SAPPHIRE PRINCESS - the "blacked out" months in 2014

[handp]

A few months ago there was a thread about where the Sapphire Princess would be May to September 2014 as these months were not showing available for booking. I don't know if there has been an up-dated thread on this. I have just looked at the Princess website 'news and information' page and it states that during this time she will be doing cruises from Shanghai - 3 to 7 days, with bookings opening Nov 1st.

We are so disappointed as were were hoping to go on a "sapphire wedding anniversary" (45 years) cruise in August, but we have no interest in cruising for such a short cruise and out of China.

From October the cruises are from Singapore, which is at least closer to Australia, so that is our other option, just not on our anniversary. :(

Helen and Phill

[IECalCruiser]

Thanks for pointing out the information. If Princess is basing the Sapphire in Shanghai, why change the end of the TP from Shanghai to Osaka?

[Loreni]

May, July, and August 2014 are still blacked out and June and September do not appear to be selling very well. Does anyone know what is going on?

[Colo Cruiser]

May, July, and August 2014 are still blacked out and June and September do not appear to be selling very well. Does anyone know what is going on?

 

 

Isn't it going to Japan or something like that?

Edited January 26, 2014 by Colo Cruiser

[Pam in CA]

So far as I know, the Sapphire is sailing for Asia the end of April for good. She'll be based part of the time in Osaka and part of the time in Singapore. Kind of like Alaska in the summer and LA in the winter. It's possible that dates are blocked out because they are sold out. Regardless, if you want to cruise on the Sapphire after April, you'll be flying to Asia to do so. There were quite a few Asian staff members onboard last week, apparently in training. And, there are quite a few crew leaving her over the next week or two and rejoining her in Japan in May.

[shastatroy]

I did hear on board the Sapphire that they are basing the ship out of China for a few months. They are currently introducing Chinese dishes to the mdr menus. (stir-frys, soups, fish entrees) And they filmed a Princess commercial on board last week, to be shown in the China market.

[IECalCruiser]

On her last cruise one of the MUTS movies was shown with Chinese subtitles.

 

 

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[Loreni]

How could Sapphire be booked for these months, when booking was never possible. These months have never appeared to be open. I think Princess has a Princess China site. I saw it last time I was on Sapphire, but cannot find it now. Is it possible that certain sailings were only offered to the Chinese market?

[DrivesLikeMario]

Princess is still working on firming up the summer schedule and that's why it's not online yet - at least that's what I've been told.

 

Yes, it will stay in Asia after the repo cruise that departs LA on April 3.

 

When we were on the ship over Christmas, they had already started to change out the slot machines in the casino to Chinese ones. There were other little changes happening too - very subtle - and appearing quietly. Many of the crew we talked to were excited for the change because they would be so much closer to their families now.

Edited January 26, 2014 by DrivesLikeMario

[Loonbeam]

It would not surprise me if they contracted the ship in bulk out to a few of the Asian agencies to introduce her to the market and build some word of mouth.

[Colo Cruiser]

How could Sapphire be booked for these months, when booking was never possible. These months have never appeared to be open. I think Princess has a Princess China site. I saw it last time I was on Sapphire, but cannot find it now. Is it possible that certain sailings were only offered to the Chinese market?

 

Yes.

[karatemom2]

Interesting. We will be on the last cruise prior to the Sapphire leaving for Asia so I will be looking for the changes. We noticed many of the same types of subtle changes prepping for a new mix of passengers on the Golden when we were onboard over Thanksgiving shortly before they left for the South American market.

[KruzPrincess]

Are they currently offering any of the new Asian dishes that they were testing out??? If yes, what are they? Are they in the Pacific Moon dining room? Any other food changes?

[shastatroy]

Are they currently offering any of the new Asian dishes that they were testing out??? If yes, what are they? Are they in the Pacific Moon dining room? Any other food changes?

 

They are in all of the dining rooms on the main menu, I wish I had written them down so I could give you more details about them. They were not the individual dining rooms specialty dishes.

[IECalCruiser]

Are they currently offering any of the new Asian dishes that they were testing out??? If yes, what are they? Are they in the Pacific Moon dining room? Any other food changes?

