Information from anyone onboard Sapphire Princess in Antarctica

[Old Sea Dog]

I’m interested in how passengers are experiencing this white continent sailing on a large vessel 

what did the ship put on for Christmas and what’s planned for New Year ?

has the food and entertainment been of a good standard ?

we are considering this for 2024

Thankyou for your time in responding 

[Cruise Raider]

I can answer your first question from @HaveDogWillTravel, a friend of mine that is currently  onboard. 
She love heavy seas, so rough means something completely different for her than it does for me.  

She did give me permission to post the following info and photos:

 

Amazing day. Had 6 hours of scenic cruising at elephant island. Penguins, snow 
Petrels , whales, icebergs, glaciers. Seas were like a moderate potato patch all night to get here. Then nice and mellow for scenic sailing. I’ll try and send pics. We are heading to see that new iceberg. The largest in the world.  
 

She also noted it is quite chilly!  

She hasn’t had any issues with the internet sending texts or photos.  

[Old Sea Dog]

Thank you so much,I look forward to any further updates 

we have been twice before on Crystal Symphony and as this is a much larger ship we are curious as to how Princess delivers in this striking environment 

2024 has a special occasion and I wanted one more experience of this magical place

We are elite members 

 

[erber]

We did a South America/ Antarctica cruise on the Coral Princess starting in mid Dec 2019 and ending the first week in January 2020. Yep. Just in the nick of time before covid. It was an amazing experience. I did a Live-ish review with photos etc on cruise critic boards. There were many very interesting presentations on the history and expeditions in this region. As well, there were all the typical Princess Christmas festivities and even a midnight buffet on New Year's Eve that was fantastic. We sailed from Buenos Aires to Chile with 4 days in the Antarctic region. We had a balcony cabin, but also spent a lot of time on deck. While there are no landings in the Antarctic peninsula on this type of cruise, it was spectacular.

[Ken the cruiser]

FWIW we will be on the Sapphire for 30-days on a B2B starting Jan 20 and will be posting to a Live From thread.

[HaveDogWillTravel]

On 12/27/2023 at 1:01 PM, Old Sea Dog said:

I’m interested in how passengers are experiencing this white continent sailing on a large vessel 

what did the ship put on for Christmas and what’s planned for New Year ?

has the food and entertainment been of a good standard ?

we are considering this for 2024

Thankyou for your time in responding 

We just finished our 3rd day in Antarctica, a long day of scenic cruising in Charlotte bay, Wilhelmina bay and Neumayer channel 5 am to 7:30 pm with short periods of transition allowing for naps and eating. 
I have been able to text all along but photos stopped sending after our first day at elephant island. I probably could have tried reducing their size.  
Thank you @CruiseRaider for posting my pics and comments. 
 

To specifically answer your questions 

Christmas had a big ginger house display in piazza, lots of caroling and Christmas songs/music.  The Christmas dinner was excellent it was called Around the World and had many great choices. I didn’t take pictures of the menu. 
 

idk what’s planned for new years and I’m the wrong person to ask about entertainment. We haven’t gone to a single activity or show. The enrichment lectures have been excellent and all of those are on the TV so no need to go to the theater. I’ve learned from personal experience that to stay healthy on these long sailings (34 days for me and 16 for Adam) it’s best to avoid crowded spaces. We are here for the ports and the scenery.  
 

We have gone to MDR most days for lunch and every night except one for dinner. By the time you board there could be entirely different crew and food/wine supplies so take all of my impressions knowing that your experience could be wildly different. 
 

The tables in International ding room (lunch) and Pacific Moon have been well spaced. I am very pleased by how spread out they are. The restaurant managers we had Marius, Vitor and Borys have been fantastic as well as our server Arpan.
 

The new lunch menu was nice at first but after a while having only 3 (maybe 4) new items to choose from is boring. For shorter sailings it would be fine. 
 

The dinner menus have been fine, some better than others but always something good to have. Overall we’ve been happy with the MDR dinners.  
 

Here’s some additional information some may find useful.

 

We did the west to east route.  While the best side is outside on any scenic sailing, our starboard side emerald deck fully covered mini had by far the best views during our Antarctica scenic cruising days. Sapphire has a plethora of outdoor public spaces from the extra wide full promenade deck to the upper decks. The top of the bridge has also been open. After getting around all those spaces we’ve been able enjoy the views from our room. We also have an emerald deck aft facing balcony and it has not had the best views most of the time. Although it is a tad warmer. 
 

Speaking of cold…I’ve been to Alaska 8 times….out of SF, Seattle, & Vancouver…Voyage of the Glaciers 3 times.. all except once in April or May. This past April (on this ship) I was at Hubbard when it was snowing on us.  I grew up in NY skiing upstate every winter.  I know cold.

