Cruising with Princess Cruises’ Sapphire Princess – Part 2, F&B - Alvinology

Cruising with Princess Cruises’ Sapphire Princess – Part 2, F&B

Bon Appétit!
Bon Appétit!

In this second post, I will cover on the F&B aspect on board Princess Cruises’ Sapphire Princess. The ship offers a mix of free dining options and speciality diners. Specially for the Asian cruises, there are Asian cuisines catered such as laksa, hot pots and even century eggs! For those who cannot stomach all western diets, fret not if you are cruising with Sapphire Princess.

Check out these items on their Asian menu:

Yes, they serve laksa on board Sapphire Princess!
Yes, they serve laksa on board Sapphire Princess!
Hot pot ingredient (cash top-up required)
Hot pot ingredient (cash top-up required)
Char Siew Pork - this was really good and I had two servings
Char Siew Pork – this was really good and I had two servings
Nasi briyani
Nasi briyani
Satays
Satays
Chinese-style sweet and sour pork
Chinese-style sweet and sour pork
Hainanese chicken and century eggs
Hainanese chicken and century eggs
I was really surprised to see century eggs as it is definitely not something which most westerners would enjoy - it's clearly catered for the Asian market
I was really surprised to see century eggs as it is definitely not something which most westerners would enjoy – it’s clearly catered for the Asian market

For lunch on the first day, we dined at the buffet bar:

Buffet dining area
Buffet dining area
The buffet spread
The buffet spread
Bread
Bread
Pastry breads
Pastry breads
Sandwiches
Sandwiches
Meat items
Meat items
Breaded shrimps
Breaded shrimps
Cookies and muffins
Cookies and muffins
Deserts galore
Deserts galore
Fruits
Fruits

We enjoyed our first night dinner at the a la carte dining hall:

Meatball spaghetti for Asher
Meatball spaghetti for Asher
Spring rolls
Spring rolls
Pumpkin soup
Pumpkin soup
Clear soup
Clear soup
Avocado, orange and shrimps starter
Avocado, orange and shrimps starter
Pork loin
Pork loin
Pasta main
Pasta main
Steak main
Steak main
Chocolate souffle
Chocolate souffle
Chocolate cheesecake
Chocolate cheesecake
Sweet desert
Sweet desert
The a la carte dining hall
The a la carte dining hall

For the next day breakfast, we went back to the a la carte dining hall again:

Assorted breads and pastries to choose from
Assorted breads and pastries to choose from
Pancakes
Pancakes
Bacon strips and eggs
Bacon strips and eggs
Egg benedicts
Egg benedicts
After a hearty breakfast
After a hearty breakfast

There are five main dining rooms on the ship. Dining options include Sabatini’s trattoria; Sterling Steakhouse; International Café; Vines wine bar; Alfredo’s Pizzeria; Trident Grill – poolside hamburger grill; Prego – poolside pizza bar; Sundaes ice cream bar; Horizon Court – buffet/bistro; and 24-hour room service.

Poolside bar
Poolside bar

My personal favourite was Sterling Steakhouse. For a cover charge of US$25 per pax, you get quality grilled steak and seafood in very generous portions:

The menu - cover charge of US$25 per pax
The menu – cover charge of US$25 per pax
Various cuts available in the steakhouse
Various cuts available in the steakhouse
Wine
Wine
Shrimp and pancetta bisque
Shrimp and pancetta bisque
Black tiger prawn and papaya salpicon
Black tiger prawn and papaya salpicon
Salad
Salad
Grilled fish main with breaded shrimps
Grilled fish main with breaded shrimps
I ordered an awesome surf n turf
I ordered an awesome surf n turf
The wait staff de shelled the lobster for me
The wait staff de shelled the lobster for me
#foodporn!
#foodporn!
14 ounces ribeye steak
14 ounces ribeye steak
10 ounces Filet Mignon
10 ounces Sterling cut Filet Mignon
That's a lot of meat to get you bangs for your bucks
That’s a lot of meat to get you bangs for your bucks
Pink
Pink
Assorted side dishes
Assorted side dishes
Creme brulee
Creme brulee
Chocolate lime tart
Chocolate lime tart
Chocolate cake
Chocolate cake

