Princess Cruises’ Sapphire Princess has returned to service following a two-week drydock in Portland, Oregon, unveiling new guest experiences that include the addition of two specialty restaurants—Makoto Ocean and Crown Grill—which open to guests on November 16, 2025. The 115,875-ton ship, with capacity for 2,670 guests, also received general refurbishments and venue enhancements designed to refresh onboard facilities ahead of upcoming deployments.
The drydock transformed two existing spaces into specialty dining venues and updated public areas in preparation for a busy schedule that spans Mexico, South America/Antarctica, Europe and North America through 2026. The line confirms both new dining experiences are priced at $60 per person and are included as part of the Princess Premier package, positioning Sapphire Princess with an expanded culinary offering as it moves between regions.
Makoto Ocean and Crown Grill Debut on Sapphire Princess
Makoto Ocean Sushi by Chef Makoto Okuwa arrives on Sapphire Princess following its acclaimed debut aboard Sun Princess and Star Princess. Occupying the former Internet Café on Deck 7, the venue brings an Edomae-style sushi program at sea, emphasizing meticulous technique and premium ingredients. The menu features truffle salmon, snow crab temaki and toro tartare, alongside cocktail pairings such as the Genmai Negroni—described as a refined Japanese twist on the classic—and Kodai No Hana, blending yuzu juice with Doburoku, an ancient style of sake.
The award-winning Crown Grill steakhouse replaces the former Savoy Dining Room on Deck 5. Long recognized among “Best Cruise Ship Steakhouses at Sea,” the restaurant serves premium aged beef, chops and fresh seafood in a warm, elegant setting with attentive service. With these additions, Sapphire Princess aligns its dining lineup with guest favorites already established across the fleet, aiming to deliver consistency for repeat cruisers and expanded choice for first-time guests.
Both restaurants carry a cover charge of $60 per person and are included within the Princess Premier package, offering bundled value for guests who opt into the line’s top-tier amenities. The updated dining footprint also redistributes demand across specialty and inclusive venues, a common objective following mid-life refits that target guest experience improvements and ancillary revenue optimization.
Announcing the enhancements, “With the addition of Makoto Ocean and Crown Grill, our guests aboard Sapphire Princess will enjoy two of our most popular dining experiences, elevating the culinary journey across her itineraries,” said Sami Kohen, Princess Cruises Vice President of Food and Beverage. “We’re especially proud to bring these enhancements as Sapphire Princess prepares for remarkable seasons ahead, including our historic dual-ship deployment in Japan in 2027.”
Itineraries and Deployment Through 2027
Fresh from refurbishment, Sapphire Princess now sails to Mexico before repositioning for a season of South America/Antarctica cruises. The ship then moves to Europe for Mediterranean and Northern Europe voyages in spring and summer 2026, followed by a Canada/New England series in fall 2026. This sequence places the updated dining venues before a wide cross-section of source markets that traditionally book culinary-focused experiences and longer itineraries.
Looking further ahead, Princess Cruises confirms a first for the brand in March 2027: a reunion of sister ships Sapphire Princess and Diamond Princess in Japan. Both vessels, built in Japan, will operate from the Tokyo region in what the line describes as its most expansive Japan season to date, running March through December 2027. The dual-ship presence increases capacity and itinerary variety in a market where the brand has deep operational history and year-over-year demand.
The timing of the culinary enhancements allows the line to showcase new venues as the ship rotates between hemispheres and seasons. Mexico cruises provide immediate exposure to North American guests through late 2025, while the South America/Antarctica deployment taps into expedition-leaning travelers who often prioritize premium dining after intensive port days. European programs in 2026 typically attract a mix of international guests booking far in advance, creating multiple windows to drive specialty dining reservations over consecutive seasons.
Public-area refreshes completed during the drydock contribute to overall product consistency, although the headline changes are concentrated in the two specialty restaurants. By replacing the Deck 7 Internet Café with Makoto Ocean and converting the Deck 5 Savoy Dining Room to Crown Grill, the line trades lower-yield or legacy layouts for contemporary, branded venues with clear positioning and price points. The $60 per person cover joins the roster of fleetwide specialty charges, while inclusion within Princess Premier provides a defined upsell pathway during booking and onboard.
For travel sellers and destination partners, the ship’s schedule underlines an emphasis on globally diversified deployment. The South America/Antarctica season supports port communities across southern latitudes during peak austral summer, the Mediterranean and Northern Europe stretch aligns with high-season tourism in 2026, and the Canada/New England series targets the autumn-leaves market later that year. The expanded Japan season in 2027, with two sister ships operating from the Tokyo region, signals increased capacity for roundtrip and open-jaw itineraries oriented around cultural, culinary and seasonal experiences.
Princess Cruises positions Sapphire Princess as a platform for recognizable fleetwide concepts—now including Makoto Ocean and Crown Grill—that can be marketed consistently across regions. The combination of post-drydock enhancements, specialty dining additions and a multi-year deployment plan indicates a steady product strategy as the brand readies one of its Japan-built ships for a marquee return to its country of construction.
Makoto Ocean and Crown Grill open to guests on November 16, 2025. Specialty dining is priced at $60 per person and is included for Princess Premier guests. Sapphire Princess continues its current program before embarking on South America/Antarctica itineraries, European seasons in 2026 and a Canada/New England run in fall 2026, ahead of the dual-ship Japan deployment with Diamond Princess from March through December 2027.
