Last Updated on 11/08/24 by Rose Palmer
Towering icebergs floating in a pristine sea. Spouting whales and penguins lazing on the snow. Unending shades of white from one horizon to the other. These were the images of Antarctica that I dreamed of seeing.
My milestone birthday came and went, and I was not able to celebrate with a long planned trip to the white continent. Still, every birthday is special, so when it came around again this year, I finally treated myself to a cruise on the Sapphire Princess that went around South America and also included 4 days of scenic cruising in Antarctica.
I have wanted to see Antarctica for a long time and have studied the various cruise options. I knew I wanted to get there in comfort and at a reasonable cost. I like cruising with Princess so when I saw an itinerary that included stops in the Patagonia region along with scenic cruising in Antarctica, I was sold!
The fact that the cruise coincided with my birthday was an added bonus.
My Sapphire Princess review
Why did I chose the Sapphire Princess cruise to visit Antarctica?
There are many different ways to experience Antarctica and each person has different priorities. While it would have been nice to set foot on the continent and to have a longer visit, I was also looking for a comfortable and budget friendly option to see this part of the world, especially as a solo cruiser.
I was able to get a good last minute deal for solo travel which made the cruise relatively affordable (not in the tens of thousands of dollars). Also, since I was flying into and out of major South American cities (Santiago, Chile and Buenos Aires, Argentina) it meant that I had flight choices with reasonably priced airfare. As a bonus, the itinerary also provided for additional sightseeing opportunities. An all around win-win in my book.
What I loved about this Princess cruise to Antarctica
It goes without saying that the scenery in Antarctica was spectacular and unforgettable. And taking a Princess cruise to see it made it really easy. I have a separate post dedicated to the Antarctica portion of the cruise, What Is a Princess Cruise to Antarctica Really Like?
It almost felt like the Sapphire Princess was designed with this cruise in mind. Having a glass covered conservatory meant that I could enjoy a dip in a pool or hot tub in the colder environment (which is also ideal for the Alaska cruises that the Sapphire does). Even if I didn’t want to swim, this space provided a warmer and sunny spot to lounge regardless of the temperatures outside.
There were also a lot of public outdoor deck spaces all around the ship. As a result, even with 2100 people on board there was plenty of space for everyone that wanted to have a spot at a railing for views or photos.
There were also a lot of public indoor spaces, and I had no trouble finding a quiet corner to myself when I wanted one, even on the many sea days. The seats in the internet café were hardly ever used and the library was often empty.
My favorite retreat spot was the back corner table by the window in Vines (don’t tell anyone). I could look out the window at the wild waves while typing on this blog.
I also loved the traditional wide promenade deck. It was wide enough to hold a lounge chair and still had plenty of room for walking or jogging around the deck. And since it was covered, it was a good spot to see the scenery during rainy/snowy periods.
As with every cruise, I always appreciate being waited on and all of the Princess personnel did a fantastic job with that. From my room steward to the waiters and waitresses to the attendants on deck, service was always given with a smile. It was no surprise that the Sapphire Princess was voted to have the friendliest crew in the fleet.
By the end of a cruise, I am always quite spoiled, and it’s hard to go back home and have to make my own bed, clean my own room, and cook my own dinner. Sigh!
Another feature that was special to this sailing were the six destinations experts that we had on board for the full length of the cruise. During sea days there were always two or three lectures to attend.
If I missed a presentation or just wanted to get the information again, the lectures were taped and were available to watch on the cabin TV. The topics covered were diverse, informative, and well presented.
While we cruised through Antarctica, we also had a lot of commentary over the ship intercom by all of our experts. They told us the names and history of the locations we were passing through and pointed out whale, seal, and penguin sightings.
Most importantly, I felt very safe at all times. The waters that we sailed through can be some of the most rough and dangerous on the planet and just from the short amount of time I was there, it was clear that the weather was also volatile and variable.
The captain and bridge crew adjusted the schedule based on sailing conditions, always keeping safety at the forefront. I really appreciated the captain’s full transparency, always letting us know what was happening next and why the schedule was changing, yet still giving us the best experience possible while maintaining the overall schedule.