Kids’ favourite would have to be Alfredo’s Pizzeria, the poolside Trident Grill and the Sundaes ice cream bar. Asher loves pizzas and can wolf down half a pizza on his own:

Sundaes for everyone
Sundaes for everyone
Asher enjoying a chocolate cone
Asher enjoying a chocolate cone
Pizzeria by the pool
Pizzeria by the pool
Fresh from the oven
Fresh from the oven
Enjoying pizzas and fries with a view
Enjoying pizzas and fries with a view
Healthy pizza with avocado, tomato and mushroom toppings
Healthy pizza with avocado, tomato and mushroom toppings
Pizza always makes Asher happy
Pizza always makes Asher happy
Pizza with ham and cheese toppings
Pizza with ham and cheese toppings

Whenever we pop by the pool for a swim or to catch the breeze or a movie, Asher would always remember to ask me to get him a sundae or some fries and pizzas from the poolside F&B kiosks.

Poolside dining with a view
Poolside dining with a view

For the full dining experience on board Sapphire Princess, we even went for high tea once:

And everything stopped for tea
And everything stopped for tea
Fancy some cakes?
Fancy some cakes?
Enjoying high tea on board the ship
Enjoying high tea on board the ship
Little sandwiches
Little sandwiches
The wait staff will go around the tables serving small food items
The wait staff will go around the tables serving small food items
Scone with butter and jam
Scone with butter and jam
Taitai lifestyle
Taitai lifestyle

Throughout the 4D3N on board the ship, my family and I mostly dined at the à la carte dining halls for a more refined dining experience:

Asher enjoying his starter and learning to eat like a gentleman
Asher enjoying his starter and learning to eat like a gentleman
Meatloaf main
Meatloaf main
Steak main
Steak main

Occasionally when we feel a hunger pang in between breakfast, lunch or dinner, we will head to the buffet halls for a munch.

This year happens to be the 50th anniversary of Princess Cruises and the kitchen has specially prepared an unique anniversary menu for guests to savour some of their best creations through the years.

We got to try this as well during one of the dinners and enjoyed ourselves very much:

The special anniversary menu
The special anniversary menu
Assorted starters
Assorted starters
Porcini mushroom cappuccino soup
Porcini mushroom cappuccino soup
Salad with balsamic and walnut vinaigrette
Salad with balsamic and walnut vinaigrette
Blueberry mojito sorbet with candied lemon
Blueberry mojito sorbet with candied lemon
Fillet of turbot with truffles chive sauce
Fillet of turbot with truffles chive sauce
Malabar peppered beef tournadoes
Malabar peppered beef tournedos

If food is what you are most concerned about when cruising, this picture-filled post should be able to address your concerns. There are plenty of food options on board the Sapphire Princess, including Asian menu items. For a pleasant surprise, do try out their anniversary menu if you cruise with them this year.

If you are interested to try out cruising with Princess Cruises, further information about their roundtrip Singapore cruises is available by calling (+65) 6922-6788,or toll- free for Malaysia at 1 800 806656, or by visiting www.princess.com.

2 comments

  1. Hi Alvin. Just to check with you. Does the Sapphire Princess offer any behind the scene tour like the one u posted in Mariners of the Sea? TQ. I’m going with my 2 year old son and family next year Jan. After reading your post, we are getting more excited. Thanks for the sharing of ur thoughts on the cruise

  2. Hi Alvin. TQ for the review of the ship. My family and I will be going on this cruise in Jan 2016. Would like to find out from you, does Sapphire Princess have any behind the scene tour like the one u posted for Mariners of the Sea? Excited for our coming cruise trip. I think my 2 year old son will be happy like Asher! =)

Leave a Reply

Related Posts