Sapphire Princess Sets Sail Refreshed: Two New Dining Venues Debut Ahead of Global Itineraries

Cruise-loving travellers have plenty of reasons to get excited with the recent dry dock of Princess Cruises’ iconic Sapphire Princess, now sporting two fresh specialty dining venues: Makoto Ocean and the ever-popular Crown Grill.

Over a two-week stint in Portland, Oregon, Princess Cruises gave the 2,670-guest Gem-class ship a comprehensive spruce-up. The headline act? The debut of Makoto Ocean—a sushi restaurant from acclaimed chef Makoto Okuwa—nestled on Deck 7 where the Internet Café used to be, and the fleet favourite Crown Grill, now claiming pride of place on Deck 5 in what was once the Savoy dining room.

Both venues open for guests from 16 November 2025. While each restaurant carries a cover charge of $60 per person, guests on the Princess Premier package can tuck in across all specialty restaurants without an extra bill landing at their table—a treat for food-loving cruisers.

Crown Grill has long held legendary status among Princess regulars, serving up premium aged beef, juicy chops, and fresh seafood in a slick steakhouse setting. Makoto Ocean, on the other hand, brings Edomae-style sushi to sea, with truffle salmon, snow crab temaki, and toro tartare among the mouth-watering menu options. Fans of the line might recognise the name: Makoto Ocean first wowed diners on Sun Princess in 2024 and is also a highlight on the new Star Princess.

This isn’t just a one-off upgrade. The Makoto Ocean experience will also appear on Diamond Princess before both Japanese-built ships double Princess’ capacity in East Asia for 2027—a historic dual-ship deployment offering more departures and more ways to savour Japan’s spring cherry blossoms and vibrant summer festivals.

“It’s all about elevating the culinary journey,” said Sami Kohen, Princess Cruises’ Vice President of Food and Beverage, announcing the upgrades as Sapphire Princess readies for “remarkable seasons ahead,” including that milestone dual-ship Japan program.

But it’s not just about Japan. Until early 2027, Sapphire Princess’ ambitious itinerary includes:

• A 7-night Mexican Riviera roundtrip voyage from Los Angeles.
• A 32-night South Pacific Islands & Hawaii journey, also roundtrip LA, kicking off 15 October 2025.
• The epic 36-night Andes & Cape Horn Grand Adventure, departing LA on 16 November and culminating in Buenos Aires.
• A South America cruise series until March 2026, before repositioning to Rome for Mediterranean adventures.
• European summer cruises in Northern Europe, then fall voyages to Canada and New England from Boston.
• Finally, a repositioning to Southeast Asia for Tokyo and Singapore sailings throughout most of 2027.

With a world of flavours and destinations now on board, Princess Cruises’ Sapphire Princess is set to deliver even more unforgettable journeys—delighting foodies and explorers alike as it sails boldly into its next chapter.