"Live" Sapphire Princess, 32 Days, Buenos Aires to LA, 3/5/23 to 4/6/23

[LACruiser88]

[kiwimum]

We had a great time during the Coquimbo port stop in December.  Visited the Elqui Valley stopping a wineries, Pisco distillery and Observatories.   The valley has been labeled the astronomical capital of the world.  

[azbirdmom]

1 hour ago, kiwimum said:

We had a great time during the Coquimbo port stop in December.  Visited the Elqui Valley stopping a wineries, Pisco distillery and Observatories.   The valley has been labeled the astronomical capital of the world.  

 

We did the same 10 years ago and enjoyed it.  But agree that the area around the ship leaves a lot to be desired.

[LACruiser88]

Finally, back in my Happy Place!

 

 

Our sea day home for the next couple of weeks.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[LACruiser88]

We are at sea today, just conducted internet speed test.

[Jevsy]

5 hours ago, LACruiser88 said:

Finally, back in my Happy Place!

 

 

Our sea day home for the next couple of weeks.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How much is the Retreat per day please? Normally see it only available for the whole cruise on our previous cruises with other lines. 

[LACruiser88]

6 minutes ago, Jevsy said:

 

How much is the Retreat per day please? Normally see it only available for the whole cruise on our previous cruises with other lines. 

 

The Sanctuary is $20 pp for a half day or $40 pp for the full day.  If you book it for your entire cruise it is $30 pp per day.

 

We normally do not book it for the entire cruise because we frequently do not use it on port days.

 

[LACruiser88]

27 minutes ago, Jevsy said:

 

How much is the Retreat per day please? Normally see it only available for the whole cruise on our previous cruises with other lines. 

Here are the Sanctuary menus.  At 3:30 pm they provide tea time with finger sandwiches, pastries, warm scones with clotted cream and jam. 

 

Throughout the day they provide citrus or cucumber water, cold and hot towels.  Very attentive service!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited March 21, 2023 by LACruiser88

[LACruiser88]

 

 

 

[LACruiser88]

Look what we found on our bed tonight!  We now have a penguin, a pair of swans and an elephant.  What will be next?

[loge23]

On 3/20/2023 at 1:04 PM, LACruiser88 said:

We have a great window table in the Savoy MDR.  The menu is the same in all of the MDR's and we have a great team of waiters taking care of us.  No reason to try different MDR's.

You get what you give!

Bon appetite!

Did Danny jump ship?

Edited March 22, 2023 by loge23
na

[LACruiser88]

27 minutes ago, loge23 said:

You get what you give!

Bon appetite!

Did Danny jump ship?

Yes, unfortunately Danny flew home from Santiago.  He tried to extend since his girlfriend lives in San Pedro, but they wouldn't change the incoming guitarist/singer's arrival.

[Mexicotina]

FYI…NONE a of the jacuzzis onboard are heated. We supposed to be repaired on March 15th. Now they are saying March 24th. Very disappointing. To be continued, I’ll keep you posted.

[LACruiser88]

Our Bento Box Veggie Burger lunch at the Sanctuary today.  Delicious!

 

 

We were the only ones in the Sanctuary for the morning session.  They have 10+ reservations for the afternoon session.  Very unlike other itineraries where lounges are hard to reserve!

 

[LACruiser88]

Our favorite time of day, Tea Time!

 

[Steelers36]

On 3/20/2023 at 2:06 PM, LACruiser88 said:

I have to call it like I see it.  Today's port of Coquimbo and sister city La Serena, makes you wonder who's cousin got an envelope stuffed with cash for making the ship stop here!

 

This was truly a port worth missing.

Wow.  Interesting take and I won't disagree based on what you did.  We did a private tour into Elqui Valley during our stop there 5 years ago and it was a highlight of our S.A. cruise.

[suekel]

We're having a lovely time.  So tired after our land tour we didn't get off in Coquimbo. Dinner the first night at Sterlings.  Same menu as the Crown Grill.  Very good.  Breakfast in Sabatinis which is also very good.  Got some pool time,  did some gambling, took some naps. I love ordering my 3 pm flat white everyday.  When one is in a suite,  room service gets here fast! Tonight we're meeting an internet friend in the elite lounge then doing Alfredo's as the MDR menu doesn't excite me. Tomorrow we get off the ship to get on a boat and sail to an island to see wild life.  Hoping for lots of sun.  

[suekel]

A few more thoughts.  The Sapphire,  at least this sailing is very old school.  Elite amenities,  everyone dresses for dinner..no jeans,  t-shirts or ball caps sighted, tuxes on formal nights for some and the old menus. My favorite thing? When I order a drink with lemon, I actually get lemon.

[LACruiser88]

Error

Edited March 22, 2023 by LACruiser88

[LACruiser88]

[LACruiser88]

Tonight we received our invitation to the MTG Luncheon.  The cut-off for this cruise was 440 sea days.

 

[suekel]

7 hours ago, LACruiser88 said:

Tonight we received our invitation to the MTG Luncheon.  The cut-off for this cruise was 440 sea days.

 

Dang.. missed it by 151 days

[LACruiser88]

This morning we are docked in San Martín, Peru, on the Paracas Peninsula surrounded by desert dunes.  This is the port for visiting Pisco. 

 

Princess is providing a free shuttle to the town of Paracas, about 20 minutes away.  Pisco is another 30 minutes away from Paracas.

 

We are planning on taking the shuttle to Paracas and then hiring a taxi to visit Pisco.

 

This is also the starting point for passengers doing the Macchu Pichu excursion from the ship.  They will return in 3 days when we are in Lima.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited March 23, 2023 by LACruiser88

[Happiest when cruising]

12 hours ago, LACruiser88 said:

Tonight we received our invitation to the MTG Luncheon.  The cut-off for this cruise was 440 sea days.

 

Not that I will ever get there, but how do you know the cut off number?
I don’t see it on the invitation. 

[Darkingnj]

5 hours ago, LACruiser88 said:

This morning we are docked in San Martín, Peru, on the Paracas Peninsula surrounded by desert dunes.  This is the port for visiting Pisco. 

 

Princess is providing a free shuttle to the town of Paracas, about 20 minutes away.  Pisco is another 30 minutes away from Paracas.

 

We are planning on taking the shuttle to Paracas and then hiring a taxi to visit Pisco.

 

This is also the starting point for passengers doing the Macchu Pichu excursion from the ship.  They will return in 3 days when we are in Lima.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for taking us along.  Those windmill blades are huge.