What Happened to Sapphire Princess?
The Sapphire Princess is a Grand-class cruise ship owned and operated by Princess Cruises, which entered service in 2004. After undergoing a significant refurbishment in October 2025 that introduced new dining experiences, the ship continues to sail diverse itineraries globally, including Europe, South America, Asia, and Australia, with voyages planned through 2028. Most recently, in April 2026, the ship was involved in the recovery of five bodies from the Mediterranean Sea.
Quick Answer
The Sapphire Princess is an active cruise ship in the Princess Cruises fleet, which underwent a major refurbishment in October 2025, adding new specialty restaurants and enhancements. As of April 2026, it is sailing a 14-day repositioning cruise from Civitavecchia-Rome to Copenhagen and recently recovered five bodies from the Mediterranean Sea on April 21, 2026. The ship has extensive itineraries planned for Europe, Asia, and Australia through 2028.
📊Key Facts
📅Complete Timeline14 events
Maiden Voyage
The Sapphire Princess embarks on its inaugural cruise, entering service as a Grand-class ship for Princess Cruises.
Christened in Seattle
The ship is officially christened in Seattle, Washington, by Nancy Gore Murkowski, marking the first time a cruise ship was christened in that port.
Fin Whale Strike
The Sapphire Princess docks in Vancouver with a dead fin whale found lodged on its bulbous bow, estimated to be 21.3 meters (70 ft) long.
Multiple Pollution Violations and Whale Strike
The ship is cited for five violations of Alaska Wastewater Quality Standards and experiences another incident involving a whale strike.
Deployment to Asia
Sapphire Princess is deployed to Asia, offering summer cruises from Shanghai and winter cruises out of Singapore.
Southampton Homeport
The ship repositions to Southampton, UK, for a season of cruises before returning to Singapore later in the year.
Resumes West Coast Operations
After eight years in Asia and the Pacific, Sapphire Princess resumes operations on the West Coast of the United States following the COVID-19 pandemic.
Assists Wilderness Discoverer in Distress
While en route to Glacier Bay, the Sapphire Princess responds to a distress signal and rescues 51 passengers and 16 crew members from the Wilderness Discoverer, which had an engine room fire.
Norovirus Outbreak
A Norovirus outbreak affects 123 passengers and 30 crew members during a 32-day South Pacific Islands and Hawaii Cruise.
Major Drydock Refurbishment Completed
Sapphire Princess completes a two-week drydock in Portland, Oregon, unveiling new specialty restaurants, Makoto Ocean and Crown Grill, and general enhancements.
Begins Trans-Atlantic Crossing to Europe
The ship concludes its South America season and commences a trans-Atlantic crossing to Europe, visiting destinations in Brazil, Spain, Morocco, and the UK.
Starts Repositioning Cruise to Copenhagen
Sapphire Princess departs Civitavecchia-Rome on a 14-day one-way cruise to Copenhagen, marking its current active itinerary.
Recovers Five Bodies in Mediterranean
While sailing in the Western Mediterranean, the crew discovers and recovers five bodies from the sea off Cabo de Palos, Spain, believed to be migrants.
Historic Dual-Ship Deployment in Japan
Sapphire Princess is scheduled to reunite with its sister ship, Diamond Princess, in Japan for Princess Cruises' most expansive Japan season, running through December 2027.
🔍Deep Dive Analysis
The Sapphire Princess, a Grand-class cruise ship, was built by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in Japan and commenced service in 2004. It is the sister ship to the Diamond Princess, with which it famously swapped names during construction due to a fire on the original Diamond Princess. With a capacity for 2,670 to 3,214 passengers and 1,100 crew, the vessel has been a prominent fixture in Princess Cruises' global operations, known for its extensive amenities and diverse itineraries.
Throughout its operational history, the Sapphire Princess has traversed various regions, including the West Coast of the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Asia, and South America. The ship has undergone several refurbishments to maintain its modern appeal and guest experience. A notable drydock occurred in October 2025 in Portland, Oregon, where significant enhancements were made. This included the introduction of two popular specialty restaurants: Makoto Ocean, an Edomae-style sushi concept, and the Crown Grill steakhouse, replacing the former Internet Cafe and Savoy Dining Room, respectively. These culinary additions, along with general cosmetic refreshes and technical maintenance, aimed to elevate the onboard dining and overall guest experience.
The Sapphire Princess has also encountered various incidents over the years, including whale strikes in 2009 and 2010, and several wastewater discharge violations in Alaska in 2008 and 2010. In June 2023, the ship participated in a rescue operation, assisting the Wilderness Discoverer after it experienced an engine room fire in Glacier Bay. More recently, on April 21, 2026, while on a Western Mediterranean voyage, the Sapphire Princess recovered five bodies from the sea off Cabo de Palos, Spain, believed to be migrants. This somber event led to a temporary deviation from its planned course and an investigation by Spanish authorities.
As of April 26, 2026, the Sapphire Princess is actively sailing a 14-day repositioning cruise from Civitavecchia-Rome, Italy, to Copenhagen, Denmark. Following this, its 2026 schedule includes spring and summer voyages in the Mediterranean and Northern Europe, followed by Canada/New England cruises in the fall. For the winter 2026-27 season, it is slated to return to Asia, offering itineraries in Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, and South Korea. A significant event in its future schedule is a historic dual-ship deployment with its sister ship, Diamond Princess, in Japan from March through December 2027, marking Princess Cruises' most expansive Japan season. The ship is also scheduled to return to Western Australia, homeporting from Fremantle, during the Southern Hemisphere's 2027–28 summer season.
What If...?
Explore alternate histories. What if Sapphire Princess made different choices?