Some venues feel like a night out, others feel like a secret door to somewhere else. The reimagined speakeasy on Star Princess sits in that second camp, inviting you to lean into illusion, quick hands, and storytelling that unfolds room by room. Building on a strong debut aboard Sun Princess, the experience takes a fresh turn aboard Star Princess with a richer theme, deeper world-building, and a nod to one of magic’s great artists.
A Tribute to Cardini’s Golden Age
Princess has anchored the new concept in the grace and mischief of Richard Valentine Pitchford, known on stage as Cardini. He made sleight-of-hand look effortless, a style that echoes through the venue’s pacing and the way effects appear when you are sure you have seen every angle.
The family connection matters too, since Cardini’s legacy carries through his great-nephew, Randy Pitchford, who owns Hollywood’s Magic Castle. Linking shipboard theatre to that lineage gives the night more texture than a standard lounge show, and it sets clear expectations, elegance first, then astonishment.
A Suite of Spaces That Tell a Story
Rather than one room and one act, the venue introduces a sequence of distinct spaces that guide your night like chapters. You start at a whimsical ticketing booth, step into the Inner Circle, pause at the Cardini Bar, slip past a Backstage nook, then take a seat inside the Peacock Theater. Each space layers moody lighting, curios, and hints that you might be standing inside the setup to a reveal you will not see coming. The progression means groups can move together without losing immersion, while solo travellers never feel stuck in one spot.
Cocktails With a Twist of Theatre
Magic needs a bar that plays along, which is why the Cardini Bar serves a list crafted only for this venue. Expect techniques that echo the stagecraft around you, milk-washed spirits for a silk-smooth texture, butter-washed rum for a warm Old Fashioned, and garnishes that might misdirect before they delight.
You will hear about signatures like The Inner Circle, marrying Meili vodka with jasmine tea, and Cardini, a rum Old Fashioned with a subtle, rounded edge. The idea is not gimmicks, it is flavour meeting narrative so the glass in your hand belongs to the room you are in.
How the Experience Works on Board
Knowing the flow helps you plan a relaxed evening. This version of the venue is open to all guests, with several showtimes most nights, and a simpler format that focuses attention where it belongs, on the close-up work and the stage.
Open to All Guests, Multiple Showtimes
Access is inclusive, so you do not need a specific suite category or loyalty tier to book. Multiple seatings spread demand and keep groups from cramming into one late slot, which makes it easier to stitch the show into a port-heavy day or a leisurely sea day. If you enjoy the first visit, you can often return later in the voyage for a different perspective, since magic plays differently from a new seat.
Tickets, Inclusions, and Timing
Admission is $45 (approx. A$69) per guest, which includes two signature cocktails and the main performance. That bundled format keeps decisions light on the night, you settle in, enjoy the show, and sip what the bar team recommends without juggling extras. Tickets can be purchased in advance on the Princess site or once you are on board, although popular sailings will see prime times fill early.
Dining and Evening Flow Without Dinner Service
Unlike the original concept, this iteration does not include dinner service before the show. The line recommends dining at least two hours beforehand so you are not racing from dessert to doors. Practically speaking, that pacing works well with the ship’s evening rhythm, pre-dinner drinks in The Piazza, a meal in your chosen venue, then the switch into a pocket of mystery before a nightcap beneath the stars.
Why it Matters for Princess Fans
Star Princess is more than a sister to Sun Princess, it is a second canvas for ideas that have grown since the Sphere Class debut. The refreshed speakeasy fits that spirit, familiar bones, new flavour.
From Sun Princess to Star Princess: Evolution, not Copy
The team has kept what guests loved, then reframed it with fresh set pieces, a deeper theme, and new beats that encourage repeat visits. That matters if you sailed Sun Princess and want something recognisable yet surprising, or if you are new to the concept and keen to see why buzz followed it from day one. It is a case study in how Princess iterates, listening, then layering.
