Opinions Please: Sun vs. Golden Princess

[Cinnamon2]

I just booked the Sun Princess for 2/6/06, ten day southern Caribbean. The intinerary is just right and we love Princess after sailing on the Golden in February. I'm concerned about cabin size. We have a BA (balcony) guarantee and I understand that Princess standard balcony cabins are smaller than Carnival 8A cabins. Also, are the pools on the Sun small compared to the pools on the Golden?

[tracey980]

I would like to hear a comparison on the other aspects of the ship too besides just the cabin. How does the sun class compare to the grand class? I am trying to become an expert on Princess as I am contemplating booking a cruise with them for next year.

[Cinnamon2]

The Grand/Golden class are larger ships than the Sun class.

[Marie-Claude]

I've been on both - Golden in October 2001 for Eastern C, and Sun in May 2004 to Alaska. The Golden is a nicer ship all together - even if it's larger, it doesn't feel big, but has a lot more amenities, especially in the pool areas. The Golden has two outside pools, and another one that has a retractable glass roof in a quieter area. The Sun has two pools outside, more standard but nice. Also, the entertainment areas (Princess Theater and Vista lounges) are much nicer and more comfortable on the Grand - the entertainment was also a good notch above on the Golden, but that may have to do with itinerary.

Even though the Sun is older, it is well maintained, and looks fresh. The cabin size on the Sun (we had a BB) and the Golden (BA) are about the same, but the balcony on the Golden seemed larger (it's been awhile...).

The service on the Golden was better, we were in fact disappointed with the food quality and the service on the Sun. The food in the dining room was great, but in the Horizon Court was pretty much horrible... I remember the Golden's buffet to have much more variety, and fresher looking food.

 

So I think the itinerary has a lot to do when it comes to make your choice, both ships are good, but I found the Golden to be slightly better - IMHO!!

[jllpole]

I personally like the Sun class ships better. I prefer the smaller ships. I thought the food and service was much better on the Sun and love the location of the pizza parlor. I've been on the Sun about 5 times and the Golden and Grand once. Just my personal opinion.

[Cinnamon2]

Thanks for the input. I loved the Golden and really just want reassurance that I'll love the Sun also.

[Pam in CA]

You'll love the Sun. I've been on both the Sun and the Grand Princess and vastly prefer the Sun Princess. The Promenade deck is great -- I love to hang out there -- and the library is a fabulous place to veg in the leather club chairs. My experience on the Grand is that there were too many people: the Horizon Court was always crowded and the pool areas were teeming with kids. Not so on the Sun (or her sister ships, the Sea or Ocean Princess, both of which are now with P&O.) I also thought that the overall service was vastly superior on the Sun, Sea and Ocean Princess over the Grand.

[mringenoldus]

I've been on many types of ships - huge (AOS) and smaller (Sun Princess) depending on the requirements of the traveler, each has its merits. We absolitely loved the Sun and immediately booked the next trrip on the Golden. The Sun is a classy, refined ship well suited to people who like a classic cruise experience.

[Druke I]

Been on both, and personally prefer the Sun Princess.

 

Not a big fan of the huge ships, which perhaps shapes my opinion.

 

Sun class ships have, in my opinion, the best mini-suites in the fleet.

 

Michael

[CruiseAholic]

Well, the comparison has pretty well been hit, the dome over the pool is a big thing I think.

 

However, even though I have sailed on the Grand Princess 5 times and the Golden Princess and Star Princess each once, I'll take the Sun Class anyday. I just like the size better. I have sailed on the Sun Princess 4 times, the Dawn Princess 4 times (again in 2 weeks), the Ocean Princess and the Sea Princess and I love that class of ship.

[traveller99]

Go to this site for some comparisons on Ships and staterooms, it's pretty cool...

http://www.cruisestateroom.com/

[PhillyCruiser]

I, too, am booked on the Sun Princess for a 10-day cruise in 2006 (April, Easter week). I was on the Sun in 1996 when she was brand new, and on Golden in 2002, when she was about 1-year-old. Both of them are beautiful ships. While there are differences in size, the general experience was about the same. If you like Princess, you'll like the Sun. There are two dining rooms rather than three, no aft outdoor adults-only pool, and no Sabatini's. As to the food and the entertainment, a lot depends on what chef/cruise director/bands have been assigned to the Sun (let's face it, some are better than others), because they rotate. So, not-so-great food on one cruise might not be the story 6 months later, when a different chef is running the kitchen. I've always had the best time on Princess, whatever ship it may be. And when I've gone on another line, I've always ended up comparing it to Princess, and wishing I were on Princess.

