After two weeks in dry dock in Portland, Oregon, Princess Cruises ' Sapphire Princess has set sail again, showcasing new onboard experiences, including the addition of two popular specialty restaurants: Makoto Ocean and Crown Grill, which will officially open to passengers on November 16, 2025.
The ship, weighing 115,875 tons and with a capacity for 2,670 passengers, has received general improvements and renovations, notably the transformation of two spaces into exclusive gastronomic experiences.
Following its successful debut on the Sun Princess and Star Princess ships, the Makoto Ocean restaurant now arrives on the Sapphire Princess, occupying the space formerly home to the Internet Café on deck 7. The restaurant offers the authentic mastery of chef Makoto Okuwa, renowned for his Edomae style of sushi.
Another major highlight of the renovation is the addition of the award-winning Crown Grill, which now occupies the space of the former Savoy Dining Room on Deck 5. This passenger favorite serves premium aged steaks, ribs, and fresh seafood. With its elegant design and attentive service, it has been recognized as one of the “Best Steakhouses at Sea.”.
Both dining experiences have a fixed price per person and are included as a specialty restaurant option for passengers who book the Princess Premier package.
Following its refurbishment, the Sapphire Princess begins its season sailing to Mexico, before repositioning itself to offer cruises to South America and Antarctica, followed by Mediterranean and Northern European itineraries during the spring and summer of 2026. In the fall of that same year, the ship will conduct a series of cruises to Canada and New England.
For the first time in the company's history, the sister ships Sapphire Princess and Diamond Princess will reunite in Japan in March 2027. Both vessels—built in Japan—will depart from the Tokyo region to kick off Princess Cruises' most extensive Japan cruise season ever, running from March to December 2027.
“With the addition of Makoto Ocean and Crown Grill, our guests aboard Sapphire Princess will be able to enjoy two of our most popular dining experiences, further elevating the culinary journey on every itinerary,” said Sami Kohen, Vice President of Food and Beverage at Princess Cruises. “We are especially proud to introduce these enhancements as Sapphire Princess prepares for extraordinary seasons, including our historic dual deployment to Japan in 2027.”
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