Princess Cruises’ largest ship to date – the Sun Princess – has made her world debut on the cruise circuit. Launched from Fincantieri’s Monfalcone yard, the 175,500-ton cruise ship is the result of a seven-year collaboration that brought together the cruise industry’s leading designers, engineers, and naval architects. Tillberg Design of Sweden (TDoS) – part of the Viken Group – was tapped to outline a new GA platform for this 21-deck marvel, and further to design several of the key guest areas onboard.

The project began in 2017, and TDoS was appointed by Princess Cruises to be the coordinating architects for the 4,300-passenger ship. As the newest, largest, and most innovative ship in Princess Cruises’ renown fleet, the objective was to push the boundaries of traditional ship design, and create a renewed visual identity for the Princess Cruise brand.

“We are used to managing extremely complex onboard flows and operations, and we know how to handle even the largest projects so that everything both looks and works to perfection”, explains Fredrik Johansson, Co-Founder of the Viken Group and Executive Director of Tillberg Design of Sweden. “With a capacity of nearly 100 people within the Viken Group, we have a rather unique pool of both top-end competence and capacity within interior and exterior design, as well as naval architecture and engineering,” says Johansson. “The Sun Princess project spanned over nearly seven years, and at times we had over 25 people working for that client alone.”

Optimizing the design and development process from concept to competition is a core competence of TDoS, but the creative process started by establishing a new PCL design manifesto, which drew inspiration from nature’s endless variations and elements of coastal living. This manifesto, which also contained guidelines for design language, material palettes and lighting principles, then worked as a foundation and northern star for all the six design companies that were involved in the design process.

“The most important aspect for a seamless and efficient project is the assurance that everyone involved is aligned with and well informed of the vision and the priorities of the key stakeholders” says Johansson, and this core focus of TDoS translated well to the Sun Princess project. “By ensuring there is a clear understanding of the end goal in a massive project organisation, we can also empower and motivate each individual within the various disciplines involved,”

The result is a new generation of PCL ships that pays homage to the organic design language of existing fleet, but with a new and fresh approach to materials, finishes, details and lighting. The guests will experience a seamless and intuitive journey through the ship, but also endless variations between the different spaces. Within the overarching vision, TDoS designed the three-storey Horizon’s dining room seating up to 2,000 guests, and the expansive and panoramic Wake Pool terrace with infinity pool overlooking the ship’s wake.

“We always put a lot of focus during the master planning and engineering phases to maximise the contact with the sea, the elements, and the destinations,” explains Johansson. “We are also accustomed to creating impactful and unique experiences that do not yield endless amounts of unused space.”

“Overseeing the design process of the Sun Princess has been an incredible journey of collaboration and innovation. Our goal was to push the boundaries of traditional ship design while creating intimate and welcoming spaces within the vast footprint of the ship. Through meticulous planning and attention to detail, we aimed to provide guests with an unforgettable experience that seamlessly integrates contemporary design with Princess Cruises DNA, emphasizing indoor-outdoor connection and creating seamless transitions between spaces. It’s been a privilege to be part of such a groundbreaking project.” – says Natalia Kulińska, TDoS Project Manager for Sun Princess.

Aboard the Sun Princess, TDoS also developed an innovative and unique Waiter Station concept that – unlike traditional cruise ship server areas – is completely hidden from guest view and facilitates seamless crew service – a critical feature for a ship housing over 1,500 crew with a three-to-one guest-to-crew ratio.

The Sun Princess embarked on its inaugural Mediterranean cruise from Rome on February 28, 2024. The inaugural Caribbean cruise circuit will commence from Fort Lauderdale in October. Princess Cruises plans a sister ship launch in 2025.