Sapphire Princess Review
18 year olds high functioning Special Needs children are not adults.
Rating by category
Additional details
For the whole year I was looking forward to our first family cruise. My daughter celebrated her 18th bday on December 10, 2015. I did not realize this would exclude her from some of the fun on her first cruise. I explained to at 7 employees on the Sapphire that my daughter, an only child with Special needs is not an adult, she needs to be in the teen center with the other 13-17 year olds. It took the entire cruise to explain this simple issue to them. They would not budge. They would not send their medical officer to do an i.q. assessment on her so that she could participate in the teen center and possibly make friends in the 10 days on board.
I expected this matter to be settled in no less than 48 hours. Oh but to my surprise, Princess cruises has been cruising for 50 years and the complexities of Down Syndrome has totally eluded them...and I do mean completely. I spoke to everyone in passenger services, cruise director and a customer service rep. and all I kept hearing was the same old 'tune'. The Princess policy states only 13-17 year olds are allowed in the room. He even thought, Princess Cruises, insurance policy would be in danger if my child was allowed to have fun and make friends inside the 13-17 year old teen center. He even queried me about 'what would the other 13-17 year old parents of the children think if my child was taking part and she is an 18 year old? I told him I don't know and frankly I didn't care.
It was very important for me to fight for the rights of my child to enjoy her cruise just as the smokers who were indeed smoking in the non-smoking casino onboard every night. While the signs are everywhere, the cruise director, informed me that well there is a little corner in the casino where they do allow smokers to smoke... Really???? Interesting information since my husband and I are both non-smokers and again, we don't care if they are bending the rules for smokers however, if we have to pass through the casino to get to the Princess Theatre then we have an overall problem with your 'no smoking policy' in the casino.
Cabin Review
Mini-Suite with Balcony
Well...until you live there a few days you don't really have a sense of how things really are so this is the best I can do.
Raul was superb. We are late risers so he didn't mind tidying whenever we got up. He was nice and did have a sweet, caring voice. He was the best but, the shower repair never got fixed in 10 days. The moldy grout in the front tub area never got cleaned so we could 'take a bath', we just showered twice every day. And last but not least, the fabric head boards could use with proper steam cleaning between the changing of clients per trip/cruise. (The sofa bed that my daughter slept on was also sagging in the middle so I would not say that is comfortable.)
**It would have been great if whomever could have properly cleaned the balcony furniture. It was very very crusty on the aluminum parts but the weaved part for seat/back were ok.
Port Reviews
Singapore
We were there 2 days earlier and had a chance to relax and enjoy our small hotel. Speaking with the locals and eating hot chili crabs was enough for us since the flight to Singapore was smooth and excellent in everyway. I do agree with the Changi airport being the best in the world. I could live in that airport. It covers all of your 6 senses. Well done to all the people who work there and who keep their small nation safe and secure for locals and visitors.