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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