Just Back From Sapphire Princess: Hits and Misses

[LauraS]

Check out the latest Princess Cruises news from Cruise Critic:

 

Just Back From Sapphire Princess: Hits and Misses

[Literary Lynne]

Thanks for your review Laura. We sail on Sapphire on Saturday and really looking forward to our first Princess cruise.

Lynne

[fishywood]

How does an editor's review manage to get posted with such a glaring misstatement of fact: that Sapphire Princess has been deployed exclusively from Singapore her entire life?

 

When Sapphire and sister ship Diamond were launched there was huge publicity from Princess as to how they were designed specifically for the Alaska cruise market (thus the differences in layout from the first generation Grand-class). After being christened in Seattle in 2004(a rare USA launching) she spent NINE YEARS summering in Alaska and most winters sailing Hawaii or Mexico from Los Angeles, with a few South Pacific sailings in the interim. But she did not become officially Asia-based until late 2013.

[aknursemom]

How does an editor's review manage to get posted with such a glaring misstatement of fact: that Sapphire Princess has been deployed exclusively from Singapore her entire life?

 

When Sapphire and sister ship Diamond were launched there was huge publicity from Princess as to how they were designed specifically for the Alaska cruise market (thus the differences in layout from the first generation Grand-class). After being christened in Seattle in 2004(a rare USA launching) she spent NINE YEARS summering in Alaska and most winters sailing Hawaii or Mexico from Los Angeles, with a few South Pacific sailings in the interim. But she did not become officially Asia-based until late 2013.

Indeed. My first two Alaska cruises were on the Sapphire.

[Astro Flyer]

It’s surprising that the review by Adam Coulter, Managing Editor, U.K. would contain inaccuracies including the ship’s history. Such mistakes due to a lack of research should not happen on CC which is a source passengers use for accurate information. The Sapphire has not “spent its entire life -- 14 years -- based in Singapore” & I’ve sailed the Sapphire numerous times on the West Coast most recently in January 2014 before deploying to Asia.

 

Based on such a glaring mistake, I wonder about his statement that “Most other US ships homeporting in the UK install in-cabin kettles and we're a bit confused why Sapphire has not“. Cabin kettles are regularly discussed on this forum & do not recall any being on Princess ships in the U.K. Other Princess ships that are homeported for the summer in the U.K. for British Isles cruises don’t add kettles. The Sapphire will only be in Europe for the summer before returning to Asia so I’m not confused as to why they are not adding kettles for a couple of months sailing from Southampton.

Edited May 3, 2018 by Astro Flyer

[dreaminofcruisin]

I also thought it an 'odd' review. As others have noted, we were on the Sapphire in Alaska years ago. The comments about the International Cafe and the cabins seemed strange too. I wonder if the reviewer has ever BEEN on any Grand Class ships? He goes on about the showers and the walk-in closets as though this was unique for the Sapphire.... He also makes it sound as though the International Cafe would be NEW to the Brits----like they haven't had other Princess ships sail from there before?

 

Quite a strange review..... :rolleyes:

[Thrak]

I thought this line was weird: Anyone familiar with the "Grand Class" of ships used by most Carnival brands will be familiar with this ship's basic layout.

 

I wasn't aware that the "Grand Class" was used by most Carnival brands. Am I missing something here? Admittedly we have only sailed with Princess but I didn't think the other lines under the Carnival Corp. umbrella incorporated the "Grand Class" of ships. Please correct me if I'm wrong as, like I said, we have only sailed with Princess.

[moki'smommy]

This reads like a typical "professional" review--LOTS of errors.

[Sea Hag]

I thought this line was weird: Anyone familiar with the "Grand Class" of ships used by most Carnival brands will be familiar with this ship's basic layout.

 

I wasn't aware that the "Grand Class" was used by most Carnival brands. Am I missing something here? Admittedly we have only sailed with Princess but I didn't think the other lines under the Carnival Corp. umbrella incorporated the "Grand Class" of ships. Please correct me if I'm wrong as, like I said, we have only sailed with Princess.

I don't think you're wrong. I love looking at deckplans for ships I might sail on AND ships I'll probably never sail on. Never seen a Grand Class type ship anywhere other than Princess.

