Live/Review Sapphire 6/30-7/14 B2B

[PathfinderEss]

Thanks for taking us along on your cruise, waiting for the next post.

[caribill]

Might sound like a silly question but in a post someone posted they only had a comforter ? So is there a top sheet on the bed?

 

It is a duvet.

 

If you prefer a top sheet instead of or in addition to the duvet, just ask your cabin steward.

[JWJs]

As far as comparing some of the other Princess ships we have sailed (Crown, Ruby, and Caribbean) we have fallen in love with the Sapphire.

 

Glad you have fallen in love with the Sapphire! She is a fabulous ship. :)

[MrBill64]

Hubbard Glacier update:

 

Yesterday started out by taking a soak in the hot tub up on deck 16 aft while we cruised through the Gulf of Alaska. The sun started making a rare appearance which was nice to see. Lunch was in the mdr where the Philly cheese steak was a nice treat. But the highlight of the day was Hubbard Glacier.

 

As we cruised into Yakutat Bay we saw some humpback whales, along with a sighting of an adult eagle soaring by the front of the ship. For today our viewing was confined up on the deck above the bridge in front of the ship. The weather was beautiful as the sun was out in full force and the closer we got to Hubbard Glacier the fewer the clouds. We were able to see the snow covered peaks surrounding Hubbard Glacier which were some of the most impressive views we have seen yet. As the captain navigated through the ice field we kept getting closer and closer the face of the glacier where we began to see some calving with the naked eye. As we got to our closest position the captain turned the ship so that each side would have a view of the face of the glacier. This is when we were treated to an amazing calving of a pillar of ice that must have been 200ft tall. When our naturalist, Sandra Schempp, was commenting during this calving she said, “Wow, I have never seen that before”, you know you just witnessed something special.

 

There were a ton of people out on the outside decks still at 6pm and I would have to say the dining rooms must have been empty. This is one reason we love anytime dining. Since tonight was the first formal it was champagne water fall night. This occurred at 7:15pm. We decided to go to dinner at 7pm in order to avoid the crowd and it paid off as we were seated immediately at a table for 2 in the Savoy dining room right next to a window. We had a wonderful dinner enjoying the scenery as we departed Yakutat Bay.

 

All right, that’s all for now, as today is Glacier Bay. The Park Rangers have just boarded the ship and they take over all the commentary as we cruise Glacier Bay.

[dcruisers]

I so look forward to your review each day! We cruised Alaska (land/cruise)last Aug on the Island. What a wonderful trip. So I appreciate your info as I relive the trip and the fantastic scenery and wildlife. My husband would love to go back to Alaska again. Someday we will.

Right now we have a trip on the Sapphire booked for HI in Jan. So, I am very interested in her condition, food, entertainment, service etc. and love reading all about the ship.

Thank you so much for taking time from your Alaska adventure to post a review each day.

I feel like I am sailing along with you!

[DougH]

In June on the Sea Princess I also took the Brewery "tour" in Juneau. It was fun and the day I was there it was packed, but I guess free beer always draws a crowd :) Had a nice time but not really worth a stop unless you've been to Juneau before and seen most of the sights.

[jesunrise]

Here goes both a review and a live from thread. My wife and I are on the Sapphire Princess for a b2b Alaska cruise from Vancouver that departed June 30th. Today is turn around day in Whittier so I figured I would take this opportunity to give a quick review of the first 7 days and hopefully post a few live reports as we head south.

 

We booked this cruise at the beginning of June and were only going to do the 7 day north bound trip. But a week later we decided to book the 7 day south bound trip as well because it was cheaper than finding a flight back from Anchorage.

 

We arrived late Friday evening one day before our cruise began and stayed at the Holiday Inn Airport in Vancouver (priceline). Next day we took a private shuttle from the hotel to Canada Place and boarded our ship around noon. Embarkation went very smooth with the longest line getting through security then US customs. I would say a total of about an hour from being dropped off to being on the ship. Once in our inside cabin we put down our carryon bags and headed out to explore the ship, and eat of course. We bought a coffee card which we are still using on this leg of the cruise. The white chocolate latte is our favorite. The ship is in wonderful condition and all the pools are operational as well as most hot tubs. And the hot tubs are indeed hot as we sat in one as we departed Ketchikan. Since the weather has been pretty much overcast/rainy and temps in the low 50’s, having a covered pool and “hot” hot tubs is essential.

