I didn’t essentially plan on flying to Italy, however when Princess Cruises provided up the prospect to take a look at the still-under-construction Solar Princess, that was a chance too good to cross up.
So be part of me as we take a behind-the-scenes tour and get a preview of Solar Princess.
So, after a considerably exhausting journey, I joined a small group who have been allowed to discover this unimaginable vessel as she neared completion.
Laborious hats have been crucial, as we’d quickly see that just about each house — from the central atrium to the staterooms — was nonetheless underneath development.
This was my second go to to the shipyard to verify on progress. However whereas that go to was to little greater than a hollowed-out hull, this time round, issues have been coming into focus. You possibly can get an concept of what she would appear to be in lots of areas of the ship when accomplished.
Over the following two hours, we wandered concerning the ship taking in websites such because the swimming pools above. One factor that footage can’t seize is the cacophony of sound. Music got here from radios protecting the development crew entertained, however it was almost drowned out by the extra prevalent sounds of a development web site. Hammers slamming, saws buzzing, directions being spoken loudly into radios.
Simply past the pool space, workmen have been setting up what would finally be the large display on which individuals would watch Films Below the Stars.
Tour information Richard Parker — no relation, by the way in which — informed us that this specific ship’s journey had begun virtually seven years earlier when the primary designs began to take type on clean sheets of paper.
These plans are coming to life in areas just like the one above, which can quickly serve up drinks as O’Malley’s Irish Pub.
“As you stroll across the ship,” he mentioned, “you’re going to have occasions the place you say, ‘Wow, there’s lots to do.’ However you’re additionally going to search out occasions once you stroll right into a bar and go, ‘Wow, are they serving drinks but?’” Whereas that proved true, the reply, sadly, was that they weren’t!
As seen above, some of the hanging options is The Dome. This new-to-Princess idea will serve a number of features, with its look impressed by the terraces of Santorini.
Beneath this construction, passengers will have the ability to calm down and bask within the solar throughout the day earlier than returning to see a number of totally different reveals within the night hours, together with Come Fly With Me, a tribute to the Rat Pack period of music… which may even see the performers take to the air.
A spotlight of the realm would be the Cascade Bar. “We’re going to have a 30-foot waterfall cascade into the pool,” mentioned Parker, explaining how the venue received its title. The Dome may even be dwelling to a pool that begins indoors however extends to the out of doors space of Seaview Terrace. At evening, the pool might be coated by a stage to facilitate the varied performances.
In all places we seemed, particulars have been being labored on, together with issues that the majority would take as a right upon boarding. For instance, the fastidiously positioned tiles above will see lots of of 1000’s of ft march throughout them sooner or later.
We additionally received a sneak preview of the Victorian-style bar, which would be the coronary heart of Spellbound (above). This primary-of-its-kind venue, developed with the oldsters on the world-famous Magic Fort, will mix spooky cocktails and artful entertainers for an expertise positive to impress.
“For these of you who don’t know, Magic Fort is that this legendary clubhouse in Hollywood that could be a non-public clubhouse for magicians and company,” defined Parker, including that the Hollywood model was an “invitation solely” kind venue.
On the ship, Parker explains that “this whole house seems like a Victorian home,” with a music room being one central space. “In right here, we’ll have a stupendous previous grand piano.”
Right here, passengers will meet “a previous visitor named Isabella, who used to like crusing on the unique Solar Princess. Sadly, she is deceased however will be part of us nightly to entertain our company!”
Spellbound may even function a parlor bar, a library, and roving magicians who will create intimate experiences with company. “The eye to element is beautiful, and it’s such an extremely distinctive venue. Entrance to Spellbound will come at a price. Consider it as a specialty occasion a lot the identical method you’d consider a specialty restaurant. As of but, there aren’t any particulars as to what that cost might be.
The above house could not appear to be a lot in the meanwhile, however quickly it will likely be a part of the huge shops recognized collectively as The Retailers of Princess. “We’ll even have two decks of retail,” shares Parker, including that distributors had loads of alternatives to weigh in on how the areas would feel and look. “On this ship, we truly introduced in a number of new designers who’d by no means labored on ships earlier than” which meant they introduced in “some contemporary concepts.”
Okay, so the image above is somewhat little bit of a cheat. Or possibly we’ll name it a “preview.” As a result of that image wasn’t taken on the Solar Princess however at one other location within the shipyard the place they assemble faux variations of staterooms with a view to work out all the main points, and sure, I’ll do an entire separate piece on that, as a result of it’s simply that cool.
However what you see above is the brand new cabana balconies. As Parker defined, “Mainly, it’s a balcony cabin, however with a further space. You’ve two units of doorways. So you possibly can open your inside door, after which you might have the surface door, which now provides you an even bigger cabin. The opposite possibility is to shut the inside door, and now you might have a cabana hooked up to your balcony.”
Whereas this sort of stateroom might be situated all through the ship, 76 might be discovered on the Cabana Deck and have direct entry to a selected space. All company in Cabana staterooms, whether or not on the Cabana Deck or not, could have entry to the realm. However by no means worry… these preferring a standard balcony with out the cabana space may even have lots to select from.
The primary eating room, Horizons, spans three decks and incorporates a beautiful wall of glass providing unimaginable views. The bottom stage, deck six, will function barely extra formal eating. For a extra informal expertise, head to the center deck of the restaurant, referred to as A long time. “Consider that because the place to go if possibly you might have a present to see and the household with you,” mentioned Parker. “You wish to get out and in somewhat bit faster.”
This subsequent bit of stories will possible be met with combined reactions, as Solar Princess will function “good” elevators. “What you do is you stroll as much as an elevator, hit the deck you wish to go to and it tells you which ones elevator to get in,” the designer defined for individuals who haven’t but skilled them. “It’s the most effective method for us to maneuver company across the ship. Being new, there’s clearly a little bit of a studying curve initially,” he admitted.
Though the ship will carry over 4,000 passengers, Parker mentioned it was vital to “nonetheless really feel small, intimate. You will get round shortly, and there’s nice visitor stream.”
Moreover, the structure was designed to “not solely assist company get across the ship simply, but in addition not really feel such as you’re with lots of different company. There are such a lot of form of non-public areas.”
Subsequent up, we visited the theater house, which right here known as The Area. One factor I observed even earlier than our information might level it out?
The shortage of sight-view blocking columns. “That’s one thing we do on all of our ships,” said Parker proudly. “It’s a nightmare for the shipyard, however we all the time obtain it!”
Moreover, the theater is ready to reconfigure itself. “Within the center is a central elevator which fits down a deck,” he identified. The theater may even function 9 “LED screens which may transfer upstage, downstage, throughout the stage or turn out to be one giant wall.” When extra seating is required, the house can morph right into a theater-in-the-round. “It’s fairly spectacular what will be achieved!”
And, in fact, it wouldn’t be a full ship tour with out a cease within the on line casino! “That is our largest on line casino,” Parker reveals, “and our highest. Increasingly more, the machines you expertise in Las Vegas are getting greater, larger, and extra spectacular.
The truth is that on some ships, we will’t accommodate that. However on Solar Princess we’ve received extra top.” The on line casino additionally incorporates LED lighting across the partitions and lighting columns. “When somebody hits a jackpot in right here,” guarantees Parker, “this place will come alive!”
