Sapphire Princess Review

4.5 / 5.0
1,020 reviews

Spring Break on the Sapphire

Review for the Mexican Riviera Cruise on Sapphire Princess
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BlazerBeau
10+ Cruises • Age 50s

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Sail Date: Mar 2011
Traveled with children

Embarkation - We arrived at the port about 11:15. Check in was quick and painless but there was a delay boarding for about 90 minutes. We were able to go to our state rooms straight away. Staterooms - We had 3 mini-suites side by side and 2 inside across the hall for the teenagers. Princess mini-suites are great. We had the large balconies with 4 chairs and a small table. Our steward was pretty good. He was very quiet but did his job well. He kind of snuck in when we were not looking. Only issue is toilet in 1 room had some trouble flushing. Day 1 - Sea day. Weather was not great only got into the 50's. Have to admit it got pretty boring by the afternoon. The entertainment was pretty lacking.Day 2 - Sea day. Weather was much better so we were able to spend most of the day on deck at the pool. This is what we signed up for. Evening entertainment was not great.Day 3 - Puerto Vallarta - We went on a zip line tour. It was fun but $89 per person is WAY overpriced for what you received. Thankfully we booked through Princess as we were 45 minutes late returning to the ship. Part of our group went to town and said it was very dirty and depressing. From what I saw PV is really run down and dirty. Lots of garbage and junk everywhere.Day 4 - Cabo - This was a great day. 2 other ships in port but it didn't seem that way. We went to the Pueblo Bonita resort and were treated like royalty. Rented jet skis which was a blast. The teenagers did the para-sailing which they wouldn't do again. Ship spent the night in Cabo so the 6 adults got of the boat for some local dinner and drinks. Ate at the No Worries Cafe. It was not good. All deep fried products done in the same vat and the oil was very old so it was pretty gross.Day 5 - Cabo again. Another great day but last tender at 1 p.m. so it was short. Girls went shopping and Dad and the boys stayed on the ship and relaxed.Day 6 - Sea day. Similar to the first day. Cool temperatures and lots of wind so the outside of the ship was useless.Disembarkation - We did the carry your own luggage walk off which was really smooth. We were in on the sidewalk waiting for our ride by 8:30. Sounds early but we walked out of our stateroom at 8!Dining - This is our biggest complaint. We had a group of 14 and we all choose anytime dining. We would not always go to the dining room together so sometimes our group size was as small as 6. The waits for tables were beyond ridiculous. You pretty much have 2 choices. Get to the dining rooms by 5:45 or you wouldn't eat until after 8. This is not feasible with little ones. We would get up early and try and make reservations but all the early ones would be taken. It became very very frustrating. Princess anytime dining used to be the best in the industry but this cruise it was awful.I will say the food was some of the best I have ever had at sea. Every meal was outstanding. The special house dish in the blue pacific dining room is so good. I had it three times. My wife loved the fajitas from the santa fe dining room as well.Entertainment - It was o.k. We saw one comedian that was pretty good. Too much stuff is repeated however. Casino dealers were great I just got my butt kicked all week.Kids Program - All the kids that used it loved it with the exception of the 4 teens we brought. They said the teen stuff was lame.Overall the cruise was only o.k. It has been 3 years since a Princess cruise and we walked away disappointment. Throw in the fact that the first and last sea days were crumby weather and we were all wishing that we would have spent the extra money and gone to the caribbean.

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