Princess Cruises Hosts Dining Pop-up for Valentine’s Day
On Wednesday evening, Princess Cruises hosted a preview event to kick off its Valentine’s Day pop-up event at Pier 59. The cruise line brought its Love by Britto cruise restaurant concept created by Brazilian artist Romeo Britto, Rudi Sodamin, head of culinary arts for Princess Cruises, and mixologist Rob Floyd, to shore overlooking Chelsea Piers.
Princess Cruise brand ambassador Jill Whelan, Love Island U.K. winners Kai Fagan and Sanam Harrinanan and more were treated to a five-course meal curated by Sodamin, heart-inspired cocktails created by Floyd and artwork featuring Britto’s vibrant work around the restaurant and on the plates and silverware.
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The exclusive pop-up event is a blend of art, romance and culinary excellence to celebrate Valentine’s Day. The event is open to the public on Thursday and Friday evenings with proceeds from the ticketed dining event to benefit the Save the Children charity.
“New York City and Princess Cruises are united by a shared spirit of romance, and both are iconic settings where love is celebrated, nurtured and cherished,” said Sodamin. “There’s no better place than New York City this Valentine’s Day to debut our first-ever shoreside pop-up of Love by Britto. Our goal is to leave New Yorkers inspired — through culinary masterpieces and Romero Britto’s vibrant artistry — by celebrating the universal language of love in this exclusive dining experience.”
The Love by Britto restaurant first opened on Princess Cruises’ Sun Princess cruise in June 2024 and will open the concept to the upcoming sister ship, Star Princess, when it launches in late September 2025. The Star Princess will debut its inaugural cruise season in the Mediterranean, move to the Caribbean and then Alaska voyages in the spring of 2026. Princess Cruises has also partnered with celebrities for its exclusive “Love Line Premium Liquors” collection with its Voli 305 Vodka by Pitbull and Melorosa Sauvignon Blanc, Red Blend and Cabernet Sauvignon by Jason Aldean.
Notably, Princess Cruises gained recognition after the American romantic comedy TV show from 1977, “The Love Boat,” starring Whelan shot the series on the ocean liner’s original Sun Princess ship. The cruise line recently celebrated its 60th diamond anniversary.
“We are trying to fuse these worlds together to create something unique,” said Jim Berra, chief marketing officer of Princess Cruises. “The art of craft is something we take extremely seriously at Princess Cruises. We really view our food and beverage program as second to none. The newest ships of the Sun and the Star are the ultimate foodie destination.”
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