All about the Princess Cruises Sapphire Princess

Princess Cruises Sapphire Princess cruise ship
Princess Cruises Sapphire Princess

The Princess Cruises Sapphire Princess was built in 2004. It was renovated in 2018. It's considered a medium size ship. Coming in at 952 ft long and 123 ft wide, it's roughly the length of 2.6 football fields, as wide as 2.3 tractor trailers, and the same height as a 18-story building.

Sapphire Princess Overview

Sapphire Princess Size and Passengers

The Sapphire Princess can hold 2,670 based on double occupancy (two people per room) and more when you take into account 3rd and 4th passengers. When you compare the total tonnage of the ship to the number of passengers, the Sapphire Princess has a space ratio of 43. Depending on the ship, this number can range from 30 to 52 (with a bigger number meaning more space per person) so this ship's space-to-person ratio is about average.



Princess Cruises
Sapphire Princess
ClassGem
Gross Tonnage115,875
Length952
Beam/Width123
Passenger Decks18
Passengers (double occupancy)2,670
Crew1,100
Passenger to Crew Ratio2.4
Space Ratio (tons of ship per passenger)43
Princess Cruises Sapphire Princess Space Ratio
30 43 52

The Sapphire Princess is one of two Gem-class ships currently sailing with Princess Cruises. Gem-class ships are modified versions of the Grand-class ships with a wider design. The Sapphire Princess is very similar to its sister-ships; Diamond Princess, although each ship may have some differences.


Sapphire Princess Food and Restaurants

Food is a big part of any cruise, and there will plenty on the Princess Cruises Sapphire Princess. You have 11 different dining options to choose from. Of those options, 5 are complementary, or included with your cruise fare. The other 4 options have an additional fee. Some of those options are a set price and some have a la cart menu pricing. 64% of the dining options are included which means if you're watching your budget, you won't feel like you're missing out by not going to a lot of extra fee dining places.

RestaurantRestaurant TypeCostType of Food
Alfredo's PizzeriaSit downFlat feePizza
Burger & Hot Dog GrillQuick serveIncluded
Burger & Lobster GrillQuick serveIncluded
Horizon Court
International CafeQuick serveA la cartCoffee
Main Dining RoomSit downIncludedMain dining room
Prego Pizzeria
Sabatini'sSit downFlat feeItalian
Sterling SteakhouseSit downFlat feeSteakhouse
Swirls Ice Cream BarQuick serveIncludedIce cream
World Fresh MarketplaceBuffetIncludedBuffet

In terms of drinks and cocktails, you have a variety of choices. Princess Cruises serves the Coca-cola family of products. That means Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite and Barqs Root Beer, although the selection can vary by ship.

There are also plenty of bars available on this ship. Alcohol is not included in the base price of this cruise ship. To see if you would save money with a drink package, try our Drink Package Calculator.

Pools and Hot Tubs on Sapphire Princess

The main pool on the Sapphire Princess
The main pool on the Sapphire Princess

Nothing beats relaxing by a pool with a nice drink in hand as you feel the fresh sea breeze pass by you. The problem is that with thousands of people on a ship, there's not always room. If you want to spend all day in a pool, a cruise might not be the right choice. You would have a much better bet choosing a resort with a huge pool complex. That being said, a quick dip in the pool can be nice on a hot day.

The Princess Cruises Sapphire Princess has a total of 5 pools and 8 hot tubs.

Tired of loud kids and splashing? 1 of the pools and 2 of the hot tubs are adults only.

Princess Cruises
Sapphire Princess
Total Pools5
- Pools - General Access4
- Pools - Adults Only1
- Pools - Exclusive
Total Hot Tubs8
- Hot Tubs - General Access6
- Hot Tubs - Adults Only2
- Hot Tubs - Exclusive


Sapphire Princess Features and Activities

There are quite a few things to do on the Sapphire Princess. These are the main amenities that are available. Some are included in the cost of the cruise, while others have an additional charge.

Princess Cruises
Sapphire Princess
Adults-only area (additional fee)Flat fee
Afternoon TeaIncluded
Art AuctionsIncluded
CasinoA la cart
Fitness CenterIncluded
Pool-side MoviesIncluded
Shows - musical reviewIncluded
SpaA la cart
Sports CourtIncluded

Cruise Costs

Princess Cruises is a premium cruise line. Premium cruise lines typically offer upscale food, accommodations, and service. These typically cost about $150 - $400 per person per day.

Cruise pricing is dynamic and varies for each specific sailing based on factors such as departure point, ports of call, and time of year.

Sapphire Princess Onboard Costs

Another way to gauge the cost of a cruise is to consider how much you'll spend on board. Even though a lot is included in the base cruise fare, you may still spend money on things like spa treatments, specialty dining, drinks, and excursions. In addition, guests can also have to pay for things like gratuities and tips.

Typically guests can expect to spend about 25 - 40% of the cost of the cruise on onboard expenses. In other words, if the cruise fare is $1,000 per person, you might spend between $250 and $400 on extra expenses.

The table below will help you understand what you might spend onboard a Princess Cruises ship.

Princess Cruises
Base Daily Gratuities*
(Per Person Per Day)
$17.00
Tip added to drinks & services18%
Soda Price$2.50
Domestic Beer Price$6.25
Drink Package Price$64.99 - $84.99
Internet Plan$24.99 per device per day
*Daily gratuities for a standard cabin. Suites or specialty rooms may have higher rates.

Princess Cruises offers two packages to bundle onboard expenses. The Princess Plus package includes daily gratuities, the basic beverage package, 2 fitness classes, 2 casual dining meals, and internet for $60 per day per guest. The Princess Premier package upgrades to the premiere beverage package, wifi for up to 4 devices per guest, two specialty dining meals, unlimited casual dining meals, unlimited fitness classes, and a photo package for $80 per guest per day.

Want to Stay Up-To-Date on All Things Cruising?

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, or subscribe to our monthly newsletter.


Compare the Sapphire Princess to Another Ship

First ship:

Second ship:



About Cruise Spotlight
Founded in 2020, Cruise Spotlight's goal is to help people understand every aspect of cruising. Plenty of sites focus on the perfect Instagram pictures and marketing fluff. We focus on what really matters: onboard expenses, tips for cruise ships, detailed cruise reviews, and more. Our goal is to provide helpful, unbiased information to new and established cruisers. Over the years, we've helped millions of people get the most from their cruise vacation.
Learn more about Cruise Spotlight.