 

We are doing this trip on the cheap and have no excursions booked. Our first port day in Ketchikan, we walked around and shopped. I guess you could say my wife shopped and I just walked. About 3 hours after leaving Ketchikan we saw something we have only seen for a very short period of time so far, THE SUN! But as luck would have it this was the exact time we passed a number of whales. Some of which were breaching which is very cool to see. Out on deck watching whales as the sun was finally shining sure was a memorable time.

 

In Juneau we sort of did an excursion as we took the Alaskan Brewery tour. For $15/person they pick you up in downtown Juneau and take you to the brewery for a small tour. On the way to the brewery which is about 5 miles outside of town our driver gave us a mini tour and we got to see a number of eagles as well. The brewery tour consists of mainly a talk on how the brewery was founded and the history of the different beers they make. The best part is free samples. Pretty much all the free samples you want. After this we stopped at the Red Dog Saloon. We had a fun time listening to the piano player and enjoying a beverage or 2.

 

Our next stop was Skagway. Since it was 4th of July we got to see a parade. The Sapphire Princess even had a float in the parade! After the parade we walked through the town and shopped some more. We stopped in the Skagway brewery for a pint before heading back down the main street. We wanted to go into the Red Onion, but being 4th of July and having 3 other ships in port it was a zoo. Guess will hit that on the way south. If you can’t tell my wife likes to shop and I like to drink beer.

 

Glacier bay was next and it was amazing. We saw some calving at the glacier and I swear the captain got us close enough to reach out and touch the ice. Make sure you go up on deck as it is truly amazing to hear the cracking of the ice and see the huge chunks of ice fall into the sea. Even though it was an overcast day with a slight misty rain it was well worth it.

Yesterday was College Fjord. Another cold misty day but we were able to view a number of glaciers. We got very close to Harvard Glacier and we saw harbor seals lounging on ice bergs as well as sea otters swimming by the ship as we entered the fjord.

 

Today is turn around day and the ship is pretty much empty right now. My wife and I walked around Whittier and for those who might like to do the same, I would recommend just staying on the ship. Not much here. And here is a quick note on how turn around day works for those on a b2b here in Whittier. You get your new key cards the night before in your mail box outside your cabin. If you want to leave the ship early in the morning you take both your old card and your new card with you along with a form of ID. When you want to get back on the ship you just come on board and they will take your picture and activate your new card. If you want to stay on the ship, you meet in Club Fusion at 10am where security would deactivate your old card and then activate your new card. Pretty easy stuff and you did not have to leave the ship.

 

Here are some quick observations about the ship. The International café is wonderful. It is open 24hrs a day but pretty much has the same stuff every day. Breakfast pastries and donuts along with a breakfast sandwich in the morning with deserts, salads, and little sandwiches the rest of the day. They also have a different soup each day.

 

The new pizzeria serves from 11am-11pm. It is a sit down eatery with waiter service. The pizzas are “gourmet” for lack of a better term. For “regular” pizza you need to go upstairs to the lido deck. We tried it once for lunch and it was fine. I prefer the regular pizza upstairs next to the pool but this was a nice change of pace.

 

We have anytime dining and have tried each of the 4 anytime dining rooms. Each has its own décor but the menu is the same in each. Even though each has a signature menu item, you can order any of the signature menu items in each of the 4 anytime dining rooms. We have found the service to be quite good in each of the dining rooms and we have never had to wait for a table for 2. We have eaten at a different times ranging from 6pm to 8:30pm and were always seated immediately. Maybe we were lucky but we can’t complain at all about our dining experience.

 

For those who like to plan, the menus were as follows: Day 1 Sail Away, Day 2 (first formal) Captain’s Welcome Dinner, Day 3 Alaskan, Day 4 Italian, Day 5 Chef’s Menu, Day 6 (second formal) Captain’s Gala, Day 7 Landfall.

 

Lunches have been in the horizon court as well as most breakfasts. A few mornings (sea days) it has been busy. Only complaint here is there seems to be a lack of available tables. It has always taken us little while to find any table to sit down at. Some of this has to do with the weather being a bit rainy and cold so outdoor seating, although very plentiful, is not being used. Food choices are fine with typical buffet food being offered. Service has been good here with drink orders taken promptly and dirty dishes removed quickly.

