Cruise ships can sometimes be up to 17 decks high so I always set myself a number of stairs that I would be willing to walk, my current limit is ten flights. The kids' club is one of the best we've seen on a ship this size; there is a full-size basketball court on the top deck, multiple swimming pools, a putting/bocce green, Movies Under the Stars, numerous restaurant options and a wealth of bars -- as well as the best-situated nightclub at sea. One downside to Alaska is booking it is expensive. Or if you have any photos/stories youd like to share we would love to hear about those too. Travel Tip Remember to switch your phone to Airplane Mode before you leave port so that you do not incur roaming charges. A few times during a cruise, the ships executive chef presents a special menu that he has personally designed, and which is paired with fine wines. Id never been to Alaska and I thought it might be nice for my husband to experience a first with me, destination-wise, as Im quite well-travelled. I could also use the TV to order room service and drinks, and to schedule dinner reservations. People would be using this loophole all the time and having a third passenger conveniently cancel. While it would have been nice to set foot on the continent and to have a longer visit, I was also looking for a comfortable and budget friendly option to see this part of the world, especially as a solo cruiser. The ambiance was great and we were surprised by the size of the restaurant. The Conservatory The second level of the Calypso pool area has a wrap around balcony with plenty of lounge chairs. Note that when we were cruising during high waves, this pool was closed but the hot tubs were open. The design details have an Art Deco feel with different marble mosaics, gleaming fawn colored wood accents and an interesting industrial chic architectural detail which decorates the main elevator shafts. The experience costs $95 per person and includes a complimentary copy of Princess' cookery book and photo taken at . I will be on Crown Princess for a 11 day Inside Passage from Vancouver on June 2 so look forward to your report. Another thing you might notice is that there isn't a main dining room, or rather what would be the MDR is split into five dining rooms (instead of Princess' typical two) -- which has the effect of cutting down on the cruise ship banquet ambience of big restaurants, but creating a more intimate dining experience. The Falkland Islands are known for their penguin population which outnumber people 300 to 1. While it is the largest of the Grand-class ships by volume, it carries more than 400 fewer passengers than its youngest siblings. The Sapphire Princess still has a photo gallery where they print out the physical photos. The highlight though was the Murga, which is a form of musical theater performed by a troupe made up of a conductor, three percussionists and 13 vocalists. Attached are links to pictures we took during the cr. And in the afternoons, they also offered scones, cream, and jam so I could get my afternoon tea fix without going to the dining room. That way if something happened I could still drive there in time to make the ship (its a ~11 hour drive). , Looking forward to your report! Sapphire Princess deck plan view at Cruisedeckplans showing the newest deck plan layouts, public venues and stateroom pictures and our own deck plan pdf (printable version). I also love the challenge of taking beautiful photos that capture the essence of the location I am visiting. I chose the Princess version because the logistics were easier, especially considering that our arrival time changed compared to the original cruise schedule. As for myself, I love cruising. 4.0. The driver of the boat was really funny and told us lots of random, possibly true, facts on the 15 minute journey. Our flight left today (we had the exit row!) In addition to the bones in my hand potentially surviving the flight to Vancouver, it also makes getting there a bit cheaper as flying in Canada is not cheap. To our surprise, there was no chicken, and lamb-bones had absolute no meat on it, think of 10 long spare ribs without meat on it. There were also soups, sandwiches and salads, and since it is open all day and night, its the spot for satisfying those late night cravings. videos for on this deck for this ship and also on the sister ships. (Photo courtesy of Princess Cruises) On many Princess ships that have ocean-view cabins, the rooms are mostly found just above the promenade deck, where the lifeboats hang, and have obstructed views. This cove was home to nesting Magellanic penguins, visiting king penguins, and a rookery of Gentoo penguins. The Princess CEO owes me this amount, shame on him in running such scam. A walkway wraps around