 

None of the following matters if you don’t plan on staying outside.  But the scenery is beyond gorgeous.  It is very different than Alaska.  I thought this would be a one and done but it is clearly not. 
 

The temps aren’t too bad 28-32 degrees F but it’s that 30-40 knot winds that just cuts right thru you. We came well prepared and have been fine. We have parkas (the one that I wore at Hubbard with just a shirt under it) that we layer over heavy sweaters and long sleeve shirts, I have a warm head band under my hat, Adam just wears a wool hat but we both will pull the parkas hood over it and zip up to our noses to protect our chins. Basically just our noses and tops of our cheeks sticking out. I found that any exposed skin would get red and feel burnt from wind and the hole in the ozone layer allowing so much UV. N95 mask helped and eye protection is a must. Of course there are a lot of folks who wear less but then they have to not stay out for more than a few minutes. 

Sunscreen and protective sunglasses are essential against the UV and glare from the arctic snow.

We have two layers of pants on and heavy mittens where the top flips down so we can operate camera and binocs.  
 

Good binoculars are required to really see the wildlife. And boy is there wildlife. The birding has been stunning, penguins on land, iceburgs and porpoising in the water and so many whales we don’t even get excited anymore. I got a video of a Humpback lifting full body out of the water flipping on its back and splashing back into the ocean……right next to the ship by my balcony. 

[HaveDogWillTravel]

I have to amend my statement regarding entertainment. I’ve watched the Diamond Strings Duo twice. And I plan on seeing them again tonight. They are an exceptionally talented pair of violinists. When they play Explorers they play rock. Think Led Zepplan and others.  

[Old Sea Dog]

29 minutes ago, HaveDogWillTravel said:

I have to amend my statement regarding entertainment. I’ve watched the Diamond Strings Duo twice. And I plan on seeing them again tonight. They are an exceptionally talented pair of violinists. When they play Explorers they play rock. Think Led Zepplan and others.  

Thank you so much for your time in responding to my enquiry. My wife and I are really appreciative of your reporting.

I look forward to any further updates especially in regard to your call at Stanley hopefully!!

Wishing you Very Happy New Year 

 

[Cruise Raider]

@HaveDogWillTravel .. great review, as always.  
I’ve heard the Diamond Strings Duo, as well and agree.  They are so very talented and their range of music isn’t what I would expect from violinists.  

Seeing the whale breaching right off the side of the ship must have been phenomenal.  Wow!  What a treat!  

[HaveDogWillTravel]

I will post the patters so the OP and others can see what entertainment has been offered once we get better internet. It’s truly amazing that it’s working as well as it is. 

There are a group of very serious birders and wildlife photographers onboard. They stay at the bow weather permitting and are mostly very friendly and helpful in finding and identifying the birds and sea life. 
 

I’m going to try and post a couple of photos. 

[HaveDogWillTravel]

[HaveDogWillTravel]

[HaveDogWillTravel]

[HaveDogWillTravel]

Snow shoes optional 

 

[Ken the cruiser]

Beautiful pictures and being able to take a video of that breaching Humpback whale must have been an awesome experience! So glad to hear you are having a great time and that the internet is working for the most as you cruise around the Peninsula!

[EDVM96]

4 hours ago, HaveDogWillTravel said:

We just finished our 3rd day in Antarctica 

Is Todd McBain the Captain? He made the Antarctica sailings last year on the Sapphire.

[GidgetWidget]

Thank you for responding on this thread.  We are so excited to start our adventure next week!

[HaveDogWillTravel]

On 12/29/2023 at 12:20 PM, EDVM96 said:

Is Todd McBain the Captain? He made the Antarctica sailings last year on the Sapphire.

No but captain Paolo Ravera is doing an excellent job. After Ushuaia had to cancelled due to weather he took us to see iceburg A23a. Then skirted us expertly thru Drakes passage ahead of inclement weather. 
We had 4 gorgeous scenic viewing days with mostly sunny or partly cloudy skies. Coming back north he again got us thru drakes passage with minimal seas by sailing between two fronts. 
 

He’s been great with his details at the noon announcement and others as needed. 

[HaveDogWillTravel]

Here are the patters. I’ll put up one day at a time. 

[HaveDogWillTravel]

[HaveDogWillTravel]

[HaveDogWillTravel]

If you read the blue boxes of info front and back you will see that all guests who wish to smoke are invited to use either Churchill or the casino. No gambling required. 

[HaveDogWillTravel]

[HaveDogWillTravel]

[HaveDogWillTravel]