 

The entertainment has been good. My wife and I have been to 3 of the shows so far and have enjoyed them. The comedian was very good and my wife enjoyed the “mentalist” show. Since I like to hang out in the piano bar (Crooners), we usually end up there each evening listening to piano melodies and having adult beverages after dinner. We have made it up to Skywalkers a couple evenings but it has been pretty much dead. We only have stayed until a little after midnight so maybe it gets going a bit later. Skywalkers is a great place to sit and enjoy the scenery during the day. We have also gone to the Platium/Elite Suite reception each evening. From 5-7pm they offer a drink of the day for $3.99 along with hors d’oevres. A nice place to go before dinner and there hasn’t been many people there each night we have attended. And come to think of it the only time it has seemed crowded is at the Horizon Buffet during peak breakfast and lunch time. Club fusion has been host to Princess Idol as well as other events and there has been music in the Atrium (Piazza) which has been very enjoyable (mainly classical). Explorer’s lounge has had a band playing music to dance to each evening (mainly 60’s 70’s stuff) and they have been very good. We haven’t made it to the Wheelhouse and the casino hasn’t got any of my money yet.

Now I will now begin the “live” portion of this thread.

 

Any questions, I will do my best to answer.

 

Hi from Arkansas!:)

 

Please share what you know about the Sanctuary on Sapphire.

 

Also, did ya'll do the BEHIND THE SCENES tour? If so, how much $ and what did ya'll get for the money?:rolleyes:

 

Thanks!

[reney313]

Hubbard Glacier update:

 

Yesterday started out by taking a soak in the hot tub up on deck 16 aft while we cruised through the Gulf of Alaska. The sun started making a rare appearance which was nice to see. Lunch was in the mdr where the Philly cheese steak was a nice treat. But the highlight of the day was Hubbard Glacier.

 

As we cruised into Yakutat Bay we saw some humpback whales, along with a sighting of an adult eagle soaring by the front of the ship. For today our viewing was confined up on the deck above the bridge in front of the ship. The weather was beautiful as the sun was out in full force and the closer we got to Hubbard Glacier the fewer the clouds. We were able to see the snow covered peaks surrounding Hubbard Glacier which were some of the most impressive views we have seen yet. As the captain navigated through the ice field we kept getting closer and closer the face of the glacier where we began to see some calving with the naked eye. As we got to our closest position the captain turned the ship so that each side would have a view of the face of the glacier. This is when we were treated to an amazing calving of a pillar of ice that must have been 200ft tall. When our naturalist, Sandra Schempp, was commenting during this calving she said, “Wow, I have never seen that before”, you know you just witnessed something special.

 

There were a ton of people out on the outside decks still at 6pm and I would have to say the dining rooms must have been empty. This is one reason we love anytime dining. Since tonight was the first formal it was champagne water fall night. This occurred at 7:15pm. We decided to go to dinner at 7pm in order to avoid the crowd and it paid off as we were seated immediately at a table for 2 in the Savoy dining room right next to a window. We had a wonderful dinner enjoying the scenery as we departed Yakutat Bay.

 

All right, that’s all for now, as today is Glacier Bay. The Park Rangers have just boarded the ship and they take over all the commentary as we cruise Glacier Bay.

 

Sounds like a GREAT day at Hubbard. I'm jealous! We saw Hubbard last year on the SB route. This year we're going NB so get an opportunity to see College Fjord--but I would have loved to get another chance at Hubbard and see it on such a clear day--and calving!

 

Love your reviews so keep them coming--as long as the internet minutes allow ;)

[caribill]

When the cruise is over, please post what customs forms you had to fill out for first entering Canada and then shortly thereafter the USA.

 

Thanks

[Kamloops50]

I so look forward to your review each day! We cruised Alaska (land/cruise)last Aug on the Island. What a wonderful trip. So I appreciate your info as I relive the trip and the fantastic scenery and wildlife. My husband would love to go back to Alaska again. Someday we will.

Right now we have a trip on the Sapphire booked for HI in Jan. So, I am very interested in her condition, food, entertainment, service etc. and love reading all about the ship.

Thank you so much for taking time from your Alaska adventure to post a review each day.

I feel like I am sailing along with you!

 

We took the Sapphire to HI in April . We are going again in Mar 2013 with

friends. The Sapphire is in great shape after the refit.

[MrBill64]

Hi from Arkansas!:)

 

Please share what you know about the Sanctuary on Sapphire.

 

Also, did ya'll do the BEHIND THE SCENES tour? If so, how much $ and what did ya'll get for the money?:rolleyes:

 

Thanks!

 

From what I have seen the Sanctuary has not been used by very many people. I have only seen a couple people there on the day we were at Hubbard Glacier and all the other times it appears to be empty. They do advertise $60/person for an all day pass on glacier viewing days.

 

The ultimate ship tour will run you about $150. We did not take the tour.

 

When the cruise is over, please post what customs forms you had to fill out for first entering Canada and then shortly thereafter the USA.

