Sapphire Princess Review

If Princess marketed this to entice cruisers to their brand it certainly worked!

Review for the Baltic Sea Cruise on Sapphire Princess
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Morechampagne
10+ Cruises • Age 50s

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Cabin
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Additional details

Sail Date: Sep 2018
Cabin: Interior

We are experienced cruisers in our 50s and I like to do my research about ports before we travel to get the best out of holidays. We chose this cruise due to price and date covering our anniversary and booked 9 months beforehand and had soft drink package only. For September we were exceptionally lucky with unusually warm weather and calm seas.

Embarkation at Southampton very quick and smooth and we were onboard by 1215. Used car parking meet and greet service at terminal and very efficient and lovely staff and porters. We were going out from one terminal/berth and returning to the other end of Southampton and it all worked very well. We did a quick tour of spa/gym but declined all the selling which di go on all week such as sparkling water at dinner, photos etc, polite decline and not an issue.

The ship had understandably adapted to its predominantly UK passenger base in terms of beers, entertainment and to some extent food. 1900 UK, 500 USA and the rest were Canadian, Australian and Chinese /Asian I think.

Cabin Review

Interior

Cabin IE

Cabin B229 internal cabin chosen as we prefer higher deck and without public rooms above or below due to noise. Best layout of an internal cabin we have had with separate dressing/wardrobe area and shower room away from main sleeping area. Huge ( too big) new flatscreen TV and multiple channels including Sky Sports, BBC etc. Kept to high standard all week and two glitches when a light bulb blew in bathroom and safe door knob came off were quickly resolved via our stateroom attendant. Duvet and pillows were sumptuous and we slept very well all week – Princess should sell them for delivery to your home!

Port Reviews

Brugge (Bruges)

We had been a few times before to Zeebrugge and weren’t that fussed about Bruges, war cemeteries again and thought we might stay onboard but as a lovely sunny day we took free shuttle bus to port building where you buy tram ticket to Blankenberg 6 Euro each for day pass. We got off a couple of stops before the centre of town and walked through the sand dunes and along a gorgeous beach, along the prom, to the marina and mooched. Plenty of places for a coffee/beer and bought some chocolates goodies. If you have young children the beach and the various facilities on seafront make for a lovely family day near to ship.

Copenhagen

bus into city instead as I already had the details for that from home. Tourist office and bus ticket machine opposite ship dock. (24DKK each single) We were docked a good 20 minutes out of city centre.

We had been to Copenhagen before so avoided the usual stuff. We went to a local food market Torvehallerne and walked via a nice park into city centre to join a free walking tour we had booked where you tip what you feel its worth. Very enjoyable 2.5 hours with knowledgeable guide who gave her insight into way of life including cycling, and their society such as schooling , healthcare and taxes as well as showing us some of the sights including Royal Palace. Denmark and Norway are both very expensive.

Skagen

Highlight of our week in the centre of Danish sea fishing industry. Greeted by local folk singers dockside, then a flat pavements walk of about 15 minutes in to town centre or there was a free shuttle bus. Tourist Office was in town near drop off point and sold bus tickets (50DKK * Euro day pass). Lots of shops and cafes and towards train station there were larger supermarkets such as Netto/Lidl if you need to stock up. I had found the bus times online at home and was more up to date than what the tourist office was handing out. We caught local bus to Grenen and then bought the tickets for the sand tractor out to the point where the seas meet. The bus times didn’t work for us coming back so we walked back from Grenen along normal pavements/cycle route via the lighthouse and old fire beacon, which at gentle amble took under an hour on a glorious sunny and warm day. We hope to return one day and visit some of the other sites such as the buried church and the artist area. Marching bands played us away as we sailed off which was quite emotional with the locals coming down to wave us off; we had a real sense they valued our presence in their beautiful town.

Oslo

We were due to dock at 0700 and knew the weather was turning so were prepared for the cloudy and damp early approach but it was so serene and pretty and we docked right by the castle. We had been before so juts chose to have a mooch and take No.12 tram out to Vigeland Scuplture Park which we had briefly visited on an all Oslo tour many years ago. ( 35 NKK each way tickets from booth on waterfront) We got off the tram a couple of stops early on the way back to swing by the Royal Palace where they had full ceremonial guards parading and a quick google on my phone of the Norwegian Court Circular listed who was coming to visit. We sat on a bench at the Parliament building and chatted to a local elderly lady which was pleasant; moments like that where you touch on normal life rather then being herded on a coach are delightful. We sailed at 1600 and it was a beautiful but cold and windy sail out to Oslo down the fjord but worth being outside for.

Southampton

Always check the traffic situation getting to Southampton and allow extra time. If there are multiple ships in, it can be very busy and combined with general holiday traffic/boat show/University open days etc people get caught out. We travelled early and had lovely coffee and walk at Ocean Village Marina late morning.

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