As ‘magical’ experience is teased on Sun Princess, line’s communications chief admits: ‘We have plenty of things up our sleeves’

More ‘extraordinary experiences’ are coming to Princess Cruises ships following the success of the 360 dining concept, the line’s head of communications, Vicki Johnson, said today.

She wouldn’t be drawn on the magical spectacle being teased on the forthcoming ship Sun Princess, but emphasised: ‘We have plenty of things up our sleeves.’

Some of the food and drinks served in 360 (Pictures: Dave Monk)

Ms Johnson announced to journalists on Enchanted Princess in Barcelona that 360: An Extraordinary Experience – where a circle of guests eat a series of dishes surrounded by sights, sounds and even smells of the food’s origins – would be extended from being only for suite users to other passengers at $149 a head, when there was availability.

Wines include one grown on Vesuvius and other matured under water (Pictures: Dave Monk)

Having declined to give any more clues about the ‘magical’ experience on Sun Princess, Ms Johnson said: ‘We have a lengthly list of ideas, not only for this type of thing [360] but for other guest experiences, lots of things up our sleeves, I might say, but nothing we can really touch on. Let your imagination go wild.’

So far 360 is only available on Enchanted Princess and Discovery Princess. It’s much more than a dinner, it’s also a show, featuring audio-visual backgrounds, scents, animated tablecloths and highly personalised service conducted by a theatrical maître d’.

A screenshot from the Princess Cruises teaser video (Picture: Princess Cruises)

Accompanying the seven courses based on a Mediterranean discovery led by Brooke Shields is a selection of drinks including one wine grown on the slopes of Vesuvius and another matured under sea water.

Since construction began on Sun Princess – due to enter service next year – the line has teased what lies behind a black door on the ship. It’s ramped up the anticipation recently by video clips inviting guests to be ‘mesmerised by magic’.