 

Thanks

 

Will do.

[MrBill64]

Glacier Bay update:

 

Yesterday was Glacier Bay. Once again the rain was back but we still had a gorgeous view of Margerie Glacier. I couldn’t get over how close the captain got us to the face of the glacier. There was some calving but I believe I was spoiled at Hubbard Glacier the day before. We opted to head to Skywalkers while we cruised toward the glacier and then went outside when we got to the face of the glacier. There are a couple doors that you can exit right from Skywalkers to be outside. There are steps that take you up on top of Skywalkers for viewing or steps that take you down to the Oasis bar aft. Both spots offered wonderful views and were not crowded at all. Not sure if this was due to everyone being up front or the fact it was 48 degrees and raining.

 

While cruising into Glacier Bay 3 park rangers boarded the ship. One ranger gave us commentary while cruising. Very interesting to listen to the park rangers tell you the history of Glacier Bay as well as where to spot mountain goats. At around 10:30am a ranger gives a presentation in the Princess Theater. We did not attend but it would be something to consider as people told us it was very interesting. Up on deck 15 by the indoor pool there is a ranger station set up with info and a Park Ranger to answer questions. Princess also puts on its Taste of Alaska buffet at this location.

 

The rest of the day was spent relaxing and basically doing nothing. Dinner was in the Pacific Moon dining room for us last night and we ate around 8pm. No reservations and we were seated immediately. Maybe we have been lucky or the ship is not full, but we have never waited for a table for 2 for dinner on both legs of our cruise. We have eaten at various times as well.

 

Ok, time to go explore Skagway.

[cellyml12]

Thanks for all the info!! We're looking forward to our cruise on the Sapphire next May.

[Phyljim]

Mr. Bill

Excellent review, we have enjoyed reading it. We head up to Vancouver in less than 2 weeks for a B2B on the Coral. Cruise 5 & 6 to Alaska for us. The temperatures sound cold, but wonderful to us. We are having another exceptionally hot summer in south Texas. We will keep reading your review as you post.

[geoherb]

Thanks for posting your live thread. We'll be on the southbound cruise in four weeks.

[MrBill64]

Skagway update:

 

Yesterday in Skagway the weather was a bit cool, 50 degrees with very gusty winds, over 40mph, as well as scattered showers. So we took this opportunity to do some laundry and stay onboard through the morning and into the early afternoon.

 

Part of the day was spent up in Skywalkers reading and watching the activity in the harbor. This was a nice way to spend the morning. After lunch the weather had begun to look a bit better. It was still windy but it appeared the showers had left. With no shore excursions planned and being that we had already explored Skagway on the first leg of our cruise, we were in no hurry to depart the ship. So we put on our bathing suits and went to the pools. I chose to swim and soak in the hot tub in the outdoor Neptune pool while my wife spent some time in the indoor Calypso pool and hot tub. I had the Neptune pool completely to myself while my wife shared her pool with a couple kids and adults.

 

Now it was time to head into town. As we walked off the dock a shuttle was pulling up. So we spent the $2/person and took a ½ mile ride into town and got dropped off at the Skagway Brewery for a pint and a free hat (had a coupon). The shuttle makes 3 stops throughout the town and runs fairly frequently to and from the dock. After the brewery, which is on the north end of town, we walked back through town and to the ship.

 

This evening we had dinner in the Sterling Steakhouse. Tonight was Italian night in the mdr, and we feel this is the weakest Princess menu of the cruise. That is why we chose this evening to eat at a specialty restaurant. It worked out very nice. We were finishing up our desert while we sailed away from Skagway on our way to Juneau.

 

More to come…….

[sunsetbeachgal]

Enjoying your posts mr.bill...we sail on the Sapphire in October and can't wait!!

[MrBill64]

Juneau update:

 

The day started out overcast with some light showers as we headed downtown to do a bit of shopping after arriving in port. Not to worry as it cleared off a bit and by the time we left port, for the first time on this b2b cruise, we hit 60 degrees.

 

Once back on the ship we decided to do room service for the first time. Our order was delivered within 25 minutes and it hit the spot. After our afternoon snack I went down to the promenade deck to watch our sail away. I believe the ship was being held up waiting for a couple passengers. There were a few announcements asking 2 passengers to call the front desk while we waited to depart. Not sure if they made it on the ship but at 4:30pm we set sail for Ketchikan.

