yet reached the rock I apparently live under. 

[that]

19 hours ago, Wishing on a star said:

I will say that I do not know if I am impressed by the new 360' experience.

Most of the video effects seem so basic and 'general'... 

 

@Wishing on a star

May I ask which ship and host did you have for 360 experience journey?

Edited October 15, 2023 by that

[beg3yrs]

Regarding the "ambience" of Spellbound not being compatible with the rest of the Sun Princess, I'd like to point out that one does not just walk by and have their day spoiled by seeing a Victorian venue. Spellbound is accessible to passengers via a single door. Unless one intentionally goes inside, you don't see a thing.

[dides]

Interesting article by Forbes which suggests Spellbound on Sun Princess could use MedallionClass to deliver some of it's trickery: 

 It's easy to see how the the MedallionClass system could be used to create spellbinding effects in a magic show. There will be no need for mind-reading tricks to guess guests' names and likes or dislikes. A source close to Princess reveals that the system "will indeed be used to optimize the personalization of the experience but we're not able to go into detail. Would hate to ruin the surprise." 

[Wishing on a star]

To answer the above question, in my post I mention that this is based on videos and images of 360' that are out there, online

Sorry for any confusion!