Two of the newest (and most anticipated) cruise ships sailing the seas - Princess Cruises' timelessly elegant Sky Princess and Carnival Cruise Lines' impressive Panorama - offer tantalizing options for voyagers seeking a single goal: achieving their perfect day at sea.

PRINCESS - ALL ABOUT THE ROYAL TREATMENT

Princess knows how to craft perfect. The ingredients are simple but sublime: a private cabana in The Sanctuary, replete with cushy loungers, comfy sofa and flatscreen TV, a Bento box of yummy like Fattoush salad with grilled chicken, guest's choice of wine and spirits, cookies and scones and a view almost excruciatingly beautiful.

Located on Deck 18, the adults-only Sanctuary offers shaded and sun-centric cabanas with ceiling fans paddling around a light breeze and nearby hot tubs bubbling up relaxation. Loll atop a plump chaise, robe tucked round your legs and your chosen movie playing in the background.

It is a coveted, come-hither haven aboard a ship that has a number of equally alluring spaces, including the first-ever-at-sea escape room. Hidden in plain sight on the same deck is the world's first interactive, fully immersive MediaScape game, Phantom Bridge, described by Princess as "a real-world, gamified experience with more than 700 different outcomes."

Of course there is a brilliant scientist (horologist by trade), a pipe-chomping captain and a squawking parrot, as well as a ship's wheel to turn, constellation maps to study and lots of touch screens to explore as gamers travel through time and try to avert certain disaster. This is a game that will really connect with multigenerational groups that want to have fun playing together.

Another gaming concept (and Princess first) - this one with all the theatricality of a splashy Broadway production combined with the irresistible enticement of entering the increasingly intricate levels of a virtual world - is 5-SKIES. A bit edgier than what Princess audiences have seen in the past, it is nonetheless mesmerizing.

The show follows the character, Gamer 1, into a land of digitally-enhanced wonder on a quest to ultimately save the princess. Setting, special effects, costumes, acrobatics and performances are nothing short of dazzling (not surprising as one of show choreographers has worked with Grammy Award-winning artists Carrie Underwood and Kelly Clarkson, among other musician powerhouses) and the show overall is fresh and contemporary.

Creating perfect days at sea relies on a combination of favorites and firsts. Dreamy dining spots like Sabatini's draw with its upscale comfort food menu. The cosseting enclave of Lotus Spa nurtures body and soul (particularly the facial/hot stone massage combo). A quiet corner in the Piazza on Deck 5 charms for conversation accompanied by a glass of wine and small bites from the International Cafe while light music plays in the background.

Then there are new draws like the entertainment experience Take 5, the only jazz theater at sea; the gastronomical goodies in Bistro Sur La Mer created by Chef Emmanuel Renaut of three Michelin star fame; and two suites supersized to hold up to five, with two bedrooms, living room with pull-out sofa, dining space and wraparound balcony. Bill the latter as the best seat in the house for watching a movie on Princess' epic LED screen; as a perk, suite guests get to choose whatever movie they want to watch one night of their trip. (Which means everyone watches it.)

Additionally, Sky Princess is Princess' first ship built from the ground up with integrated Medallion technology. Once accessorized with the complimentary OceanMedallion device, guests may order drinks delivered to them wherever they are on the ship, find their friends wherever they are on the ship, have their cabin doors magically opened and plan a full day of perfect from their smartphone.

CARNIVAL OWNS FUN

Carnival is tuned fully into fun and aboard Panorama - Carnival's first brand-new ship to grace the port of Long Beach, CA in 20 years - Cruise Director Emma and the Fun Squad are aces at engaging the crowd in good times. Trivia games are an indisputable fave (with "Harry Potter" a massive crowd pleaser), as are the themed deck parties and boardgames-come-to-life, including CLUE: The Murder Mystery and Hasbro, The Game Show.

For the former, Col. Mustard, Miss Scarlet and the rest of the world's most famous suspects appear on stage to proclaim their innocence and clues are teased out throughout the cruise at various locations. With a murderer afoot and the stakes escalating - there is a prize on the line after all - the Big Reveal is a highly anticipated gathering in the ship's Liquid Lounge. With the latter, the Hasbro game unfolds to a packed house - green screens, props, costumes and all. Prizes are awarded to the passenger-contestants, including mini Hasbro games and a grand prize that includes a $150 Hasbro gift card.

Like all the vessels in the Carnival fleet, Panorama takes its role as a Fun Ship very seriously, which means things are generally lively and loud, but those seeking nirvana in more hushed environs can still find it. The adults-only Serenity retreat, tucked away on the top deck, is the place to escape with your morning cuppa or afternoon cocktail. Choose a covered lounge in either a sunny or a shaded nook, turn it away from your neighbors and Zen out with a view of endless sky and ocean and in the company of a good book.

For a lazy lunch sans the clamor and crowd of the Lido Buffet, steal away to Cucina del Capitano, noted simply as the Pasta Bar in the FunTimes schedule during this time of the day. Dinner brings an upcharge, but lunch is on the house - your choice of pasta, sauces and salad, perfect for pairing with one of the restaurant's wines.

Share dinner and dessert with your cabinmate and a handful of new friends in the new Carnival Kitchen, a culinary first for the fleet that features nine gleaming, fully equipped cooking and prep stations. A menu of classes ranges from sushi rolling to cake making to creating an "Elegant Affair" featuring appetizers and entrees.

Cooking stations are equipped with all the tools, utensils and ingredients needed for recipes and participants follow along with the chef, in person and via iPad-size screens, on a journey into such tempting terrains of saffron risotto, seafood paella or Carnival's signature Warm Chocolate Melting Cake - whatever the class theme class is. Afterward, all take a seat at the beautifully set dining table to share in good eating (this time prepared by the chef).

In addition to the Carnival Kitchen, new attractions aboard Panorama include the first-at-sea two-story trampoline park, Sky Zone. Two new shows join audience favorite, Celestial Strings, with themed multimedia musical experiences: Broadway Beats heads back to Woodstock and Rock Revolution bounces through the Big Apple.

PLAN YOUR TRAVELS

The 3,660-passenger Sky Princess, a Royal-class ship and the 18th cruise ship in the Princess fleet, departs from Fort Lauderdale for seven-night cruises to the Eastern and Western Caribbean. www.princess.com

Long Beach, CA is the homeport for the 4,000-plus-passenger Vista class Carnival Panorama, which offers six- to eight-day sailings to Pacific Coast hotspots Cabo San Lucas, Ensenada, Mazatlan and Puerto Vallarta in the Mexican Riviera. www.carnival.com

(Author and travel and lifestyle writer Kathy Witt feels you should never get to the end of your bucket list; there's just too much to see and do in the world. Contact her at KathyWitt24@gmail.com, @KathyWitt.)

(c)2020 Kathy Witt

Visit Kathy Witt at www.kathywitt.com

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