 

Joan

[Aquarian]

IMHO,the trick to a good cruise is to NOT compare or come with pre-conceived expectations. I cruised on the Sun first and then the Dawn (sister ships) and then on the Grand and Golden. When I sailed on the Grand, we constantly compared it to the Sun and Dawn and preferred the Sun/Dawn class. We called it the Big Princess instead of the Grand! By the time we sailed on the Golden, we were "used" to the grand class and loved it. The Sun is a bit smaller and missing some of the venues that the Golden has but it has the most beautiful atrium, pool area and public rooms. I still can't understand why the Grand class ships don't have the prettier atriums that the Sun class has. In any case, if you don't constantly compare the Sun to the Golden and just enjoy her for what she is, you will have a wonderful time. Bon Voyage!

[Cinnamon2]

Thanks for your input everyone. I'm happy to hear that Grand and Sun class ships are comparable. I'm sure we will enjoy our cruise - now for that 570-something day wait.

[Sunshiplover]

Sun vs. Golden. We have cruised on both. I prefer Sun. the Golden is so large, I had a hard time navigating. We stayed in a mini suite on the Sun, then stayed in a mini suite on the Golden...very disappointing. I chatted with others that said the same thing.

[Jacqueline]

The three drawbacks to the sun class-

1) these are the smallest Balcony cabins you have probably ever had. Really.

2) The balcony is not that great becuase it is cut from the hull- no clear plexi below the rail. Sitting there is no view but the steel.

3) No pizza by the slice only table service

 

If I were to sail this clas of ship again, I would either get a minisuite - which are absolutely not to be compared with the vastly inferior ones on the Grand class. These are something else ! So beautiful.

OR I would get an inside cabin. They are bigger than the balcony cabins (i know because my kids were in one) in terms of interior space. The extra sq footage quoted is for the balcony.

I would shoot for the riviera deck so that I was close to the pools and open decks, if I booked an inside.

[bdjam]

They are bigger than the balcony cabins (i know because my kids were in one) in terms of interior space.

This applies as well to the standard outside cabins. The balcony area is cut out of the cabin square footage, so if you go with a standard outside, you get that square footage back. There are a number of cabins - category D - on Dolphin deck which have nearly floor to ceiling windows which make the outside cabin almost a balcony...

I prefer the Sun Class ships over the Grand Class - they are right sized for what I prefer and although they don't have the mulitple lounges and eating venues the Grand Class do, there's plenty going on for me. The Atrium Lounge on these ships is great for pre-dinner cocktails and people watching, the Horizon Court has night time entertainment, the Casino - while reachable - is tucked up and out of the way so you don't have to pass through it all the time. The Wheelhouse Lounge is the first of the fleet and excellently executed. And as stated, the mini suites are the best of the fleet. You can't go wrong with the Sun Class.

[nreeder]

We've been on Sun, Sea (it's former twin), Grand, and Golden. We love both for the reasons stated above. A few more details however. The balcony cabins on Sun are smaller than Grand/Golden both in the room, and on the balcony. Balcony on Sun is 179 sq ft v.s. minimum of 214 on Grand/Golden.

 

For all of the mention of mini-suites on Sun, what wasn't said is that they are the layout of a full suite on Grand/Golden, and priced accordingly, and what's more--never go on sale. Mini-suites on Grand/Golden are very nice--not as nice as Sun Princess, but priced almost half of what the mini-suites are on Sun. You don't get full suite amenentities either on Sun since it's still called a mini-suite, even though it's a full suite floorplan.

 

We've really enjoyed the mini-suites on Grand class ships, both for the living room, full tub, not just a shower, and bigger balcony. Best news is that they are affordable on Grand class (and even get upgrades sometimes from balcony bookings as there's a whole deck full of them. ) Aren't near as many mini-suites on Sun so chances of upgrade aren't great.

 

Thanks

Norm