Sapphire Princess - from LA to Mexican Ports (Puerto Vallarta, Cabo & Ensenada)
Sapphire Princess Cruise Review to Mexico
7 Night Mexican Riviera (Los Angeles Roundtrip)
Sail date: November 23, 2013
Ship: Sapphire Princess
Cabin type: Inside
Cabin number: B744
Traveled as: Couple
Reviewed: 11 years ago
Review summary
Overall, the cruise was great. Our 7-day sailing was over Thanksgiving week and left from the Los Angeles (San Pedro) port. We had three days at sea and visited Puerto Vallarta, Cabo San Lucas, and Ensenada on the other days.
I'll offer my opinion of each of the following aspects of the cruise.
CLEANLINESS: we were suprised at the cleanliness of the ship. Our stateroom (inside basic cabin) was very clean and comfortable. The common areas of the ship were also very clean and constantly receiving attention from the crew.
STAFF: our stateroom attendant, Noli, and our dining server, Sarafin, were amazing. They're great at their job, but also incredibly friendly and enjoyable to see every day. This was consistent with most of the ship staff. The Cruise Director and other even hosts were hilarious and did a grat job.
ENTERTAINMENT: overall, I give the shows a 6 out of 10. The comedy / magician was pretty good and the comedy / singer was fun. The dancers weren't overly impressive, but entertaining in small doses. We found the most fun event to be "Princess Popstar," where passengers compete in a singing contest and the audience votes.
FOOD: breakfast offered plenty of options, and I usually kept to my yogurt / banana / granola. Lunch was pretty good - nothing too spectacular, but always a few good options. Dinner was really good. The options were almost overwhelming and we'd consistently order multiple appetizers and even two entrees once. My personal favorite dish was the Tiger Prawn Dish on the first night. My favorite appetizer was the Snow Crab Salad. And, my favorite desert was the flourless cake!
AMENITIES: there was always plenty to do. We hit the gym, watched movies, played shuffleboard, hot-tubbed, watched shows, people watched in the atrium, gambled, and much more. As a couple in our early 30's, we found there was enough entertaining options, while also quiet areas to hide and get sun. Our favorite venue was the back of the ship because it was less windy and had less kids running around.
PORTS: we expected to have a great time in Cabo and be underwhelmed in Ensenada - in Puerto Vallarta, we weren't really sure what to expect. PV blew us away. They've completely renovated their boardwalk area and the retail / restaurant / entertainment options are amazing along this stretch. We rented paddleboards and enjoyed the beach area all day. Cabo was also beautiful, but a little bit crowded in the most popular areas. We rented a kayak and snorkel gear and hit "Pelican Cay" then "Lovers' Beach." Both were busy, but it was obvious why. The snorkeling was surprisingly good and the beach was one of the most beautiful we've ever been. Ensenada was as expected - we tried to go in with an open mind, but lasted less than an hour before getting back on the ship.
Overall it was a blast and I highly recommend it to anyone considering this ship and itinerary!
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
Onboard Activities
Entertainment
Children's Programs
Service and Staff
Ship Quality
Cabin / Stateroom
Ship tip
Head to the back of the ship to avoid the wind and windchill. It's also much quieter as kids generally go to the main pool.
Ports of call
San Pedro (Los Angeles), California
Traveler Photos
