Key Aspects:
- A two-week dry dock has added two acclaimed specialty restaurants to Princess Cruises’ Sapphire Princess: Makoto Ocean and Crown Grill.
- The addition of Makoto Ocean, a sushi venue created by Chef Makoto Okuwa, comes as the ship is scheduled to operate a lengthy series of East Asia cruises in 2027.
- Crown Grill is a longtime guest favorite across the Princess Cruises’ fleet, serving premium beef and fresh seafood dishes.
There are two more specialty restaurants for guests to enjoy onboard Princess Cruises’ Sapphire Princess, a 2,670-guest ship that has emerged from a two-week dry dock renovation.
The Gem-class ship, which entered service in 2004, now features the line’s popular Makoto Ocean and Crown Grill, both of which will begin serving guests on November 16, 2025.
The dry dock, completed at a shipyard in Portland, Oregon, provided general maintenance across the ship, but the addition of the two eateries was the highlight of the refit.
Makoto Ocean is situated on Deck 7 in the space formerly occupied by the ship’s Internet Café, while Crown Grill was installed in the former Savoy dining room on Deck 5.
Both of the new venues come with a cover charge of $60 per person, but are included in the line’s Princess Premier package, which enables guests to enjoy unlimited dining at all specialty restaurants.
Crown Grill is a steakhouse offering entrees of premium aged beef and chops, along with fresh seafood, and is a traditional favorite among the line’s guests.
Makoto Ocean is Chef Makoto Okuwa’s Edomae-style sushi venue that was introduced on the line’s Sun Princess when she debuted in 2024 and is offered on the just-launched Star Princess. Its celebrated cuisine features items such as truffle salmon, snow crab temaki, and toro tartare.
Princess Cruises announced in August 2025 that it was planning to add Makoto Ocean to Sapphire Princess and Diamond Princess before the two ships begin their dual-deployment to East Asia in early 2027.
Both ships are Japanese-built. Diamond Princess, also a Gem-class ship that accommodates 2,670 guests, is traditionally based in the Japan market, but in 2027, the line will double its capacity in the region as it adds Sapphire Princess to its East Asia program.
“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, vice president of food and beverage at Princess Cruises.
“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,” added Kohen.
Sapphire Princess and Diamond Princess together will operate 78 cruise departures from the Tokyo region in 2027, with many itineraries taking advantage of Japan’s spring cherry blossom season and its summer festivals.
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She is currently sailing a 7-night Mexican Riviera cruise roundtrip from Los Angeles, and on October 15, 2025 will begin a 32-night South Pacific Islands & Hawaii voyage, also roundtrip from the City of Angels.
Sapphire Princess Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Wojciech Wrzesien)
The ship will depart for South America on November 16, 2025, sailing a 36-night Andes & Cape Horn Grand Adventure, ending in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The repositioning cruise sets up the ship for a series of South America cruises until March 2026, when she deploys to Rome.
The ship will sail the Mediterranean until May 2026, when she begins operating Northern Europe cruises for the summer 2026 season. In September 2026, Sapphire Princess will cross the Atlantic to Boston and offer fall itineraries to Canada/New England with cruises between Boston and Quebec City.
In December 2026, the ship will reposition to Southeast Asia for her series of cruises roundtrip from Tokyo and between Tokyo and Singapore through most of 2027.
Appeared first on: Cruisehive.com