I booked this cruise with the standard fare package because I don’t drink a lot of alcohol. For each Princess cruise I book, I evaluate what type of fare package makes the most sense for me. I wrote all about it in my post Princess Cruise Drinks Packages and Fare Packages – Which Is Best?
Sapphire Princess ocean view cabin review
I booked this cruise last minute and did not have very many cabin options available to me. While I like having a balcony, I knew that with the cold weather and the potential for rough seas, I would not use a balcony very much, so I happily chose one of the less expensive ocean view cabins on deck 8 and I was happy with my decision.
At roughly 150 square feet, the cabin was plenty roomy for one person. I had a queen bed configuration with Princess’ signature high end bedding. With crispy white sheets, fluffy pillows, a warm duvet, and the gentle rocking of the ship, I slept very well every night, as I always do on a Princess cruise.
On either side of the bed there was a nightstand with two drawers and a lamp that also had a USB port which made it convenient to charge my phone and camera batteries. Note that these were the only two USB ports in the cabin.
The cabin also had a desk area with three more drawers, three small open shelves, and an under counter fridge. Above the desk was a large flat screen TV.
The closet space was very roomy and came with plenty of hanging space and 30 hangers, as well as a large floor to ceiling cabinet with shelving, a safe, and a full length mirror. This was also where the life preservers were kept.
The bathroom wasn’t large but was certainly spacious enough for one person. The shower provided large bottles of shampoo and body gel. Around the single sink there were three shelves to store my personal toiletries and a long shelf under the sink. There were also large bottles of hand soap and lotion from the Lotus spa by the sink.
As with many older ships, I don’t think the cabin had enough outlets. Besides the USB ports by the bed, there were only two American style outlets by the desk. There was one outlet in the bathroom that could take a US or a European plug.
For just one person, these outlets were sufficient, but I think that with two people in the room, this will not be enough to charge all the electronic devices that we all travel with these days. I suggest bringing a multi port power strip.
Travel Tip – Note that you can bring a multi port power strip on board like the one in the picture below, but you are not allowed to bring a surge protector.
The Sapphire Princess ship details
The Sapphire is one of Princess’ smaller and older ships, but she is large enough to provide a lot of amenities. And she has been lovingly maintained.
The stats:
- Grand Class
- Year inaugurated – 2004
- Last refurbished –2018
- Last dry dock – April 2023
- Maximum number of passengers –2670
- Maximum number of crew -1100
This is a list of all the public spaces on the Sapphire Princess with lots of photos that provide a good sense of the space and design details. My cruise was almost full with about 2100 passengers on board, but somehow it never felt crowded. I was always able to find spots to enjoy peace and quiet or to watch the scenery.
Deck 4 – Gala
Medical Center – If I need medical help, this is the spot to go to. Note that charges for any medical services provided on board will need to be paid before disembarking the ship. A detailed statement of services and the associated charges can then be submitted to insurance.
Water Shuttle embarkation – in ports where the ship cannot dock, ship’s water shuttles will transport passengers to and from the ship (this is referred to as tendering). This location is also often used for disembarkation and embarkation when docked.
Deck 5 – Plaza
The Piazza –The Piazza is the beautiful, airy, three story beating heart of the ship. The design details had an Art Deco feel with different marble mosaics, gleaming fawn colored wood accents, and an interesting industrial chic architectural detail which decorated the main elevator shafts. Gently curving staircases went from deck 5 up to decks 6 and 7.
The Piazza had a variety of activities and musical presentations throughout the day. This was also where the champagne fountain was held on the first formal night.
Surrounding the Piazza are:
The International Café – one of my favorite spots for food on a Princess ship. I love their almond croissants and the little dessert offerings. There were also soups, sandwiches and salads, and since it was open all day and night, it was the spot for satisfying those late night cravings. I could also get a variety of specialty coffees here for an extra charge.