the whole deck. The shower provided large bottles of shampoo and body gel. advised that the ship could not dock due to strong winds. These are the newest deck plans for Sapphire Princess Dolphin deck. I believe that life is a patchwork of experiences. This was my second Chefs Table Experience with Princess, and it did not disappoint. Extra charges apply to eat here. We went for a walk along the waterfront and got some amazing views before heading back to our hotel. . The seating area around the Horizon Court was huge and I never had a problem finding an open table. The Rockefeller Sapphire. It made meal time feel more intimate and it was fun to have a choice of dcor to pick from each day. Balcony size ranges from 46 to 89 square feet. This post was made from a video that I filmed onboard the Sapphire Princess. Ive only ever had one haircut on a cruise I shaved my head for Macmillan Cancer Support on the stage of the Marella Discovery. It also acted as my ID to get back on the ship after getting off in port. Youll never struggle to find a seat/sunbed on a Princess cruise which I really love. Its located near the spa and gym on deck 15. Sigh! 360 views icon Accessibility Icon Trident Grill Satisfy your fast food cravings with made to order burgers, sandwiches, hot dogs, tacos, and fries. #29. in . The Piazza of the Sapphire Princess spans 3 decks and on every level, you will find bars and restaurants. Fitness area Large space looking out over the water with plenty of equipment to work off those buffet calories. All ship Traveler Ratings are based on ratings provided under license by Cruiseline.com. Dining. If I want to go up or down less than ten flights of stairs I always try to walk. Disclaimers about ship ratings: A ships Health Rating is based on vessel inspection scores published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The location code is A to F for standard cabins with A being the most desirable location. The detail above shows subcategory color, category name, and subcategory name. Very tasteless and unpalatable. The international cafe on deck 5 sells premium teas/coffees. at 9:30am and landed in Vancouver at 10am. Princess Luxury Beds (I was lucky enough to try these on Royal Princess, they are INCREDIBLE). With a soda from the Mermaids Tail bar next door, this was my choice for a meal while watching a Movie Under the Stars. Splash pool Another smaller, circular, outdoor pool with surrounding deck space. I was always able to find spots to enjoy peace and quiet. The pizza on Princess is INCREDIBLE! Unending shades of white from one horizon to the other. ports we went to were all great but we really enjoyed the penguins on Falkland Islands. In 2018, ahead of a two-year stint in Europe for the first time since it was built (in Japan, incidentally), the ship went through a significant refurb. (29 April - 10 May) By Drdarkknight, 9 hours ago in Princess Cruises Followers 2 Drdarkknight 26 May 2, 2017 Calgary, Canada #1 Posted 9 hours ago After. The balcony of these cabins is on the front part of the ship and there is not a lot of wind protection. After returning to the ship that day, I took her to the Medical office on the ship. It was no surprise that the Sapphire Princess was voted to have the friendliest crew in the fleet. You reserve a specific lounge chair for a fee for the whole day or a half day. The most important thing about the international cafe for me is that it has cookies/cakes that are free! My husband I (39M and 36F) are also on this cruise, maybe we'll bump into you! I was supposed to do Mediterranean with Princess again in 2020, but we all know what happened(might be hitting that up next year though!). the person advised us to use ice bag. Princess makes great pizza. a January 2014 cruise on the Sapphire Princess. You can see where the Sapphire Princess currently is through its bridge cam at https://www.princess.com/bridgecams/. We do have Princess Plus. . I spent almost the whole day at Gypsy Cove watching these engaging creatures and taking about a million pictures. Spoiler alert, I loved it! Personalized. I thought it was cool that Princess offers this for free. On 4/25/2023 at 11:25 PM, Drdarkknight said: 19952023, The Independent Traveler, Inc. Live From the Sapphire Princess! They have a number of events here including: The lounge is pretty big which means that we were normally able to find a seat. To learn more about what is included in a standard cruise fare check out this post: Are Cruises All Inclusive? The Sapphire is finishing drydock in Portland this week and is sporting a new touch on the seawitch livery. All my favorite photos from my Antarctica cruise: Penguins and Ice and so Much More My Favorite Antarctica Cruise Photos, A full review of the Sky Princess cruise ship: Cruising Sky High A complete Sky Princess Review With Photos, A full review of the Ruby Princess cruise ship: Living Like Royalty on a Princess Cruise A ruby Princess Review With Photos. For me, it depends what Im looking for. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. As a result, Sapphire is surprisingly easy to navigate as all roads lead to and from here. I immediately made reservations but I knew it was quite expensive. Actual to avoid the predicted high winds in Ushuaia, we arrived early, at 7 AM, and stayed till 7:30 PM. At Alfredos I could get a freshly made, hot, straight from the oven, individual sized pizza that had the perfect crispy crust that I love. For larger groups, you may want to pre reserve your table each evening. more, Vancouver, Juneau, Skagway, Glacier Bay, Ketchikan, Vancouver. Enjoy fast, reliable Wi-Fi, TrulyTouchless experiences, food and drinks delivered wherever you are and so much more. The venue is open during the day so if you want somewhere to read a book and find some peace and quiet this may be it. I am quite an expert on cruise ship cookies and I would say Princess are in the lead, join with Celebrity. By the end of a cruise, I am always quite spoiled, and its hard to go back home and have to make my own bed, clean my own room, and cook my own dinner. You can order room service via the Medallion app or using the TV in your room. The Golden Princess has a similar layout and amazingly on my Asia cruise, this area of the ship was pretty quiet! Took a 14 day cruise from Buenos Aires to Santiago, Chile. Calypso Reef and Pool and Bar Large pool with two hot tubs and lots of lounge chairs in a glass covered conservatory. We are on her in just a couple weeks & are excited to hear about your trip! First formal night. The closet space was very roomy and came with plenty of hanging space and 30 hangers, as well as a large floor to ceiling cabinet with shelving, a safe, and a full length mirror. 1Activities, dining and entertainment options vary by ship and are subject to change. Bon Voyage. Deck Plans. I hope you will share stateroom and dining! The house band played great jazz sets here. Voyage of the Glaciers pretty much hits the same ports up as it does down. For me, the tea/coffee this isnt the important part though. This will make the balcony unusable at times when the wind is heavy while the ship is underway. Another feature that was special to this sailing were the six destinations experts that we had on board for the full length of the cruise. Each day they make three types: cheese, peperoni, and a special pizza of the day and I liked them all. Sabatinis Italian Trattoria Specialty dining restaurant serving up delicious Italian dishes. The back starboard corner of the Horizon court becomes the fancier Sterling Steak House in the evening. I will see you on the ship. I didnt know if I would be able to see penguins since all the ship excursions and the private tours were fully booked far in advance. While I like having a balcony, I knew that with the cold weather and the potential for rough seas, I would not use a balcony very much, so I happily chose one of the less expensive ocean view cabins on deck 8 and I was happy with my decision. What Is A Princess Cruise to Antarctica Really Like? Grand Princess (Grand Class) - Dry dock 2019 (Portland, Oregon) Around the single sink there were three shelves to store my personal toiletries and a long shelf under the sink. Day 1 Planned Board at Valparaiso, Chile and set sail by 6 PM. You will need to make reservations to eat here. There are no public areas available on this deck. Were instead going to fly out Friday, stay overnight in a hotel by the pier, tour around for a bit and have a nice dinner before all the excitement starts. Unlike expedition ships, the Sapphire Princess is not designed to handle close encounters with ice of any size. Some people are receiving something and some are not. Cruisedeckplans provides full interactive deck plans for the Sapphire Princess Baja deck. It was even more fun that the whale watching, and, yes, we did find some bears. I saw so many penguins! Enjoy your cruise! There was always a vegetarian option along with gluten free choices. It's packed full of things to do, day and night and. I was able to get a good last minute deal for solo travel which made the cruise very affordable (not in the tens of thousands of dollars). For us we are going to drive to Vancouver and drop our dog off with a friend in Victoria before taking the cruise. The buffet on Sapphire Princess is quite small but what I love is the amount of seating. My Chefs Table menu presented by Executive Chef Ravindra Dulipalla: Slow roasted pork belly with honey soy sauce, carrot bisque infused with ginger and