Sapphire Princess Kicks Off Epic Trans-Atlantic Journey, Bringing Mediterranean Magic and Northern European Wonders in 2026

Sapphire Princess kicks off its epic trans-Atlantic journey in 2026, bringing Mediterranean magic and Northern European wonders to its passengers. After a successful season in South America, the ship is now sailing from Buenos Aires to Europe, with a route that includes stops in iconic destinations like Rio de Janeiro, Casablanca, and Gibraltar. This journey offers travelers a perfect mix of Mediterranean charm with its historic cities and stunning coastlines, followed by the majestic beauty of Northern Europe, ensuring a remarkable cruise experience across two of the world’s most captivating regions.

The journey begins with a visit to Rio de Janeiro, one of Brazil’s most vibrant cities. Known for its stunning beaches, lively culture, and landmarks like the Christ the Redeemer statue, Rio de Janeiro offers travelers an unforgettable experience. The Sapphire Princess will continue its voyage to Arrecife de Lanzarote, a Spanish town in the Canary Islands, famous for its unique volcanic landscape and picturesque architecture.

Next, the ship will sail to Santa Cruz de Tenerife, another beautiful port in the Canary Islands, known for its sunny climate and rich cultural heritage. After Tenerife, the Sapphire Princess will head to Casablanca, Morocco, a city known for its mix of modernity and tradition, and its stunning Mediterranean coastline. Finally, the ship will make its way to Gibraltar, a British overseas territory that offers incredible views of the Mediterranean and the surrounding coastline, with attractions like the famous Rock of Gibraltar.

As the first Princess Cruises ship to reach Europe this year, the Sapphire Princess will kick off its Mediterranean spring season in early March. The upcoming season will feature a series of seven-night cruises, exploring the best of Europe’s Mediterranean coast, including Italy, Greece, France, Croatia, and Montenegro. Passengers will experience a perfect blend of rich history, stunning architecture, and scenic beauty.

In Italy, travelers will be able to visit the enchanting Amalfi Coast, the ruins of Pompeii, and the art-filled cities of Rome and Florence. Greece offers iconic sights like the Acropolis in Athens, and the charming Santorini, with its whitewashed buildings and breathtaking sunsets. In France, the ship will call on the glamorous Côte d’Azur, where the sun-drenched beaches and luxurious atmosphere make for a perfect holiday. Croatia will showcase the medieval beauty of Dubrovnik, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and Montenegro will offer visitors stunning coastal views and a glimpse into the past with its ancient towns and fortresses.

In May 2026, the Sapphire Princess will head to Northern Europe, where it will embark on a summer season from Copenhagen, Denmark. This new deployment will bring travelers to the majestic fjords of Norway, the chic cities of Sweden, and the tranquil landscapes of Finland. Copenhagen will serve as the homeport for this exciting adventure, providing access to a range of Northern European destinations.

Before embarking on this global journey, the Sapphire Princess underwent a comprehensive drydock in Portland, Oregon. The upgrade focused on maintenance work, technical improvements, and the addition of new specialty restaurants, ensuring that the ship maintains its high standards for luxury and service. The recent drydock revitalization will make the ship an even more attractive choice for travelers seeking comfort and adventure at sea.

In South America, the Sapphire Princess operated cruises departing from Argentina and Chile, allowing guests to discover the beauty of Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego. The vessel also offered scenic cruises in Antarctica, providing passengers with a rare and awe-inspiring experience of the icy wilderness at the southernmost tip of the world. This South American season provided guests with unforgettable memories of the natural world’s most remote and beautiful corners.

Looking ahead, the Majestic Princess will take over South American itineraries later in 2026. This larger ship will offer a series of cruises from Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, and more, from November 2026 to February 2027. As the Majestic Princess steps into South American waters, the Sapphire Princess will focus on the Far East and Southeast Asia, where it will join the Diamond Princess for exciting itineraries exploring regions like Japan, China, and Thailand.

The Sapphire Princess embarks on its epic trans-Atlantic journey in 2026, blending Mediterranean magic and Northern European wonders. After completing its South American season, the ship sails to Europe, offering a perfect mix of iconic destinations and unforgettable experiences.

The Sapphire Princess continues to be a key player in Princess Cruises’ fleet, offering an array of itineraries that highlight the best of the world’s most sought-after destinations. Whether in South America, the Mediterranean, or Northern Europe, the ship offers guests the chance to explore new cultures, landscapes, and experiences, all while enjoying the comfort and luxury that Princess Cruises is known for. This next chapter of the Sapphire Princess journey promises to deliver more unforgettable memories and spectacular adventures for all who board.

