13-Day Southeast Asia and Oceania Cruise aboard the SAPPHIRE PRINCESS

Was our 40th cruise. 3rd time this type itinerary from Quebec on Princess. Embarcation was efficient. We had a balcony cabin, deck 10. Room nice, comfortable. We sleep in. Mornings, cabin steward kept bugging us to vacate. Even banging on the door. We're tipping $36 a day for this?

Dined in International room with same passengers every night. Food was mediocre. Waiter and assistant were excellent.

Missed PEI and prepaid shore excursion due to weather.

Everything on board has an added 18% service charge. Most food & bars closed at 10:00pm. Those who bought inclusive drink packages had minimal time to use them at night. Unless they visited the casino bar.

International Cafe open till 12:00 with sweets and sandwiches. Huge bread, tiny fillings.

All specialty dining had surcharges for anything beyond standard offering + 18% surcharge.

Tours packed. Not enough time, we were always rushing.

Princess?? No, Never again.

we have cruised over 30 times, this was the worst experience we have had. The ship is in poor condition. The bathrooms are barely usable the quality of the food was terrible !! I seemed they were trying to serve very poor quality food. We could not close some of the drawers in our cabin. There was a problem with our bathroom sink. The buffet was very small and crowded. That may be why so many got sick on this cruise. On the way from the ship to the airport many many people were coughing. several in our party were also sick. This ship should not be used in its current condition. It needs a huge refurbish and much better food. We will not cruise with princess again. To be fair, the employs were some of the best we have every had. Very professional and helpful. Many were absolutely excellent.

We thoroughly enjoyed our selves on the Transatlantic to Boston. Much has been written about our embarkation in Copenhagen, yes it was as bad as they say.

It was a bad ending to two enjoyable days in Copenhagen before boarding the ship. We took the Hop on Hop off bus which stopped directly in front of our hotel the Marriott Copenhagen. We also walked all around the area which is on the water and lots of restaurants and sights nearby. Their breakfast was the most varied and interesting I have ever had at a Marriott, we are Marriott members. I highly recommend this hotel as a place to stay before a cruise, it was short cab ride to the terminal, and a short ride from the airport as well.

The Sapphire Princess is the perfect size, and not crowded. Plenty of seats in the theater and restaurants. We had a mini suite and I can’t say enough about how comfortable and spacious it is for two for a two week trip. We had an excellent steward, and many great waiters in the restaurants, and we tried most of them during the two weeks.

The best was the buffet, the food here was varied and excellent. Our favorite specialty casual restaurant was Churiscuria. We are not big meat eaters, but the salad bar was superb and varied, and I enjoyed the chicken along with my husband. We enjoyed Alfredo’s pizza also and went there twice. Sabatini’s was very good, lots of food a bit too much for us. Crown Grill was our least favorite. We had an odd experience, we made reservations and showed up on time. They told us they did not have a reservation for us. With lots of concern on the hostess face and no promise we could be seated, she left to see what she could do. Then came back and directed us into an almost empty restaurant. I have no idea what the problem really was. The menu was not that appealing to us, but we decided to try something, and were disappointed with my vegetarian meal, and my husband had the roast beef. We also ate in the International Dining room, Vivaldi and Santa Fe. They were all good, the wait staff could not have been better. We went to tea twice in the dining room, don’t miss it. The quiche and deserts at the international cafe are special another must try.

We enjoyed all the shows, the activities staff were really excellent especially Charlotte and Mau.

I did crafts and we both enjoyed trivia, and liars club. The special entertainers on this cruise were exemplary, like the Trawlermen, and Irish band from the UK. All week there was lots to do and see.

I was sorry to see they shrank the library down to a few shelves, and added two offices in the library, Cruise Next and the Loyalty Desk. People on this cruise were carrying books, and lots of reading going on, a nice library adds to the experience. Since it was cold much of the time, the pool both in and out was mostly empty, with lots of chairs.

The ports were great others have described them in great detail, we enjoyed them all especially Liverpool, we did a great bus tour on the Beatles Magical Mystery Tour. We saw all the important sights, and took some fun photo’s at Strawberry Fields and Penny Lane. The ship docks very close to where the tour starts at Albert Dock.

We love a transatlantic and have done a few, this was our favorite so far. We are considering doing it again next year, many different ports, but the best part is it ends in Boston and we live just 45 minutes away.