Good Spirits at Sea – lobby bar where I got signature specialty drinks like the dirty banana (a Princess cruise favorite) and a variety of craft cocktails.
Vines Wine Bar – quiet setting with views of the ocean where I could try some of the fine wines available on board. I liked the cozy atmosphere and it was my favorite spot to sit and look out the window at the waves.
This was also one of the casual dining spots on the Sapphire where I could get a charcuterie board to accompany my wine and where the pop up Ocean Terrace sushi menu was offered (extra fees applied without a package).
Alfredo’s Pizzeria – this was an intimate space where I had fresh, made to order, yummy, pizzas and other Italian style dishes. Extra fees applied without one of the Princess packages.
Savoy Dining Room – Dark wood and traditional details decorated this classy looking dining room which was only open for dinner. It was in this dining room that I enjoyed the Chef’s Table experience.
The Savoy dining room offered reservable dining times. I could make reservations on the Princess app in 20 minute increments starting at 5 PM.
Vivaldi Dining Room – As the name implies the décor here was Italian all the way. This dining venue was also only open for dinner.
The Vivaldi dining room also provided reservable dining times. I could make reservations on the Princess app in 20 minute increments starting at 5 PM.
Fine Arts Gallery – Showing new art for the art auctions at sea.
Deck 6 – Fiesta
Public spaces forward to midship:
Princess Theater lower level – Some of the enrichment lectures were given here along with the evening entertainment and production shows.
Churchill’s Cigar Lounge – cozy, closed door escape for anyone that smokes.
The Library– this was an intimate space with comfy chairs, windows, board games, puzzles, books on the shelf to borrow, and daily Sudoku challenges.
Future Cruise Planning and Captain’s Circle– desks for these services were located in the library. This was where I put down my future cruise deposit for my next Princess cruise
Shore Excursion desk – across the hall from the library was the office to book or make changes to shore excursions.
Grand Casino and bar – lots of slot machine choices and gaming tables for those interested in gambling. Note that smoking was permitted here.
Guest Services – a large, well staffed desk where I could get any cruise issues addressed. I found the staff to be quite patient, professional, and genial.
Shops of Princess – good for browsing when I was bored.
Pacific Moon Dining Room – Asian details inspired the mood in this dining room which was open for afternoon tea on sea days along with dinner every evening.
The Pacific Moon dining room offered walk in anytime dining. No reservations were necessary. I ate here frequently and the wait was never very long.
Santa Fe Dining Room – this dining room with American Southwest themed décor was only open for dinner. This is also where Reserve class dining was offered to suite guests and guests who booked Reserve class mini suites.
The Santa Fe dining room offered walk in anytime dining for non-Reserve guests. No reservations were needed.
Aft:
International Dining room – This large dining room could only be reached via the aft elevators or by using the aft stairs from deck 7. This was the dining room to go to if I wanted to be served breakfast and lunch. It was also open for dinner.
The International dining room was the location of choice for those that liked eating dinner at a set time every day, at the same table, and with the same wait staff. This traditional dining experience could be reserved on the Princess app for one of two seatings, either 5 PM or 7:30 PM.
Deck 7 – Promenade
Indoor public spaces moving forward to aft:
Princess Theater upper level – top level of the two story theater.
The Wheelhouse Bar – a big but cozy lounge space that had a pub feel, where I got a drink and watched musical performances. The house band played great jazz sets here. Some of the enrichment lectures were also presented here.
The Shops of Princess – More options for spending my money.
Crooners Bar – very intimate and popular area to sit and listen to piano player/singer. I always tried to grab a seat here early because they filled up quickly and people stayed a long time.
Explorers Lounge – another large lounge, decorated with exotic African themes. A variety of fun programs were offered here each day.
Internet café -this was the spot where I went to get all my internet and Medallion questions answered. It was a big, modern space with lots of seating and quiet corners that were usually not very busy.
Oceanfront- offering a variety of Medallion accessories for purchase.
Photo Gallery – the place to find and buy all those photos taken by the Princess photographers.