[Micahs Grandad]

I don't think you're wrong. I love looking at deckplans for ships I might sail on AND ships I'll probably never sail on. Never seen a Grand Class type ship anywhere other than Princess.

 

Layout is not on any CCL ships

[Coral]

I don't think you're wrong. I love looking at deckplans for ships I might sail on AND ships I'll probably never sail on. Never seen a Grand Class type ship anywhere other than Princess.

 

and P&O.

[Thrak]

I don't think you're wrong. I love looking at deckplans for ships I might sail on AND ships I'll probably never sail on. Never seen a Grand Class type ship anywhere other than Princess.

 

Thanks. That's what I thought. Definitely an extremely odd review.

[Smokeyham]

This is an odd review. We had a lovely cruise to Alaska in 2012 and were saddened when she moved to Asia.

 

I do agree that not having a kettle in the room is something which will be noted by the British market. It is a common feature in British hotel rooms.

[idahospud]

We sailed both to Alaska, too. I looked on my cruise history to double check. I sailed on the Diamond to Alaska in 2004 and 2009. I sailed Sapphire to Alaska in 2005 and did two California coastals on her in May 2014. If I remember right the coastals were her last US sailings before leaving. The casino was being switched out and shops were being redone on our sailing.

[riclop]

Thanks for the report.

[minikiss]

The reference to the kettles is referring to other ship brands not Princess ships.

All P&O ships have kettles.

RCCL when sailing out of the UK install kettles and remove them once they have repositioned.

MSC also have kettles for UK sailing as it's one of their selling points to us Brits.

Not sure of NCL......

 

Have to say it will be missed in our cabin this year, having to get up and fetch our morning brew or wait for it to be delivered is just not the same.

 

Jules

[txjim09]

I'm puzzled by the "Square" cabin design comment. Like others here, I was on this ship for an Alaska cruise and don't remember the cabin being different from the Grand (the Princess ship we sailed prior to this cruise.) I just looked up the floor plan to confirm my memories and can't seem to spot any square cabins (except for some of the suites.)

[susancruzs]

Strange article, writer did not do his homework. I always smile at the kettle comments! :) Looking forward to my 2019 cruise on the Sapphire!

[IECalCruiser]

I'm puzzled by the "Square" cabin design comment. Like others here, I was on this ship for an Alaska cruise and don't remember the cabin being different from the Grand (the Princess ship we sailed prior to this cruise.) I just looked up the floor plan to confirm my memories and can't seem to spot any square cabins (except for some of the suites.)

We have sailed on the Sapphire and the cabin layout is essentially the same as other Grand Class ships. Too bad there are many inaccuracies.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

[DrivesLikeMario]

Speaking of the Sapphire, the author says, "it has spent its entire life -- 14 years -- based in Singapore".

 

I was on the ship in Sept. of 2011 doing a cruise from YVR to LAX. That's just 7 years ago so I'm confused by this statement.

[helencruising]

I’m so happy I had the pleasure of sailing the Sapphire several times to Mexico. She is a great ship. :):):)

[Thrak]

I’m so happy I had the pleasure of sailing the Sapphire several times to Mexico. She is a great ship. :):):)

 

We have never sailed on Sapphire but are booked for the 12 day Search for the Northern Lights cruise out of Southampton next October. We've never sailed a cruise that didn't depart from a US port - and only one that didn't sail from the west coast - so this will be a new experience for us. The Northern Lights are a bit of a bucket list thing for me so I'm really looking forward to this cruise and sailing on Sapphire.

[downsmead]

Thrak; keeping fingers crossed that you get to see the Northern lights 🤞

We are on the Sapphire in October

[Belmont Babe]

Re the kettles, I'm quite sure I have read in reviews that the Diamond and the Sapphire have kettles when cruising from and around Japan, as it is very much expected by the Japanese passengers.

[Micahs Grandad]

We have never sailed on Sapphire but are booked for the 12 day Search for the Northern Lights cruise out of Southampton next October. We've never sailed a cruise that didn't depart from a US port - and only one that didn't sail from the west coast - so this will be a new experience for us. The Northern Lights are a bit of a bucket list thing for me so I'm really looking forward to this cruise and sailing on Sapphire.

 

Hope they have some sort of a system that will let you know if they are visable during the night. Apparently some ships do and some do not.