Take a dip in many of the  sparkling freshwater pools and leave your everyday world behind. Unwind on a padded lounger and soak up the sun, catch up on reading, listen to music or dream of your next adventure on board or ashore. And what better way to relax and revitalize after a day exploring the world than a long soak in one of the whirling hot tubs. And don’t forget, there is always a server nearby to bring you a favorite beverage. 

The Sapphire Princess is also one of the few ship in the Princess fleet that offers an indoor pool which is nice for the cooler weather we may experience in Alaska. On the upper deck of this pool area is The Conservatory, an enclosed climate controlled top deck recreation area that features two soothing hot tubs, a pool, a fooze ball table, two ping pong tables, and plenty of comfortable loungers to unwind, enjoy the views, a book, or even a nap. 

Around the midship pool area you will also find Movies Under the Stars®, hilarious pool competitions, world-famous pizza, and even complimentary soft serve ice cream and a large pool area and the numerous hot tubs that surround the pool areas and their upper decks lounge areas.

On the aft (back) of the ship, the terraced pool area offers a relaxing place to unwind. If these two areas are busy with youngsters, you can also sneak away to the Adult Retreat Pool area near the front of the ship for a more quiet time without any kids running underfoot. This retreat pool is often not crowded because many people assume it is part of the Sanctuary or the Lotus Spa. It is however, open for anyone to use.

A pet peeve found around pool areas, especially during sea days, is that many people will go and put beach towels, and perhaps some personal items, on loungers to "save" them for later use. The rules state that loungers cannot be saved, and if they are unused for more than 30 minutes the deck attendants have the right to remove their belongings. I will typically find my spot (and a spot for my wife) early and may eat my breakfast sitting in my selected lounger and my wife will find me later using the MedallionClass™ App.

This luxurious spa-inspired top deck retreat, is reserved just for adults. The Sanctuary, located at the bow of the ship on the Sports Deck (16) features plush lounge furniture, attentive Serenity Steward service, soothing music, refreshing beverages and spa fare, and even an open-air massage in your own private cabana if you wish!  An exclusive Sanctuary lunch or tea is also served.

By in person reservation only - half days are $20 each, full days are $40 each and private cabanas start at $80 for a half day. The Sanctuary books fast on embarkation day so if you are interested it is advisable to go there directly upon boarding to make your reservation.

We were disappointed with the Sanctuary on the Emerald Princess compared to what is offered on the Royal Class ships. The Sapphire Princess Sanctuary areas also looks disappointing and probably is not used much on an Alaskan cruise.

Revitalize in the Lotus Spa as part of your relaxing cruise activities, you can choose from a variety of treatments, such as aroma stone therapy massages and detoxifying ocean wraps. Or enjoy a manicure and pedicure in the salon with an attentive service chosen by you. With more than 50 spa and salon services they offer an abundance of choices to consider.

Watch this video to learn more about the Lotus Spa

Additional charges apply.

We suggest that you at least take a tour of this facility on embarkation day just to see what all is offered. Typically the more services you book, the bigger the discount.

Many of the upper ship decks are geared toward more physical activities. On Sky Deck (19) at the stern of the ship is a small basketball sports court, which can also be transformed into one pickleball court if it is not being used. Ping pong, a miniature golf putting course located on Sports deck (16), gives you some place to burn off those calories you are consuming. If you wish to take a long walk however, the Sapphire Princess has a wrap around Promenade deck (7) that offers you the opportunity to walk all around the exterior of the ship! We loved this feature on the Emerald Princess and it may also be an ideal place to view the glaciers or watch for whales as we cruise by.

These activities are free.

The Fitness Center, located near the bow of the ship on the Sun Deck (15) offers exercise and spinning courses, free (dumbbells up to 75 pounds!) and machine weights, treadmills and ellipticals with ocean views and more to energize yourself while on your cruise vacation. This space is really not used much so you rarely have to wait to utilize a weight machine, bench or cardio machine. They also offer consultations with personal trainers to address fitness issues you may have.

The Sapphire Princess also has a separate men's and women's free sauna and steam rooms and lockerrooms located near the fitness center. They may be a welcome spot to unwind if we experience a cold rainy day in port.

There may be additional charges for some training and consultation services.

Discover Old World charm as you stroll through the breathtaking Piazza—a hub of activity in the middle of the ship, inspired by the vibrant squares of Europe. Roving street performers, musicians, quaint boutiques, a spiral staircase and several glass-walled lifts provide panoramic views of the open three deck area of the Piazza. While it may be smaller than the Piazzas on the Royal Class ships or the HUGE Piazza on the new Sun Princess it is still the main hub of ship activity.

Visit the International Café for gourmet coffees and delicacies. It is a nice place to gather and people watch too.

Great art, like the destinations the ship visits, can be awe-inspiring. Peruse the ship's extensive and rather large art gallery, or attend an art history lecture highlighting some of the world’s greatest masters. And don’t miss the Champagne Art Auctions, which give you the chance to view and bid on a wide range of fine art, including pieces by famous artists like Thomas Kinkade, Peter Max, and Michael Godard. Located on Plaza Deck (5).