Sabatini’s Italian Trattoria – this specialty dining restaurant served up delicious Italian dishes. This was not a large restaurant so I made my reservations early. An extra charge applied without a package.
Club Fusion – another large entertainment venue where a varied selection of activities, lectures, and music was available throughout the day and into the night.
At the back and on the right hand side next to the stage in Club Fusion were a set of circular stairs that took me to the Wake View Bar on deck 6. This was the only access to this space. The bar here was not staffed but this was a very cozy and usually overlooked seating area.
Outside I also enjoyed the Promenade Deck that encircled the whole ship and was good for stretching my legs or just relaxing in the shade on a deck chair. The Promenade Deck was quite wide and had room for many deck chairs and plenty of space for walking or jogging. In the front, a set of stairs continued the promenade space up to deck 8.
The whole promenade deck area was a good spot for looking at the scenery and the front was not as windy as the front observation area on deck 15. It was also a good spot to catch the sun set.
Deck 12 – Aloha
Aft:
Terrace pool – Most of this deck was cabins except for the very back where there was a small outdoor pool surrounded by a deck and deck chairs.
Deck 14 – Lido
The front of this deck was cabins.
Public spaces from midship to aft were :
Prego Pizzeria – I love Princess’ Neapolitan pizza. They usually offered cheese, pepperoni, and a daily special pizza that I could get by the slice.
Mermaid’s Tail Bar– the spot to get sodas and drinks to go with that pizza or burger from next door.
Trident Grill – this was where I satisfied my fast food cravings with made to order burgers, sandwiches, hot dogs, tacos, and fries.
Neptune’s Reef and Pool – outdoor pool with two hot tubs and lots of deck space with loungers. Note that when we were cruising during high waves, this pool was closed off but the hot tubs were open.
Swirls ice cream – I could get vanilla or chocolate soft serve ice cream all day. This area was also where the fresh juice bar was located.
Calypso Reef and Pool and Bar – a large pool with two hot tubs and lots of lounge chairs in a glass covered conservatory. When it was cold and windy outside, this space was more temperate than the outdoor pool area. Note that when we were cruising during high waves, this pool was closed but the hot tubs were open.
Horizon Court and Café – the buffet restaurant that was open all day. There were two sides to the buffet with plenty of seating all around and lots of windows on both sides of the ship. I could also get self serve water, tea, coffee, and lemonade here.
Churrascaria – in the evenings, one side of the back of the Horizon court became a private Brazilian style steakhouse, another of the specialty restaurants on board. I needed to make reservations to eat here and paid an extra charge without a package.
I did not have a chance to try the Churrascaria on the Sapphire Princess, but I did try it on her sister ship, the Diamond Princess. For those that like meat, this meal was a carnivore’s delight, and everything I tried was delicious.
Horizon Terrace and Outriggers Bar – outdoor seating area outside the Horizons court buffet with a bar for drinks.
Deck 15 – Sun
In the front of the ship:
A walkway wrapped around the whole deck. In the front, sitting on top of the bridge, was a large open observation space that was accessed by a few stairs. This was a good spot for looking at the scenery but it was also very windy.
Fitness area – a large space that looked out over the water with plenty of equipment to work off those buffet calories.
Lotus Spa – the spa offered a varied menu of services and treatments. There were also steam and sauna rooms and a thermal suite, which I really enjoyed after being out in the cold all day.
Lotus Spa pool – this adult only pool and two hot tubs was open to everyone, not just those using the spa. Note that during my cruise this pool was closed but the hot tubs were open.
Midship:
Deck space with plenty of open railings to watch the scenery go by.
Tradewinds Bar -another bar option for drinks as I enjoyed the pool or watched a movie.
Movies Under the Stars – one of my favorite Princess cruising experiences. Concerts, sporting events, and movies were shown on a big outdoor screen throughout the day. It was like being at a drive-in theater, or maybe it should be called a cruise-in theater.
The Conservatory – the second level of the Calypso pool area had a wrap around balcony with plenty of lounge chairs.