Designed for Sea Days and Port Nights
Because Star Princess will cross seasons and regions in her first year, the venue had to flex. On sea days it can be the evening’s headline, on port days it becomes a sharp, compact experience that does not swallow the night. That flexibility is built into the show schedule, which is why you will see multiple seatings and a clean, focused format that respects the rest of the ship’s programme.
Seamless Fit With Dome, Arena, and Piazza
The ship’s other headline spaces add contrast, The Dome for sunlit lounge time that flips to spectacle after dark, The Princess Arena for tech-rich productions, and The Piazza for daytime bustle and late-night people watching. The speakeasy sits alongside these rather than competing, it is a change of scale, a close study after a wide shot. Many guests like to pair it with a show in The Arena on one night and a quiet balcony moment on another.
Choosing the Right Stateroom for a Magical Night
Your cabin choice shapes how you warm up and wind down. On a ship built for views and variety, it pays to match location and layout to the way you like to spend evenings.
Balcony Rituals Before or After the Show
With more than 1,500 balcony staterooms, you can make twilight your own. A small pre-show ritual, a glass on the rail while the horizon fades, often sets the mood better than a rushed pre-drink. After the show, stepping back onto your balcony to replay a reveal, or to try a card flourish you learned at the bar, has a way of cementing the memory.
Sanctuary Collection for Special Occasions
If you are celebrating, Sanctuary Collection suites and mini-suites add little frictions that disappear. Priority touches, access to exclusive spaces, and in-room details make long itineraries feel smooth. Pairing that comfort with a night in the speakeasy turns an anniversary or milestone trip into a sequence of small, well-timed moments rather than one big splash.
Tips for Families and Friends
Travelling as a group is easy here. Book seats for the same showtime so you share reactions live, then split for the rest of the evening depending on energy levels. Midship rooms steady things for first-timers, forward balconies create drama on sail-ins and sail-aways. If you like to debrief together, choose cabins on the same deck so popping in and out is simple.
Plan Your Sailing Around Spellbound
Star Princess is currently in final construction, and her itinerary map in the first year will fold the Mediterranean, Caribbean, Panama Canal, and Alaska into one long story. That variety means you can match the show’s vibe to the destination’s mood.
Mediterranean Debut and Beyond
The venue will be ready as Star Princess launches in the Med, where late dinners and long twilights dovetail with a show that rewards attention. As the ship pivots to warm-water routes and later to Alaska, the schedule will keep the experience accessible regardless of time zone or port tempo. The throughline is simple, give every sailing an evening that feels like a secret worth sharing.
Booking Pointers and Demand
Showtimes with the most convenient slots will go first. If this is a must-do for your sailing, secure tickets alongside your dining plans and spa times. Because admission includes two cocktails, it is also an efficient way to shape one special evening without stacking add-ons across the week.
Accessibility and Pace For All
The multi-room format flows without long walks, and staff guide the sequence so you can relax into it. If you prefer a quieter seat or have accessibility questions, flag it when you book so the team can place you well. The goal is a shared experience that still feels personal, which is the Princess way when venues are designed with intention.
Before you choose dates, it helps to map what else on the ship excites you. If you want to balance a high-energy theatre night with something intimate, this is the piece that completes the set. If your group spans different tastes, it becomes the point where everyone meets in the middle.
To scan sailings and see where Star Princess is scheduled across the year, head to our Cruise Finder. You can filter by region and month, then note calls and sea days to decide which week gives you the right mix of shows, lounges, and balcony time.
Make a Night of Wonder Part of Your Itinerary
Think of this as a pocket of theatre you carry with you after the curtain call. Pick the sailing that speaks to you, book a showtime that gives you room to enjoy dinner without rushing, and let the bar and the magicians do what they do best. If you would like tailored advice on dates, staterooms, and seats that fit your rhythm, contact our team to plan your Star Princess escape and we will shape options that feel just right. Star Princess adds a reimagined speakeasy, fresh cocktails, and a Cardini-inspired narrative, proof that the magic is in the details when a venue is built for wonder.
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