SAPPHIRE PRINCESS

General information

Course/Position

Latest news

Medevac in Punta Arenas

During the call of the 'Punta Arenas' in Punta Arenas on Jan 24, 2024, a passenger had to be disembarked due to medical complications. The tourist, an adult man, was treated by the cruise ship's medical staff, who were initially in charge of stabilizing him to transfer him to shore. The ship's crew contacted the Puntarenas maritime authority to coordinate the disembarkation of the passenger and his partner, so that they could be transported to a healthcare center in a timely manner. Navy officials waited for the tourists at the Prat dock in Punta Arenas, from where they were transported in an ambulance to the RedSalud Magallanes Clinic. The 'Sapphire Princess' was on a 16-day cruise that began in the Port of San Antonio and is to end in Buenos Aires. Report with photo: https://laprensaaustral.cl/2024/01/25/en-punta-arenas-desembarcan-a-pasajero-del-crucero-sapphire-princess-por-problema-de-salud/

Mdevac off San Diego

The US Coast Guard medically evacuated an 82-year-old man from the 'Sapphire Princess' approximately 270 miles off the San Diego coast on Oct 17, 2022. The ship had contacted Coast Guard Sector San Diego Joint Harbor Operations Center watchstanders requesting a medevac for a man experiencing heart attack symptoms. A Sector San Diego MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew launched to the position, while receiving air support from a Coast Guard Air Station Sacramento HC-27J Spartan airplane aircrew. Once on the scene, the Jayhawk crew hoisted the man and transported him back to Sector San Diego, where San Diego EMS was standing by. The EMS crew transported the patient to Scripps Memorial Hospital Hillcrest in stable condition.

Changes in itineraries due to coronavirus

The Princess Cruise Line has cancelled five departures of the Diamond Princess' from Yokohama, the port for Tokyo where it has been stuck for more than two weeks. The cruise line says this is due to the ship’s prolonged quarantine period, and the anticipated time to prepare the ship to return to service. The ship was currently due to return to service on April 29, in time for the start of Japan’s Golden Week celebrations. Cruises have also been cancelled on 'Majestic Princess' all the way up to and including April 2. These included a series of round-trip departures from Keeling, the port for Taipei. Cruises on the 'Sapphire Princess' have been cancelled all the way up to and including Oct 22. These included a whole series of round-trips from Shanghai, and other cruises departing from Singapore, Yokohama and Hong Kong. The 'Sapphire Princess' will redeploy to Australia six months earlier than planned, and 44 new cruises from five major cities will be introduced as new itineraries to replace the cancelled Asia programme. This new year-long programme in Australia will go on sale from Feb 27. All booked guests on cancelled voyages will receive a full refund of their cruise fare, air fares (if booked with Princess), hotel packages, pre-paid shore excursions, along with a future cruise credit. The 'Queen Elizabeth' will no longer cbe alling at Hong Kong on March 31 and Shanghai on April 4, with replacement ports yet to be announced. The 'Queen Mary 2’s voyage from Asia to Australia has been modified with the introduction of the following Australian ports: Darwin on Feb 24-25 and Yorkneys Knob (for Cairns) on Feb 29. After sailing to Airlie Beach, the ship reverts to the original itinerary. Cruise & Maritime Voyages’ 'Columbus' will no longer call at Tianjin (for Beijing) on March 17 or Hong Kong on March 23, which has been replaced by Chan May in Vietnam. Norwegian Cruise Line cancelled the departure of the 'Norwegian Jade' from Singapore on Feb 17. In addition, all sailings in Asia on the 'Norwegian Spirit' have been cancelled from April 15 through to Dec 7. Instead, the newly refurbished ship will set sail on a series of 17-, 20- and 28-day voyages spanning three continents, including departures from Dubai, United Arab Emirates on March 2; and Cape Town, South Africa on March 22, 2020, before homeporting in Piraeus (for Athens) for the first time on April 19. She will then offer a season of seven-day voyages to the Greek islands, Turkey, and Israel through to November 8. Compensation?Passengers have a choice between cancelling and receiving a full refund, or remaining onboard the affected sailing and getting 50 per cent of their cruise fare credited back. After Holland America Line’s 'Westerdam' was diverted to Sihanoukville, Cambodia, arriving on Feb 13, the next voyage was cancelled. As a further precaution, the line has cancelled two further cruises departing on February 29. These are a 14-day Taiwan & Japan sailing, and a 28-day Taiwan, Japan and South Korea itinerary. Compensation? Guests will receive a full refund, and a future cruise credit for 50 per cent of the cruise fare paid.