Aft:
The Family Room, The Beach House Teen Lounge, The Lodge at Camp Discovery, The Treehouse at Camp Discovery, Outdoor Play area – a large space for young cruisers to hang out and take part in the youth programs.
Splash pool – another smaller, circular, outdoor pool with surrounding deck space.
Deck 16 – Sports
Forward:
The Sanctuary – this was a quiet, adults only space with views that looked out over the front of the ship. I could reserve a specific lounge chair for a fee for the whole day or a half day.
The Sanctuary offered its own menu for breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea, delivered to my lounge chair.
Aft:
More open deck area with two larger hot tubs. This was my go to spot for looking at and photographing the scenery because it was more protected and was not as windy as in the front of the ship.
Oasis Bar – another options for drinks.
Shuffle Board and Deck Chess -areas with two marked shuffleboard courts and a large chess board painted on the outside deck.
Access to Skywalker’s Nightclub – inside, an escalator located near the aft elevators took me to Skywalker’s Nightclub.
Deck 17 – Sky
Star Deck – a set of outside stairs from deck 16 took me to this higher, outdoor observation level.
Aft:
Skywalkers Nightclub – the escalator from deck 16 (next to the aft elevators) took me up here. During the day this was a great indoor spot for looking out the wrap around windows. There was a lot of seating here and it was never busy. At night the space became a nightclub with drinks and a DJ playing music.
Note that the escalator only went up to Skywalkers Nightclub. To get back down to the main elevators I could take a set of stairs or another elevator located by the bathrooms. I could also access Skywalkers via two sets of outdoor stairways from deck 16.
Center Court – a netted basketball court above Skywalkers that was accessible via outdoor stairs only. On my cruise, access to this area was closed off.
Laundromat
One of my favorite benefits on a Princess cruise were the laundry facilities that were available on the aft section of decks 8 to 12. This was especially helpful on a long cruise such as this one.
With my medallion I was able to purchase tokens from a vending machine in the laundry room that I could use in the washers or dryers. I brought my own detergent pods, but laundry soap was also available for purchase with the medallion.
The laundry room also had ironing boards and irons for guest’s use.
My Sapphire Princess itinerary for South America and Antarctica
What I learned on this cruise is that the itinerary for sailing in this part of the world was dictated by the weather and was fluid. Unlike expedition ships, the Sapphire Princess was not designed to handle close encounters with ice of any size.
And although it was a big ship and could easily handle 30 foot waves, for the comfort of the passengers, the captain tried to minimize this experience, unique as it may be.
Throughout the cruise, the captain stressed that he was making the necessary choices to keep the ship and everyone in it safe and the schedule was adjusted accordingly. Flexibility was key.
Day 1 – Planned – Board at Valparaiso, Chile and set sail by 6 PM.
Actual – Weather conditions postponed the start of boarding till 7 PM.
Note that my passport was collected and kept by the Princess staff at check in and was returned to me toward the end of the cruise.
Day 2 – Planned – At sea
Actual – Cruised to nearby San Antonio, Chile during the night and spent the day refueling and restocking the boat. We finally set sail around 6 PM.
Day 3 – At sea as planned.
Day 4 – At sea as planned. First formal night.
Day 5 – Planned – Dock at Punta Arenas from 7 AM to 6:30 PM
Actual – Because of the delay with embarkation, the day in Punta Arenas was cancelled. We had a lovely day of scenic cruising through the Straits of Magellan instead which I much preferred.
Day 6 – Planned – Dock in Ushuaia from 12 PM to 7:30 PM
Actual – to avoid the predicted high winds in Ushuaia, we arrived early, at 7 AM, and stayed till 7:30 PM.
Day 7 – Planned – Cape Horn
Actual – High winds prevented cruising around Cape Horn. Headed down the Drake Passage toward the Antarctic Peninsula.
Day 8 – 11
Scenic cruising in the Antarctica Peninsula. We had about two and a half days of decent weather that allowed for scenic cruising and one day of high winds and waves which precluded any scenic cruising.