They are in all of the dining rooms on the main menu, I wish I had written them down so I could give you more details about them. They were not the individual dining rooms specialty dishes.

Princess has had many Asian/Asian style dishes including the Pad Thai and Tom Kah Gai below on their menus in the past. I doubt that the items were a trial for the Sapphire in Asia because the menus had the notation Coastal 2014 and are probably for use on all coastals during 2014. There were Asian/Asian style dishes on these menus. From one lunch menu and two dinner menus were the following:

Tom Kah Gai

Thai chicken soup with lemongrass, chili, lime and enoki

 

Togarashi-Seared Red Snapper*

haricot verts salad and sesame dressing

 

Nasi Goreng*

Indonesian spiced rice with chicken skewers, fried egg and cucumber

 

Pork Sparerib Marinated with Oyster Sauce

over fried noodles, sticky rice croquette

 

Home-Style Cuisine: Slow-Braised Pork Belly with Oriental Sauce

soy-hoisin, five spice and citrus reduction served with green beanssliced shallots and smoky bacon

(V) Pad Thai - Southeast Asia's Favorite Noodle Dish

quick-fried rice noodles with tofu, egg, vegetables, cilantro, chili lime and crushed peanuts

[candide333]

I had the Poke as an appetizer last night in the Pacific Moon. Delicious! Unfortunately, the pork chop in the Savoy on another night was so tough and dry, I had to send it back.

[DrivesLikeMario]

Interesting. We will be on the last cruise prior to the Sapphire leaving for Asia so I will be looking for the changes. We noticed many of the same types of subtle changes prepping for a new mix of passengers on the Golden when we were onboard over Thanksgiving shortly before they left for the South American market.

 

Me too! Will have to stop & say "hi"!

[KruzPrincess]

Thanks for the responses to my question. I have seen most of those items the IECalCruiser listed on the Hawaii sailings, if not all. I love Asian food and would love to see more dishes. I see a lot of Indian and Indonesian food on all the ships and I'm not as interested in that. If anyone has seen new Asian dishes other than the regular specialty items that are always on the Sapphire, please let me know. Thanks.

[IECalCruiser]

Thanks for the responses to my question. I have seen most of those items the IECalCruiser listed on the Hawaii sailings, if not all. I love Asian food and would love to see more dishes. I see a lot of Indian and Indonesian food on all the ships and I'm not as interested in that. If anyone has seen new Asian dishes other than the regular specialty items that are always on the Sapphire, please let me know. Thanks.

The menus on the 3/4 day Coastals are not the standard menus, but specifically for the Coastals and they are a combination of other menus. As you posted, there is really nothing that hasn't been on other menus.

 

 

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[KruzPrincess]

The menus on the 3/4 day Coastals are not the standard menus, but specifically for the Coastals and they are a combination of other menus. As you posted, there is really nothing that hasn't been on other menus.

 

 

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Thanks. By the way, are you going on the 12/4/14 Hawaii cruise on the Grand Princess? I think I saw your screen name on the roll call.

[Kamloops50]

The Sapphire is on a three month charter in 2014 . Those are the months that are not marked on the cruise finder.

[Colo Cruiser]

The Sapphire is on a three month charter in 2014 . Those are the months that are not marked on the cruise finder.

 

Where are you getting that info?

[Kamloops50]

Where are you getting that info?

 

I asked my Princess PVP it is common info in the Princess office.

 

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[IECalCruiser]

Thanks. By the way, are you going on the 12/4/14 Hawaii cruise on the Grand Princess? I think I saw your screen name on the roll call.

We have it booked, but not certain we will be able to make the cruise yet.

[hpeabody]

It just makes me so sad :( to lose a beautiful ship. I do wonder why Princess chose the Sapphire as she is a very popular ship, why not a less popular ship? I am not thrilled about Princess making multi-lingual signage and sub titles. I know it's marketing tactics because of the new market, but still my opinion.

 

Has the menu already changed to asian food, even though she is not leaving until April? I was on a Princess cruise last fall, Golden I think, and their was a lot of curry and Indian cuisine especially in HC leaving less other choices.