 

For those of you taking the southbound cruise, the second formal night is Juneau. After dressing up for the first 3 formal nights of this b2b cruise, we decided to leave our jeans on and eat in the Horizon Court. The buffet was nice, but did not compare to eating in the mdr. One nice item on the buffet was the shrimp cocktail. These were the larger shrimp that you could take all you wanted. Plus, unlike most land buffets, these were already peeled.

 

After dinner we were treated to a gorgeous evening with a few whale sightings and a fabulous sunset. The snow capped peaks were amazing to see as we sailed down the channel. There was hardly a ripple on the water. In fact, I must say this cruise has had the calmest waters I have ever sailed. Most of the time you cannot tell you are moving.

 

Well I figure I would post this before turning in for the night. Ketchikan tomorrow or today for those reading this east of the Alaskan time zone :p

[kathylynnt]

Thanks for the reviews. You are so awesome for taking your time on the cruise to post these for us. Thanks again!

[MrBill64]

Ketchikan Update:

 

It took almost 2 weeks but we finally had a completely sunny day in port. Who would have thought Ketchikan, the rain capital, would provide the best weather day of our 2 week cruise. Temperature was around 71 degrees with bright sunny skies the entire day. Sailing into port from the north we passed the airport which is on an island. If you want to take a flight you need to take the ferry across the channel first to access the airport. Also when the airport was first built a curious black bear wondered up to the automatic doors and walked right into the terminal. In fact since the bear was not carrying any liquids over 3 ounces, TSA let him go right to the gate area.

 

OK, after getting off the ship we decided we would walk around town and explore on our own. We walked Creek St, checked out the local library/museum and did a bit of shopping. After checking out the stores we sat by the dock and watched both the Golden Princess and Westerdam depart.

 

Next on our agenda was a stop in a dock side establishment, the Arctic Bar. Their motto is “The Home of the Happy Bears”. If you visit this place you will know why. This is a nice little “Alaskan” bar with $3.50 drafts of Alaskan Amber or Alaskan White. If you have a few minutes before getting back on the ship you should stop in for a bite to eat and/or a beverage.

 

Well today is our final day and it will be spent at sea as we cruise towards Vancouver. We are taking the Princess transfer from Vancouver to Seattle before catching our red eye flight back home on the east coast. I know someone had a question concerning customs and from what I can gather everyone needs to clear Canadian customs but we do not clear US customs in Vancouver because we are going straight to Seattle on a Princess transfer.

 

Not sure if I will have another update so if anyone has questions and I have any minutes left on my internet account, I will do my best to answer.

 

Thanks to everyone for reading, I hope I provided a bit of info on the ship and the ports.

[sfnew2sail]

Thanks so much for this review! We sail out of Vancouver August 11 NB. You answered so many questions that I've had since this is our first Alaskan cruise. Have a great trip home!

[reney313]

Thanks for the update.

 

Funny about Arctic Bar. We did not see it on our last trip but stumbled upon their website a couple weeks ago. We have it on our list (I guess we have to get a hat of the happy bears!). I couldn't tell though their location? How far is it from the dock?

[caribill]

Funny about Arctic Bar. We did not see it on our last trip but stumbled upon their website a couple weeks ago. We have it on our list (I guess we have to get a hat of the happy bears!). I couldn't tell though their location? How far is it from the dock?

 

509 Water Street

 

Google maps places it near the cruise ships. How far depends on which dock your ship is at.

 

Hat costs $25. The logo shows why the bears are happy.

[reney313]

509 Water Street

 

Google maps places it near the cruise ships. How far depends on which dock your ship is at.

 

Hat costs $25. The logo shows why the bears are happy.

 

Thanks..I did google it before but it looked like a far way away (like more than a few miles). I must have been looking at the wrong location for the ships. Hearing Mr. Bill's experience makes it sound like it must be just a few blocks away?

 

Yeah..the logo is why my boyfriend wants to stop for a hat!

[MrBill64]

Final quick update. We are awaiting our departure time and I have a few minutes left.

 

Final sea day was perfect weather wise. Sunny skies and warm temps. Pools and decks were full. Dinner was in the Savoy dining room and once again we had no wait and this was at 7pm. Seemed people waiting for larger tables had a 20 minute wait but tables for 2 were plentiful.

 

The Arctic bar is located right across the pier from berth 3. If you happen to dock at berth 4 you will have to pass it to get downtown. We docked at berth 4 on the way north and berth 3 on the way south.

 

We hate to get off the ship, but at the same time it will be nice to get back home. Anyone that will be sailing this ship or this itinerary, you shouldn't be disappointed. We had such a great time. The service was second to none and the ship is one of the nicest we have sailed.