In the interest of keeping this post a reasonable length, I describe our Antarctica cruise in a lot of detail in my post What Is A Princess Cruise to Antarctica Really Like?. Let’s just say that the scenery we did see was incredible.
The second formal night was on the evening of day 11.
Day 12 – At sea as planned.
Day 13 – In Port Stanley, Falkland Islands from 8AM to 6 PM as planned.
Day 14 – At sea as planned. Third formal night.
Day 15 – At sea as planned.
Day 16 – In Montevideo, Uruguay as planned from 8 AM to 4:30 PM
Day 17 – Dock at Buenos Aires, Argentina at 5 AM as planned and disembarked.
I describe my South America and Antarctica cruise in a lot of detail in my post What Is A Princess Cruise to Antarctica Really Like?
Sapphire Princess dining
I can honestly say that I had no trouble finding food on the Sapphire Princess that appealed to my pallet and that I found quite tasty.
I ate at each of the venues on the ship and besides finding good food I also experienced wonderful service. All of the wait staff I interacted with were attentive and eager to please and worked quite hard. Balancing a tray of drinks or plates as the ship was pitching back and forth through high waves took a lot of skill. I certainly could not do it.
My post Fine Dining in Antarctica – My Sapphire Princess Dining Experiences Including the Chef’s Table has all the details.
Additional Sapphire Princess cruise tips and information
The Medallion
The Medallion is a waterproof, round electronic button that holds all my personal Princess cruise information and also acted as my room key. Since I booked last minute, I picked up my medallion at check in at the port and wore it through the cruise on a lanyard. If I wanted something more fashionable, Princess sold a variety of Medallion accessories on board.
The Medallion automatically unlocked my room once I was within 3-4 feet of my cabin door. I also used it for any on board charges for drinks, excursions, etc. It also acted as my ID to get back on the ship after getting off in port.
The Medallion App
I used the Medallion App to check in before my cruise. I was able to fill out all the necessary information to get into the “blue” check in lane without too much difficulty.
Once I was on board, I could use the app to look at the list of daily activities, schedule dinner reservations, order room service, order drinks or food to be delivered to my seat, track and find members in my cruising party and look at my bill. I did not use mine very much in that capacity, but when I did, it worked fine.
Interactive On Board Screens
Near each elevator, large interactive screens displayed a map of the ship or the current activities going on throughout the ship. These touch screens were convenient and very easy and intuitive to use.
MedallionNet Wi-Fi
I had the 4-device package for the full length of the trip so that I could use both my phone and my computer while on board. Signing up and logging into the Wi-Fi network was straight forward. Instructions were provided with all the welcome on board paperwork in my stateroom.
I used my sea days to catch up on blog writing and posting on social media. I did not try streaming movies or music. The internet worked fine for what I needed.
Travel Tip – I switched my phone to Airplane Mode before I left port so that I did not incur roaming charges.
Princess Patter
Each night, my cabin steward dropped off the Princess Patter which listed all the following day’s onboard activities.
In room TV
Besides watching movies and TV programs, and listening to music, I was also able to watch the enrichment lectures in the comfort of my cabin that had been presented at the theater.
Bridge Cam
I can see where the Sapphire Princess currently is through its bridge cam at https://www.princess.com/bridgecams/. My family back home was seeing what I was seeing when we did the scenic cruising in Antarctica.
To book a Princess cruise, find all the upcoming Sapphire Princess cruises, and to see the most recent cruise deals I go to https://www.princess.com/.
Cheers to another wonderful Princess cruise!
Links to all my cruising content can be found on my Experience – cruising page.
Other cruising stories:
All my favorite photos from my Antarctica cruise: Penguins and Ice and so Much More – My Favorite Antarctica Cruise Photos
A full review of the Sky Princess cruise ship: Cruising Sky High – A complete Sky Princess Review With Photos
A full review of the Ruby Princess cruise ship: Living Like Royalty on a Princess Cruise – A ruby Princess Review With Photos
Please note that I received a media upgraded cabin from Princess. All content and opinions in this post are my own.
Thanks for visiting.
Rose
Pin this!
