Embarkation was a snap. We were at the dock and on the ship within half an hour. Our luggage didn’t arrive at the cabin for several hours but it got there before dinner so that was fine. We just enjoyed the ship and since there was an amazing Ferris wheel hanging right over the ship we decided to go ashore and take a ride to see the ship from 112 meters above... Fascinating view. The ship did not leave until Midnight and passengers trickled in throughout the evening.
The Ship... This is our second cruise on the Sapphire Princess and it felt a little like coming home. We already knew the trick to find the International Dining room... you either take the aft elevators to Deck 6 or you go to Crooners on Deck 7 for your before-dinner Martini and walk aft toward Club Fusion and down one flight of stairs to the dining room. Deck 6 does not go all the way through the ship. (We think Crooners is the better route) The Sapphire is still big and beautiful. It is so new that nothing looks dated or worn and the staff is as friendly as it was last time.
The Staff... Ok everyone asks about the Cruise Director. Since we don’t particularly like to go to the shows on cruises... it was not until I turned on the TV this morning (Day10 of a 12 day cruise) that I even saw the Cruise Director, and now that I know what Lee looks like I can tell you I have never seen him on deck this cruise. Perhaps I don’t go to the same places he does.
Our cabin steward does a great job... of course he doesn’t do it until 11:30 or 12:00 and that is a bit annoying but we can live with it. You have to flag down a server on the pool deck to get and drink and then it is very slow but that may be a good think. Now at Crooners you have Daisy and Catalin who are fantastic and seem to know everyone by the second night. Our waiter is great... he had a little false start but caught on to the tables preferences quite quickly.
The Maitre D’ is there every night to tell you what time to set your clock to overnight... and it has changed a lot... but to his credit he did manage to get me a copy of the Osso Bucco recipe that is NOT in the cookbook that I bought (The cookbook is lovely so I am glad I got that too). Others at our table had a special request and he still hasn’t come through but we will see.
The Food... Some of the food is fabulous but most is average. It is a bit hit and miss... some days the buffet is good some days it is so - so. At breakfast there is a made on the spot omelet stand and they do a Fabulous Job and cook it the way you like it (in my case well done). If you want grapefruit juice you just need to ask and it appears.
The specialty buffets on Sea Days will either please you or not according to taste... there was a sushi day, a stir fry, an Italian, Mexican etc. The hamburgers at Trident Grill are juicy and great... the Pizza is ok but seems to be very popular. We are having too much fun at our table to bother with the huge amounts of food at Sabatini’s so I can’t comment there.
The Coffee... If you order room service coffee or coffee in the dining room it is fine. The coffee in the Horizon court tasted pretty bitter to us but again it is all a matter of taste.
Smoking... As a smoker I will say they have fewer places to smoke on the ship than a year ago but there are still enough to get by.
You can smoke at the bar at Crooners (not at the tables), a few tables each in Explorer and The Wheelhouse, Churchills and Wake View bar allow cigars and are all smoking, one side of the tables on the outside pool deck and the rail bar at the terrace deck. I haven’t seen or experienced any comment on the smokers nor have I seen anyone smoke outside of the designated areas so it seems to be working out fine.
Kids... This particular cruise has so few kids and you hardly see them and never do you see them running wild. This would be because of the length of the cruise and the overall age of the passengers I think. We did take pictures of all the kids’ venues and they are on the website for those of you interested.
We had a fabulous time, got to see cultures vastly different than our own, sampled new foods, and saw things we really never thought we would see like ground zero in Nagasaki, the Great Wall of China, the Forbidden City, and Tiananmen Square. Wow, what a trip!
Listed below are more articles related to the above article from the "Cruising Sailing" article category.
People interested in the above article "Cruise Review of the Sapphire Princess on a Cruise to the Orient" are also interested in the related articles listed below:
Most of the times, you would find people, who prefer to travel in cruises. These modes of transport may take longer than any other way, however, it can be a very relaxing experience for you. According to most of the people, one of the drawbacks of cruise deals is that these are quite expensive. However, it is not too difficult to get good deals on such modes of transport. All you need is some time in your hand to do proper research and also lots of patience.
If you are looking to explore the Caribbean on a luxurious ship, then you are in need of some cruise travel tips. The first thing you should look to scratch off your to-do-list is to find that dreamy boat. This is something most new-timers make the mistake of, they book the wrong boat because they are far too concerned with their destination or their budget.
Kerala is amazingly beautiful and has some of the fines tourist attractions and sightseeing spots. It has picturesque hill stations, exotic wildlife parks and sanctuaries, charming beaches and globally famous backwaters. Kerala is unique in all the ways and so tourists from across the globe come to this picturesque state to enjoy memorable vacation with immense pleasure and joy.
Travelers who haven't tried cruising yet have all sorts of reasons. From 'I'll get bored stuck on that ship,' to 'I'll get seasick,' to 'I can't afford it,' many of the top reasons given by travelers who haven't taken to the seas yet just don't hold water. If you are among those who has thought about a cruise, but hasn't taken the leap yet, for whatever reason, consider this list of the top ten reasons to give it a try.
Sailing on the ocean is one of the most revitalizing feelings a person can experience, and this is especially the case when you are able to sail your yacht in some of the most beautiful locations such as the Caribbean. In fact, if you want to go all out, then you should consider taking a voyage in one of the many classic yachts that can still be purchased or chartered today. Of course, if you are not much of a sailor and do not have patience for the wind, then you might want to consider electric powered boats.
The New Year is considered a special day that marks the beginning of a brand new calendar year, and is the day on that the year count of the precise calendar used is additional. For lots of cultures, the event is celebrated in some manner all over the place in the world. New Year's Day mark the finish of calendar year and beginning of another. The date of the celebration of the new year varies from country to country because different countries and communities have different cultures and follow different calendars. Most countries of the world have looked towards the Gregorian calendar and celebrate their New Year Day on January one. It is the celebrations of this New Year Day which they shall speak about under this section.
Sailing to exotic and picturesque destinations is a welcome break from the monotony and stress of the daily grind. Rather than wasting time in airports or arguing with taxi drivers, many travelers have found respite from the hassle of air and land travel in ocean cruises. What better way to travel to holiday destinations than spend it vacationing in a luxury cruise ship?
