Sun Princess

Sun Princess: the 1995-built hull

Completed in Monfalcone in 1995, this Sun Princess was the lead ship of Princess Cruises’ Sun class. She made her debut in the Caribbean and later sailed in Alaska and through the Panama Canal. In October 2007, she was based in Australia; in 2013, she helped Princess Cruises enter the Japanese market. In September 2020, Princess announced the sale to unnamed buyers and canceled future departures. Since 2024, the name Sun Princess has also been used for a newbuild; this article concerns only the older hull. For more information about the cruise line, see our overview of Princess Cruises.

The hull later served as Pacific World with Peace Boat. Peace Boat chartered the ship. On April 7, 2023, Pacific World departed from the Osanbashi Passenger Terminal in Yokohama on a voyage calling at 22 ports in Asia, Europe and Central America. Educational programs and cultural exchange were part of the Peace Boat voyage concept.

A visit report by the Marine Department Youth Group documents how Peace Boat used the ship’s public spaces. The vessel had nine passenger decks within a total of 15 decks. The tour included a four-story atrium, theaters, lounges, a fitness room and swimming pools. For dining, the report mentions Japanese menus, Western à la carte options and a buffet with extended hours. Passengers could also offer language classes, crafts, tai chi or dance; the former casino area was used as a social lounge.

Itineraries and the character of the voyages

The documented service history spans the Caribbean and Alaska, Australia, and Peace Boat’s departure from Japan. It links classic cruise regions with a later charter operation focused on exchange. Our overviews of Alaska and Australia and New Zealand provide regional context.

Ship specifications

The shipyard Fincantieri lists the Sun Princess at 76,500 GT, with a length between perpendiculars of 221.4 meters, a molded breadth of 33.6 meters, 1,011 cabins and a maximum speed of 21.4 knots. These technical specifications refer to the hull built in 1995. The nine passenger decks and the public spaces described above, by contrast, are based on the visit report from its later service as Pacific World.