Sapphire AK first timers

[Staying Focused]

DH surprised me today with a June 2025 AK cruise on Sapphire!!  We've only been on two other cruises before and neither were Princess.  I was surprised that we would be assigned cabin at check in as choosing ahead of time added $700/pp!!  We are booked though for mini suite with balcony so fingers crossed there's no bad locations.  I'm excited to search the forum for the helpful hints for both AK and Sapphire!  

[startedwithamouse]

1 hour ago, Staying Focused said:

DH surprised me today with a June 2025 AK cruise on Sapphire!!  We've only been on two other cruises before and neither were Princess.  I was surprised that we would be assigned cabin at check in as choosing ahead of time added $700/pp!!  We are booked though for mini suite with balcony so fingers crossed there's no bad locations.  I'm excited to search the forum for the helpful hints for both AK and Sapphire!  

Best crew in the fleet. 

[Coral]

Great ship for Alaska.

[wallyj]

@Staying Focused, sounds like you booked a ‘guarantee’ , which can be assigned at any time up till sailing, you MAY get an assignment well before checking in at the pier/port. The longest I have had to wait was 3 days before sailing before I found out my cabin assignment.

 

Keep an eye on fares as you should be able to take advantage of fare drops for an assigned cabin before final payment.

[latebloomer56]

12 hours ago, Staying Focused said:

DH surprised me today with a June 2025 AK cruise on Sapphire!!  We've only been on two other cruises before and neither were Princess.  I was surprised that we would be assigned cabin at check in as choosing ahead of time added $700/pp!!  We are booked though for mini suite with balcony so fingers crossed there's no bad locations.  I'm excited to search the forum for the helpful hints for both AK and Sapphire!  

We love mini suites, have had one on all three Alaska cruises, and the Sapphire crew was absolutely wonderful in 2022 Hawaii cruise.

Have a fantastic cruise and let us know all about it.

[Leo37]

What a fantastic gift from your DH! We cruised with Princess in Alaska back in 2019 and had a great time. Enjoy!

[Torfamm]

Have a wonderful time!

[VaCruzers]

We sailed AK May 2023 on Sapphire in an aft facing balcony - the only cabin type I would have for that itinerary. The Sapphire was wonderful! Enjoy the planning and have a great trip!

[NWA395]

We had a mini suite on our first AK cruise on the Sapphire.  No regrets at all.

[opshannon]

We just got off a 14 day Alaska on Sapphire. Perfect ship for that itinerary. Wonderful crew. Wonderful cruise. If you have questions, I may have answers. We did NOT have a balcony cabin and have ZERO regrets about it. 

[Luv2cruz1000]

8 hours ago, opshannon said:

We just got off a 14 day Alaska on Sapphire. Perfect ship for that itinerary. Wonderful crew. Wonderful cruise. If you have questions, I may have answers. We did NOT have a balcony cabin and have ZERO regrets about it. 

Where is the best quiet spots on the ship?

[opshannon]

17 hours ago, Luv2cruz1000 said:

Where is the best quiet spots on the ship?

We always found loungers on the Promenade deck. Even on the pool deck, because they rarely played things on the big screen, there was a clamness unlike what you find there in the Caribbean. I suppose, though, on a warm run through Alaska, that area could be more filled up. Skywalkers was generally okay in the day time, but when kids started playing basketball, it was time to leave.

 

[Coral]

17 minutes ago, opshannon said:

We always found loungers on the Promenade deck. Even on the pool deck, because they rarely played things on the big screen, there was a clamness unlike what you find there in the Caribbean. I suppose, though, on a warm run through Alaska, that area could be more filled up. Skywalkers was generally okay in the day time, but when kids started playing basketball, it was time to leave.

 

The loungers on Promenade deck are so comfortable. Great view!

[tunisbridal]

On 6/29/2024 at 10:18 PM, Luv2cruz1000 said:

Where is the best quiet spots on the ship?

When can you reserve dining and what are options.  Also when would checkin times be available.  I’m a royal Caribbean cruiser

[Staying Focused]

From researching it sounds like we might end up on Dolphin deck since we have a mini suite.  I don't know how I feel about an uncovered balcony....do you feel like you're being watched all the time from people above???

[Coral]

40 minutes ago, Staying Focused said:

From researching it sounds like we might end up on Dolphin deck since we have a mini suite.  I don't know how I feel about an uncovered balcony....do you feel like you're being watched all the time from people above???

There are a few mini suites on Emerald deck that have covered balconies. They are great - I especially like E731. If you can grab one of those you will not regret it. I believe they are AD categories.

Edited August 31 by Coral

[Staying Focused]

Our category is ME and is a guarantee (unassigned) cabin 

[memoak]

45 minutes ago, Staying Focused said:

From researching it sounds like we might end up on Dolphin deck since we have a mini suite.  I don't know how I feel about an uncovered balcony....do you feel like you're being watched all the time from people above???

I have never worried about people looking down on me from above unless I was undressed or doing something I shouldn’t be. Remember on any balcony there are cameras that can see you as well

[XBGuy]

You're going to have a great cruise,  Bon Voyage.

 

Our first Princess cruise in 2011 was on the Sapphire Princess.  It turned us into Princess cheerleaders.  That cruise was to Hawaii and, in fact, is our only experience with the Sapphire Princess.  We have taken multiple AK cruises on multiple Princess ships.  The worst one was wonderful.  For an Alaska cruise, the destination is the important factor, not the ship.  (I'm pretty sure that will rile some Cruise Critics.)

 

We have traveled in cabins that have covered balconies and (more often) in cabins that have uncovered balconies.  It wasn't until I joined Cruise Critic that it occurred to me that our balcony might be visible from above and that bothers some people.  Mrs. XBGuy spends hours on our balcony.  She may be completely bundled up in Alaska, but that is what she wants to do.  We often cruise is forward cabins and get a kick out of waving to the bridge personnel from our balcony.  I once took the Ultimate Ship's Tour (not offered anymore) on one of the sea days of an Alaska cruise.  The last stop of the tour was the bridge, and I was able to wave to her from there.

[Auntiejo]

Just cruised the Sapphire to Alaska in June NB Vancouver to Whittier. We had a mini suite and the large balcony was glorious. She’s the perfect ship for Alaska. The food and crew were fantastic.  You’re going to have an amazing time!