raisin, Cucumber and raspberry sorbet served with Beefeaters gin, Seared beef medallion topped with Maine lobster thermidor with barnaise sauce, lambchop Villeroy with rosemary jus, salsa verde and fresh market vegetables, Passion fruit and Bavarian mousse with strawberry cheesecake garnish with fresh berries and chocolate. All content is my personal opinion. The Family Room, The Beach House Teen Lounge, The Lodge at Camp Discovery, The Treehouse at Camp Discovery, Outdoor Play area Large space for young cruisers to hang out and take part in the youth programs. To book a Princess cruise, find all the upcoming Sapphire Princess cruises, and to see the most recent cruise deals go to https://www.princess.com/. About Us - We are both from Canada. features.Princess uses the stateroom type and location for its category codes. Disclaimers about ship ratings: A ship's Health Rating is based on vessel inspection . If you are interested in the Chefs Table you need to go to Guest Services as soon as you get on board the ship and get your name put on the Chefs Table list. I broke my left ulna when I pull my carryon from the flight overhead compartment so I have a left purple cast on. There are 16 passenger decks, 7 with cabins. Powered by Invision Community. I liked the cozy atmosphere and it was my favorite spot to sit and look out the window at the waves. *Deck plans are subject to change at any time. When you purchase a glass of wine youll also be given some tapas style snacks which is always a good thing. My husband and I also just bought a house and are taking possession June 1 so when it rains (all good things) it definitely pours. I love Princess cruises and the Sapphire Princess is a gorgeous ship. . Only my 4th lifetime cruise. Have a great cruise! Sterling Steakhouse In the evenings, one side of the back of the Horizon court becomes the Sterling Steakhouse, one of the specialty restaurants on board. Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. Amazing, Funny & Totally Awesome Cruise Photos. The Piazza is the heart of any Princess ship. Bless him. It wasnt too bad - $38 CAD as a fixed rate fee. We got some OBC with our booking which we put towards our most expensive excursion which was really helpful. Say hi if you see a left purple cast. Thoroughly recommended. As you set your sights on the wonders of the world, let Sapphire Princess indulge your every whim. Sapphire Princess Cruise Accommodations, Staterooms and Suites Please note that the staterooms shown below are samples only. Internetcaf -This is the spot to go to get all your internet and Medallion questions answered. Towering icebergs floating in a pristine sea. Horizon Court andCaf Buffet restaurant that is open all day. AlfredosPizzeria This restaurant is one of the included dining venues aboard ship. The ship may be relatively old (14 years in 2018), and in parts it does show its age (some of the cabins and bathrooms could do with a spruce up, for example), but the refurbs have gone a long way to making it look and feel fresh. Thanks for starting this Live From for us! International Dining room This large dining room can only be reached via the aft elevators or by using the aft stairs from deck 7. a variety of Medallion accessories for purchase. No dessert for us - we were stuffed! Near each elevator, large interactive screens displayed a map of the ship or the current activities going on throughout the ship. Sapphire Princess is my favourite Princess ship and from my trip to Norway on her, there are lots of great viewing areas to see the scenery. On the other side of the pool deck is the Trident grill. Collect, curate and comment on your files. Fine Arts Gallery Showing new art for the art auctions at sea. At roughly 150 square feet, the cabin was plenty roomy for one person. Note that my passport was collected and kept by the Princess staff at check in and was returned to me toward the end of the cruise. We had intended on taking the SkyTrain but by the time we landed and got our luggage we were so hot and decided to just grab a taxi. Watch a VIDEO TOUR of Princess Cruises Sapphire Princess in 4K Ultra HD. With this sour experience, we will not travel Princess again. I was lucky enough to try out Alfredos when I cruised on the Royal Princess. 128K views 3 years ago #princesscruises #comebacknew #sapphireprincess Every Princess ship is a destination in itself with wide-ranging amenities, elevated culinary experiences and delightful. The next morning, when I woke up, I noticed an odd odor. We are seniors in Seventies. I used my sea days to catch up on blog writing and posting on social media. Nice to hear about your visit to Vancouver. We walked to Waterfront station but took the long way (which wasnt very long) so we could see the waterfront.