Princess Cruises to Launch its Largest Casino Aboard $1B Sun Princess

Princess Cruises plans to set sail its newest ship, the $1 billion Sun Princess, early next year. Among the cruise ship’s many attractions is the company’s largest casino space ever built.

Princess Cruises, a subsidiary of the Carnival Corporation, announced Tuesday that the Sun Princess will feature 50% more casino floor space and 30% more gaming positions than the line’s Royal Class of ships.

Sun Princess is set to sail in February 2024. The ship is nearing completion in Italy at the Fincantieri shipyard in Monfalcone.

Casino lovers, high rollers, or simply those wanting to try a hand during their vacation will be stunned by the new Princess Casino onboard Sun Princess,” said John Padgett, president of Princess Cruises. “Princess has embraced the casino experience and is proud to offer such exciting gaming surrounded by absolutely world-class dining and entertainment.”

The Princess Casino aboard the Sun Princess is located on deck eight adjacent to the Piazza. The Piazza serves as the grand atrium and heart of Princess ships. The company says the Piazza is each ship’s “stunning centerpiece.”

The casino floor will measure nearly 9,000 square feet and offer 227 slot machines and 13 live dealer table games.

Casino Value

Once cruise ships venture into international waters, gaming is permitted. Casinos aboard major cruises like the ones operated by Carnival and its subsidiaries are regulated by the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), which models its regulations on rules crafted and implemented by the Nevada Gaming Control Board.

Nearly all Carnival cruises have casinos. The gaming play commences once the ships reach international waters, which the United States Department of Commerce’s Office of Coast Survey defines as being 24 nautical miles off the contiguous U.S.

The Sun Princess Casino will include linked blackjack and poker table game progressives, and slot progressives. The casino will additionally feature a high-limit slot area with “high-end seating.”

Sun Princess’ inaugural voyages include cruises to the Mediterranean, Europe, and the Caribbean.

Sun Princess is a 175,500-ton, 21-deck vessel with 2,150 guest cabins. The ship spans 1,133 feet in length and features an array of entertainment and attractions, including a ropes course, splash pad, and Sea Breeze Rollglider that allows guests to hang-glide around the ship on the top deck providing panoramic views.

New Casino, New Games

In the Princess Cruises press release, the cruise operator says the Sun Princess gaming floor will be equipped with the latest slots titles. That includes a first-of-its-kind Buffalo Zone at sea, a designated area of the casino floor where numerous Buffalo-branded slots will be placed.

Along with the Buffalo games, Princess Casinos heavily incorporate other titles from Aristocrat Leisure. For the Sun Princess Casino, that additionally includes a new version of the company’s popular Love Boat title, a themed slot based on the rom-com television series that ran from September 1977 until May 1986.