As cruise novices we were a little unsure what to expect on board, but Sapphire Princess met and exceeded all our expectations. There was always something to do, even if that was only sitting somewhere comfortable with a book or a drink. Even with 2000+ fellow passengers, the ship never felt crowded. We were really lucky with the weather, sunny and warm except for the last sea day when we experienced a bit of rain and wind - that was the only time we felt any motion from the ship!
Embarkation
5 out of 5
Very heavy traffic resulted in us arriving at the port later than intended, thereby missing the majority of the queues. As first-time cruisers we didn’t know what to expect but were pleasantly surprised at how slick the process was. From dropping off our luggage to arriving at our cabin (where our cases had already arrived) took around 20-30 minutes!
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
5 out of 5
We didn’t use any speciality restaurants as we always found plenty to choose from in the MDR in the evenings. We preferred the buffet for breakfast as we like to pick and choose from a range of items; it also meant that we could get up a little later!
Onboard Activities
5 out of 5
Sorry, should have been an N/A
Entertainment
5 out of 5
All were really good, especially the Back Street Beatles (both the on-deck performance and the theatre show). The ship’s entertainment company was very good and their final show particularly well presented. We also enjoyed the cookery demo and kitchen tour on our second sea day.
Children's Programs
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
All the staff seemed genuinely friendly and happy to please. The waiting staff in Santa Fe were particularly helpful and knowledgeable. Mark, the restaurant manager, greeted us by name each evening and our waitress, Iryna, was so chatty and helpful that we nominated her for special thanks at the end of the cruise.
Ship Quality
5 out of 5
Cabin / Stateroom
4 out of 5
Cabin (mini-suite) was a really good size and spotlessly clean. There was plenty of clothes storage space, though I was a little surprised to find a lack of under-bed storage for all our cases due to the “alternative” duvets etc being stowed there. The bed was very comfortable and sofa was too. The kettle was an added bonus! The bathroom looked a bit dated and rather bland with pale green statement tiles on white walls. We had to place a wash cloth on the edge of the bath behind the shower curtain to stop water running onto the floor while using the shower.
Southampton is about two hours away from London! Traffic on embarkation day was horrendous partly due to the boat show as well as ongoing major roadworks.
We did a Princess excursion which was well-organised and interesting. There was a walking tour of the town followed by a canal boat trip. The free time was more than we needed to purchase a few souvenirs but not enough to have a meal or do much independent exploring.
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