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Princess Cruises’ Sapphire Princess Concludes South America Deployment and Begins Mediterranean Season Transition

The Sapphire Princess, a 2,600‑passenger cruise ship under Princess Cruises, has officially concluded its 2025–26 winter deployment in South America and embarked on a trans‑Atlantic repositioning voyage to Europe on 11 February 2026 from Buenos Aires, Argentina. This marks the end of its season offering itineraries that explored key South American destinations, including Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego, scenic cruising in Antarctic waters, and departures from ports in Argentina and Chile. With the repositioning voyage, the Sapphire Princess will visit several ports across Brazil, Spain, Morocco and the United Kingdom before arriving in Barcelona, where it will launch into its spring Mediterranean season.

Sapphire Princess: Winter Highlights and Farewell to South America

The Sapphire Princess arrived in South America in late November 2025, following a repositioning voyage via the West Coast. Throughout the winter season, the vessel offered a variety of cruise options catering to travellers seeking both iconic landscapes and cultural immersion. These South American cruises included scenic explorations of Antarctica, allowing passengers to witness pristine polar landscapes and unique wildlife, as well as itineraries that ventured into the remote regions of Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego — destinations increasingly popular among expedition and adventure cruise guests.

Ports of call in South America served as gateways to both natural wonders and vibrant cities. Buenos Aires, the Argentine capital, offered cultural experiences before departure, while stops such as Rio de Janeiro presented a blend of iconic cityscapes and famous beaches. The winter season represented a valuable period for Princess Cruises to operate in a region with rising interest for seasonal itineraries that combine luxury cruising with rugged outdoors and immersive shore excursions.

Repositioning Voyage to Europe and Future Deployments

On 11 February 2026, the Sapphire Princess commenced its trans‑Atlantic crossing to reposition for its next deployment, marking it as the first Princess ship to reach Europe in 2026. The repositioning itinerary includes scheduled calls at Rio de Janeiro, Arrecife (Lanzarote), Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Casablanca and Gibraltar, before its ultimate arrival in Barcelona. Once in the Mediterranean, the vessel is set to embark on a spring season of seven‑night cruises visiting popular destinations such as Italy, Greece, France, Croatia and Montenegro.

Following the Mediterranean season, the Sapphire Princess will relocate to Northern Europe for summer deployment out of Copenhagen, Denmark, offering passengers opportunities to explore the scenic fjords, historic capitals and cultural treasures of Scandinavia and surrounding regions.

Late in 2026, Princess Cruises plans to return to the South American market with its larger vessel, the Majestic Princess, which will offer a new slate of itineraries through Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Chile and more during the 2026–27 winter season. This transition underscores Princess Cruises’ ongoing strategy to rotate vessels across global markets to maximise seasonal demand and passenger experiences.

Traveller Advantages: Diverse Experiences and Seasonal Variety

Extended Destination Diversity:
The conclusion of the South America season and transition to Europe highlights the global reach of cruise itineraries now available to passengers. Travellers on the Sapphire Princess had access to remote natural landscapes, such as Antarctica, alongside vibrant cities like Buenos Aires and Rio, combining adventure cruising with cultural immersion.

Seamless Seasonal Transitions:
For frequent cruisers, the repositioning voyage from South America to Europe offers a long–haul crossing with diverse port experiences, enabling passengers to enjoy multiple continents within a single itinerary. This approach also reduces the need for separate bookings to explore seasonal cruising regions.

Mediterranean and Northern Europe Options:
Once repositioned, the ship’s Mediterranean and Northern Europe deployments present travellers with popular and scenic cruising seasons, expanding options for cultural, historical and leisure travel across Europe’s most iconic destinations.

Traveller Disadvantages and Considerations

Seasonal Gaps:
With the Sapphire Princess departing South America, travellers based in the Southern Hemisphere no longer have homeported cruise options aboard this vessel until winter 2026–27 when Majestic Princess returns to the region, potentially limiting local access.

Cost and Logistics:
Long repositioning voyages can involve higher costs and more complex logistics, especially for travellers joining mid‑season or disembarking en route. The extensive journey may require additional airfare, transfers and accommodation plans.

Market Shifts:
While the Majestic Princess increases capacity in South America next season, travellers must adapt to new ship assignments, schedules and potentially different onboard experiences compared with those offered by Sapphire Princess.

Conclusion

The Sapphire Princess has formally wrapped up its winter season in South America, concluding months of scenic, culturally rich cruises from Buenos Aires and surrounding ports. As she charts a course across the Atlantic to Europe, passengers are offered an expansive travel narrative — from polar panoramas to Mediterranean wonders. The repositioning reflects Princess Cruises’ broader global deployment strategy, enabling diverse seasonal experiences across regions and ensuring travellers can explore new horizons year‑round. With Majestic Princess set to succeed Sapphire Princess in South American waters later this year, cruise tourism in the Southern Hemisphere continues to flourish, while passengers seeking summer adventures will find abundant options in the Mediterranean and Northern Europe.

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