Princess Cruises ship emerges from major makeover
Yet another Princess Cruises ship, the 2,670-passenger Sapphire Princess, has undergone a major makeover.
The 7-year-old vessel this weekend emerged from three weeks of retrofitting in a dry dock that included the transformation of its atrium into a piazza-like area and the addition of a giant, deck-top movie screen.
Both of the features are signature items found across most of the Princess fleet, and the line has retrofitted a number of vessels in recent years to include them.
RELATED: Carnival ship emerges from major makeoverPHOTO TOUR: Look inside the Sapphire Princess
Designed as a social hub for passengers, the revamped atrium now includes a coffee shop called the International Café that serves pastries and paninis, and a wine bar called Vines that serves tapas and sushi. Also new in the area is Alfredo"s Pizzeria, a new concept at Princess first introduced last year aboard the 2,592-passenger Grand Princess. It serves up freshly prepared, hand-stretched, individual-size pizzas.
The Sapphire Princess is the last of the line"s 16 vessels to receive a deck-top movie screen. The line was a pioneer of the trend to add movie screens to the top decks of cruise ships and offers an extensive "Movies Under the Stars" program where passengers can watch feature films, concerts, awards shows and sports events at night from padded loungers. Passengers are given fleece blankets to keep them warm and served complimentary popcorn and other treats.
The makeover of the Sapphire Princess also brought new carpet, upholstery and tile work