Star Princess Debuts Reimagined Spellbound by Magic Castle

Published on Aug 18, 2025, 1:29 pm CDT

6 min read

Princess Cruises will launch an evolved Spellbound by Magic Castle aboard the new Star Princess when the ship sets sail on October 4, 2025. The speakeasy-style lounge and theater will feature newly themed spaces inspired by the golden age of magic, several nightly showtimes, and a refreshed cocktail program. Admission is $45 per guest, including two signature cocktails, and the updated format removes the dinner service previously paired with the Sun Princess version. The experience is open to all guests and bookable in advance.

Key Points

Why it matters: Princess is refreshing a hit onboard experience with broader access and lower friction for booking.
Travel impact: $45 entry includes two cocktails, with four 45-minute shows nightly for easier planning.
What's next: Star Princess begins its inaugural season on October 4, 2025, with additional entertainment across The Dome and Princess Arena.
Cardini-inspired design adds the Inner Circle, Cardini Bar, Backstage, and Peacock Theater.
Dinner service is removed, a change from the original Sun Princess concept.

Snapshot

Spellbound by Magic Castle returns on Star Princess as a reimagined, ticketed lounge and theater that blends sleight-of-hand, intimate performances, and theatrical mixology. Guests enter through a whimsical ticket booth and move through immersive spaces including the Inner Circle, Cardini Bar, Backstage, and the Peacock Theater. The experience now emphasizes multiple showtimes nightly, priced at $45 per person, which includes two signature cocktails. Notably, dinner is no longer part of the package, a departure from the Sun Princess model. Princess says the goal is to maintain the Magic Castle allure while making the experience easier to access across busy evenings on a 4,300-guest ship. Tickets can be reserved ahead or purchased onboard.

Background

Spellbound debuted on Sun Princess in 2024 as a collaboration with Hollywood's Magic Castle, translating the private club's mystique to sea. For Star Princess, Princess Cruises leans further into classic conjuring, citing legendary magician Richard Valentine Pitchford, known as Cardini, as a thematic touchstone. Cardini's legacy is threaded through the venue's design and cocktail list, a nod reinforced by family ties to Magic Castle leadership. On Star Princess, Spellbound drops the pre-show dinner and focuses on a bar-forward format with several nightly seatings to accommodate demand. The Cardini Bar's new menu highlights theatrical pours, including The Inner Circle, a milk-washed Meili vodka cocktail with delicate jasmine tea notes. The venue complements a broader entertainment slate that spans Princess Arena productions, candlelight concerts in The Dome, and pop-up performances in the Piazza.

Latest Developments

Spellbound by Magic Castle gets a price-inclusive, show-first format

Princess has set Spellbound admission at $45 per guest, which includes two signature cocktails and reserved entry to an intimate magic performance. The program is designed for repeatability, with several nightly shows that last about 45 minutes each, allowing travelers to fit Spellbound around dinner, mainstage productions, or late-night music. By removing the dinner component that launched with Sun Princess, Princess aims to streamline service, increase seating opportunities, and keep the experience focused on close-up magic and conjuring theater. Reservations are encouraged, but walk-ins are expected to be available during open hours. For a deeper look at the ship's entertainment lineup beyond Spellbound, see our earlier coverage, Star Princess Unveils Spectacular New Entertainment Lineup.

New rooms, classic influences, and a refreshed cocktail list

The Star Princess iteration adds distinct spaces that echo historic magic venues, including a ticketing booth entry, the Inner Circle, the Cardini Bar, a behind-the-curtain Backstage area, and the Peacock Theater. Design cues play up moody lighting, eclectic artifacts, and theatrical reveals. The new cocktail menu at the Cardini Bar features showpiece drinks with subtle flavor profiles and table-side flourishes. Highlights include The Inner Circle, a milk-washed Meili vodka build with delicate jasmine tea notes, and Cardini, a butter-washed rum Old Fashioned. Together, the program pairs hand-crafted mixology with performance beats, aiming to make the bar a destination before and after each show.

Where Spellbound fits into Star Princess's debut season

Star Princess, a 4,300-guest Sphere-class sister to Sun Princess, was built by Fincantieri and introduces upgraded entertainment technology, 30 bars and dining venues, and new accommodations including Sanctuary Collection suites. The ship's inaugural season begins October 4, 2025, with itineraries spanning the Mediterranean, the Caribbean, the Panama Canal, and Alaska. Travelers can expect additional after-dark programming in The Dome and the Princess Arena alongside Spellbound, creating a multi-venue evening circuit. Looking ahead, Princess has already outlined robust deployment plans for the brand, including future Alaska and Japan seasons that broaden options for fans of the Sphere-class platform. See also our related reporting, Princess Cruises Plans Record 2027 Japan Season.

Analysis

Princess is adapting a high-demand, premium experience to the realities of a large-ship evening schedule. Four short shows per night, each with included cocktails, reduces friction for travelers who want variety without committing to a multi-course meal. It should also help alleviate capacity constraints that come with a traditional dinner-theater format. Removing dinner shifts staff and galley load, which can improve show cadence and throughput while keeping the bar program central to the experience. The price point is straightforward, and the two-drink inclusion reinforces perceived value.

Thematically, the Cardini focus gives the venue a coherent narrative, something travelers increasingly expect from modern speakeasy-style concepts. Star Princess adds distinctive rooms that nudge guests along a curated path from entry to performance, which suits sleight-of-hand and small-room illusions. Pairing cocktail reveals with staged effects should satisfy repeat visits, an important metric for multi-day cruises.

Strategically, Spellbound complements Princess's investment in marquee productions at Princess Arena and experiential music in The Dome. The mix supports different evening moods without overlapping audiences or sound bleed. For travelers, the practical takeaway is to book early for preferred times, plan dining two hours before showtime, and expect a bar-led experience with intimate staging rather than a sit-down meal. If demand mirrors Sun Princess interest, early voyages may see peak bookings on sea days and formal nights, when guests cluster activities after main dining. The design choices on Star Princess suggest Princess intends Spellbound to be a signature, repeatable stop on an evening circuit rather than a once-per-cruise splurge.

Final Thoughts

With its show-first format, inclusive cocktails, and richer theming, Spellbound is positioned to anchor the ship's late-night circuit without monopolizing your evening. The result should be easier planning, more availability across a sailing, and a clearer value proposition for couples or small groups. As Star Princess enters service, travelers get a more flexible way to experience close-up magic alongside larger productions in the Princess Arena and candlelit performances in The Dome. Expect bookings to be competitive on early voyages, especially on sea days. For fans of sleight-of-hand and theatrical mixology, the headline act remains Spellbound by Magic Castle.