There is no charge to attend these lively events.

One feature on the Grand Class ships that is not avialable on the larger Royal Class ships is a library! The library has over 2000 books you may borrow to read during the cruise and also has a selection of games to borrow and play!

Located on Promenade Deck (7)

Yes, I guess some people may consider shopping a fun activity. Onboard the ship you’ll find a fabulous range of fine merchandise at the Princess Shops located mid-ship on decks 6 and 7 with brands like Swarovski, Chanel, Estée Lauder, Clinique, Lancôme, Calvin Klein, Citizen and Tissot, plus local crafts, keepsakes and souvenirs. There are also some clothing stores with reasonable prices. And everyday tax- and duty-free savings can add up to as much as 30% off suggested U.S. retail prices. Calypso Cove is a small shop located on the Fiesta Deck (6) with snacks and items you may have forgotten to bring with you.

All purchases are made with your OceanMedallion and these charges are then transferred to your onboard account which is paid for by your registered credit card.

While you may not be a high roller, or even roll at all, just be aware that there is a casino aboard the ship on the Fiesta Deck (6) that offers a variety of Las Vegas style gambling games (only when the ship is located within international waters).

While smoking was banned during the COVID pandemic, smoking is now allowed in the casino on most nights which is too bad. We often walk through the casino to get to the lower level of the Princess theater.

Learn how to prepare the gourmet specialties served on board in the Princess Theater, plus other enrichment lectures are offered onboard from time to time. Some are free, others you may have to pay for.

Princess also will offer informational talks about upcoming ports of call, explaining their culture and port excursions that you may be interested in booking. If you're unsure of what type of excursion to do, these may give you some ideas to consider.

Princess Cruises' "North to Alaska" enrichment program incorporates park rangers on board for cruises visiting Glacier Bay National Park. These rangers provide commentary, lead presentations, and host interactive sessions on the ship, enhancing guests' understanding of the park's natural history, wildlife, and conservation efforts. The program also includes activities like a Junior Ranger program for youth and hot chocolate and bouillon stations on open decks.  

Cruisers often bring rubber ducks on cruises in an effort to have a bit of fun by hiding them throughout the ship. The ducks usually have information cards attached to them bearing the names of the people who hid them and where they are from. If you find a duck, you are encouraged to post a photo of the duck on social media. There are several Facebook groups devoted to this with some having over 300,000 members from around the world.

You can keep the duck as a souvenir of your voyage or hide it again for someone else to find. Don't place the ducks in pools or shops. The reason for the shops is you don't want someone to think that people are taking something out of a shop without paying for it.

Of course this fad has also produced a new market for custom cruise ducks and labels. 

Of course our main reason to take this Alaska cruise is to be able to view much of the Alaska and Canada shorelines from the ship. The Sapphire Princess offers many great viewing opportunities to do so. 

If it is extremely cold outside many people view the glaciers from the Skywalkers Nightclub at the aft of the ship. However you will be looking through some tinted glass from that location. 

Besides the sun decks adjacent to the pool areas (which are not obstructed with tinted glass like on some other ships), the Sapphire Princess offers many unique viewing areas:

Capture a memorable moment in time during your cruise.  The Platinum Studio located on the Sun Deck (17) at the stern of the ship specializes in premium black and white portraits. Skilled photographers using expert lighting techniques will create a suite of stunning photographs that truly capture the essence of its subject. After your purchase, the portraits are professionally printed and mounted at a custom photo lab on premium quality paper. Then, they’re artfully packaged and delivered to your home after your cruise.

While enjoying your cruise, you'll be visiting some of the greatest destinations in the Caribbean and seeing some of their most famous sights. Yet one of the more amazing marvels that you'll encounter on a journey is right under your nose - the ship itself. 

It's a massive undertaking to get the entire ship working day-in and day-out, as these ships are virtually floating cities. There are a wide variety of cruise activities for you to engage in while onboard, but there are large parts of the ship that you'll never get to see - unless you take the Ultimate Ship Tour.

A first time innovation in the cruise industry, the Ultimate Ship Tour will allow you a special behind-the-scenes look at the day-to-day operations of a truly seaworthy vessel. You'll be able to see the ship's engine control room, food galley, laundry, photo lab, back stage area, medical center, bridge and many more exciting spots that you might otherwise not even know existed on the ship.

It's all capped by a meeting with the ship's captain on the bridge of the ship, who will discuss some of the challenges of managing a massive ship and crew. Refreshments will be provided, and you'll be able to take in the gorgeous views from the ship's bridge. 

The tour is offered only on some sea days and allowable number of guests is limited to 12. The tour lasts about 3 hours and costs $150 per guest. This is on our bucket list.

On one cruise we were invited by the Captain for a small group tour of the bridge which was a fantastic opportunity and certainly one of the highlight's of that cruise.

During the pandemic the ship tour was discontinued and we are unsure when, or if, it will return.