Sapphire Princess Issues

[Plato123]

Friends of ours went on their first cruise at our suggestion and encouragement just recently.  They had a mini suite on the Dolphin deck.  It was a cruise from Chile by Antarctica and ended in Buenos Aires.

Besides an embarkation from hell due to delays docking and loading their cabin heat and cooling did not work properly so they were either freezing and used a hair dryer as a space heater or they were baking as they cooling system did not work properly.  In addition the rough seas leaked water into their cabin and soaked the carpet and they were told that was a common problem on the Dolphin deck.  They had bad rashes and colds from what they expect may have been mold caused by the moisture in the carpet.  They were eventually offered another cabin but the cruise was soon to end so they did not bother.

In spite off these issues and, apparently, some compensation from the cruise line, they still think they might cruise again but not necissarily with Princess.

We have had issues like they on some past "budget" cruises on older ships but would have expected better from Princess.

Anyone have a similar experience?

[PacnGoNow]

6 minutes ago, Plato123 said:

Friends of ours went on their first cruise at our suggestion and encouragement just recently.  They had a mini suite on the Dolphin deck.  It was a cruise from Chile by Antarctica and ended in Buenos Aires.

Besides an embarkation from hell due to delays docking and loading their cabin heat and cooling did not work properly so they were either freezing and used a hair dryer as a space heater or they were baking as they cooling system did not work properly.  In addition the rough seas leaked water into their cabin and soaked the carpet and they were told that was a common problem on the Dolphin deck.  They had bad rashes and colds from what they expect may have been mold caused by the moisture in the carpet.  They were eventually offered another cabin but the cruise was soon to end so they did not bother.

In spite off these issues and, apparently, some compensation from the cruise line, they still think they might cruise again but not necissarily with Princess.

We have had issues like they on some past "budget" cruises on older ships but would have expected better from Princess.

Anyone have a similar experience?

No, not a all.  I’ve never heard of that on the Dolphin.  That’s too bad for their first impression.  They should have changed cabins right away.  But, they probably thought it could be fixed?

 

I hope the ports were good for them.  We loved that itinerary and thought it was beautiful!

[NWA395]

Could you please provide the dates of sailing and destination.  We are booked on the Sapphire and would be very interested in how recent this was?

 

Thanks

[Caribensun]

Sorry to hear this is still going on.  We were mid aft on Dolphin and had water on carpet, stunk bad for 10 days, and cold room, heat was fixed first night, but still some cold nights and we did not leave balcony door open, first cruise in Sept.  I sent photos and a letter and heard, received nothing.  If they are still onboard have them take videos and or photos to send in.  Love Sapphire and all Full Suites had problems too which never got resolved so would book a balcony next time.  Hopefully they can try another ship and or newer ship.  

[Caribensun]

We also had drilling going on under or above our room as well, all hours nothing from Princess.

[Plato123]

7 hours ago, NWA395 said:

Could you please provide the dates of sailing and destination.  We are booked on the Sapphire and would be very interested in how recent this was?

 

Thanks

Last month out of Santiago.

[KKB]

On 2/22/2023 at 2:57 PM, Plato123 said:

Friends of ours went on their first cruise at our suggestion and encouragement just recently.  They had a mini suite on the Dolphin deck.  It was a cruise from Chile by Antarctica and ended in Buenos Aires.

Besides an embarkation from hell due to delays docking and loading their cabin heat and cooling did not work properly so they were either freezing and used a hair dryer as a space heater or they were baking as they cooling system did not work properly.  In addition the rough seas leaked water into their cabin and soaked the carpet and they were told that was a common problem on the Dolphin deck.  They had bad rashes and colds from what they expect may have been mold caused by the moisture in the carpet.  They were eventually offered another cabin but the cruise was soon to end so they did not bother.

In spite off these issues and, apparently, some compensation from the cruise line, they still think they might cruise again but not necissarily with Princess.

We have had issues like they on some past "budget" cruises on older ships but would have expected better from Princess.

Anyone have a similar experience?

Sailed Sapphire in October on the Dolphin deck, no issues at all.

 

Sorry to hear this happened...things can happen situationally but I don't believe it to be a fleetwide issue.

[marne-c]

My wife and I (and a couple of our friends) just disembarked Sapphire in Santiago after a 14-day cruise starting in Buenos Aires.  Our cabins were on Caribe deck.  We had no cabin issues (save, perhaps, for a slowish drain on our balcony).  The ship looked great, and the staff were wonderful.  Wine service was somewhat limited.

 

We also sailed on Sky last summer.  Again, no problems and wonderful voyage.  We're booked again on Sky this summer, and on Sapphire next January.

 

--Marne

[beg3yrs]

We were on this same cruise from Santiago to Buenos Aires with Antarctica on the itinerary. We were also on the one just before from Buenos Aires to Santiago with Antarctica as well.

 

We were not on Dolphin deck but on Aloha the first leg and Baja the second leg. So we can't speak to issues on the Dolphin deck but can say that our mid-ship cabins had no problems and the HVAC worked well both in the chill of Antarctica and the warmth of Buenos Aires and Santiago. Seems to me the problems are isolated to the areas previously mentioned. We met a lot of folks on these two journeys and nobody ever complained about their cabins.

 

The Sapphire Princess and her sister the Diamond, are IMHO the best Grand-like class ships in the fleet. They don't have the extra Riviera deck and have a slightly wider beam than the others. This gives the ships an excellent ride in rough seas (believe me, we experienced over 100 knot winds and 27 foot waves near Elephant Island). You also get a slightly wider outside Promenade as well.

[NWA395]

On 2/23/2023 at 5:46 AM, Plato123 said:

Last month out of Santiago.

Thank you

[fpsphil]

Went on the Sapphire in Oct and we had 0 issues and was by far the best cruise of the year that we have gone on since the restart. Will be back on her for Alaska in May 2024

[LACruiser88]

We will board the Sapphire this coming Sunday in Buenos Aires for 32 days.  Follow my Live thread and I'll give you our impressions of the ship.

 

We were last on the Sapphire in 2012.