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The Sapphire Princess berthed at the Princes Wharf in Auckland City, New Zealand
Photograph by Ingolfson. License: Public Domain. (view image details)
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cruise ship Sapphire Princess at Princes Wharf in Auckland City, New Zealand
Photograph by Ingolfson. License: Public Domain. (view image details)
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Sapphire Princess at Station Pier, Port Melbourne
Photograph by Donaldytong. License: Public Domain. (view image details)
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SAPPHIRE PRINCESS FACTS
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Description
One of the world’s largest cruise ships, the Sapphire Princess was unveiled in 2004 and is the sister of the equally elegant Diamond Princess. This Grand Class ship has offered passengers with unforgettable cruise experiences since then, and is the largest cruise ship to sail in Alaska. A prominent feature is the Skywalkers Nightclub furnished with a new 125-foot wide balcony with arresting views over the ship’s aft end. There are also a wide number of facilities including different dining rooms, show lounges, an Internet café, the Asian-themed Lotus Spa (complete with a fitness centre and an outdoor sunken terraced pool), a youth centre, and 750 staterooms with the trademark balconies in Princess cruise ships.
Destinations
The Sapphire Princess embarks on a one-way cruise to the Alaskan inside passage route from May to September. During the winter, it offers Hawaii and Mexican Riviera tours, with a Pacific Coast cruise in between.
History
The Sapphire Princess was built in Japan—the second Princess Cruises built in a Japanese shipyard—by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and it lacks the “wing” found across the rear such as in the Grand Princess. The Diamond Princess is its twin. During these ships’ construction, a big fire occurred and posed delays in the delivery dates. The Sapphire is originally the Diamond Princess, but the names were swapped to deliver the Sapphire on time. On June 10, 2004, the ship was christened in Seattle, making it the first cruise ship ever to be christened there, and on the same year entered service.
On July 25, 2009, a fin whale measuring 70 feet was lodged on the Sapphire Princess’ bulbous bow when it docked in Vancouver, Canada. According to Fisheries and Oceans necropsy reports, the whale might have been sick before it died. The Sapphire Princess had another incident with a whale on July 28, 2010 when a whale 40 feet in length was trapped while the ship was sailing to Juneau.
Dining
Dining on the Sapphire Princess is always a memorable experience, with a number of restaurants offering different mouth-watering cuisine to please the varying palates of the passengers. There are multiple dining rooms with the unique Personal Choice Dining options, a poolside pizza bar and hamburger grill, a 24-hour buffet and bistro, a trattoria, and 24-hour room service as well. Whether you’re craving for gourmet flavours or good, old-fashioned comfort food, the Sapphire Princess’ amazing culinary crew will make it happen for you.
Enjoy traditional dining at the International Dining Room, with attentive waiters at your beck and call. Anytime Dining—you can come in and eat anytime—is also available at the Pacific, Santa Fe, Savoy, and Vivaldi Dining Rooms. And just like you do in the city, put in a reservation for a table in the specialty restaurants on board: enjoy Italian favourites at Sabatini’s, the juiciest steaks at the Sterling Steakhouse, and feast on gourmet offerings and breathtaking scenery at the Ultimate Balcony Dining.
Passengers who want to maximize pool time and minimize mealtime can get quick and delicious bites from the ship’s casual dining eateries and even order take-out and dine by the pools. There are also dining options that will satisfy one’s sweet tooth—the Sapphire Princess has an excellent patisserie and an ice cream bar serving Häagen-Dazs flavours called Sundaes.
Entertainment
Finding something fun to do on board the Sapphire Princess is the easiest thing to do, with the wide variety of entertainment and recreation choices available to the passengers. For starters, there’s a casino, an Internet café, a dedicated kids’ and teens’ area with nearly 10,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor space, as well as a special pool area for teens. Nights on the Sapphire Princess is made more exciting by the Skywalkers disco-lounge with its 125-foot wide balcony perfect for an al fresco break from all the partying inside, the high-tech Club Fusion, and the Wake View Bar.
And then there’s the Atrium with boutiques, a library, an art gallery, and a writing room. There’s also a theatre showcasing Princess Cruises’ original Broadway and Las Vegas-style productions, and a Hearts and Minds Chapel where couples who want a romantic wedding at sea can get tie the knot before the ship’s captain. There are also a good number of pools and hot tubs, sports facilities, a health centre, spas, and even a hair salon.
Cabins
There are six types of accommodation choices offered on the Sapphire Princess, namely: inside double, outside double, outside double with private balcony, mini-suite with private balcony, suite with private balcony, and the grand suite with private balcony
Related Cruise Ships
Caribbean Princess (Princess Cruises)
Coral Princess (Princess Cruises)
Crown Princess (Princess Cruises)
Dawn Princess (Princess Cruises)
Diamond Princess (Princess Cruises)
Emerald Princess (Princess Cruises)
Golden Princess (Princess Cruises)
Grand Princess (Princess Cruises)
Island Princess (Princess Cruises)
Ocean Princess (Princess Cruises)
Ruby Princess (Princess Cruises)
Sea Princess (Princess Cruises)
Star Princess (Princess Cruises)
Sun Princess (Princess Cruises)
Ship Summary
| Operator: | Princess Cruises | | Built by: | Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Japan | | Date Completed: | 2004 | | Gross Tonnage: | 116000 | | Length: | 290 m | | Width: | 37 m | | Decks: | 18 | | Passengers: | 2670 | | Crew: | 1100 | | IMO: | 9228186 |
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