Diamond Princess Review: The Most Unique Princess Ship, With Exclusive Amenities and One Big Absence

[@DavidGidney]

Sailing on Diamond next week to NZ. Looking forward to this and really liked your analysis!!

[@TheCruiseandTravelGuy]

Have a fantastic time! It's such a beautiful ship!

[@AndrewNRhonda]

We love your very informative and frank reviews. Our appetite for the Diamond has been heightened after watching your video. We sail in just over a week! Thanks again for your great support for the Australian cruise industry.

[@TheCruiseandTravelGuy]

Ahh thanks so much! 🙏🏼

[@blacksorrento4719]

Thank you for honest and informative appraisal. We sail on her 22day repositioning cruise to Japan via SE Asia 21/2/25 which I believe is sold out. So looking forward it. I have read many reviews, mostly good, some disparaging ones, you can’t please everyone however! Hope you manage a longer 🛳️ on her next time 😊

[@andrewedge422]

We are heading on the same cruise. Great review.

[@TheCruiseandTravelGuy]

Thanks so much - have a fantastic cruise onboard. She’s lovely, and I wish I could have sailed on her for longer.

[@bee17167]

Did a 23 day cruise on the diamond from Sydney to China was one of the best cruses i have done great ship food Entertaiment shore excursions two days in Hong Kong would highly recommend this ship they had a free grill on the pool deck chicken Bergers hot dogs and some of the cocktails were great.

[@moniques333]

So looking forward to cruising on the Diamond Princess for my first ever cruise in January 🙂 Thank you for sharing this with us 🙏

[@TheCruiseandTravelGuy]

Enjoy your first cruise!

[@jdb316]

I sailed Diamond Princess in Japan this past summer. I agree that, other than the pool, it didn’t feel very crowded, even during sea days. But the ship’s age clearly shows in the decor and cabin furnishings.

[@alexcornish8811]

Great review, will be spending 2 weeks on it over the Christmas and new year period

[@TheCruiseandTravelGuy]

Enjoy your time onboard! I’d love to spend two weeks on her haha.

[@BrendaVanderwey]

Loved the Diamond Skywalkers bar for Elite and Platinum cruisers during the set time. Going on Crown next year and they also have the Skywalkers as well, and many more places to eat and drink. Size of the latest ships are getting a bit much for my liking, but the cruiselines wanted to cram more people onboard. 😂

[@karenfanias9760]

We cruise on Diamond in December, cannot wait although my hubby will be sad at no International Cafe… he loves his coffee. We will certainly be spend a lunch or dinner or two at Izumi

[@TheCruiseandTravelGuy]

Enjoy!

[@susiegeorge4973]

One of our favourite Princess ships. If you like dancing and live music there are many venues such as Club Fusion, Explorers Lounge, Wheelhouse Bar and Crooners Bar with activities most nights. Most of these venues are found only on the Grand Class ships. On the newer Royal Class Princess ships most of the dancing and live music is in the atrium/piazza only. We also love the ambience of the atrium which has a Greek or Roman Palace feel.

[@saramoroney6136]

Can’t wait to sail on her - The Izumi experience is definitely calling my name! 🧖🏼‍♀️

[@troyturner1986]

Hey Adrian, 100% agree with you that Diamond Princess is the best ship in the fleet. We have sail on the Diamond 4 times, one of those was a Christmas and New Years 19 night Singapore to Sydney cruise back in 2005. She has had many changes over the years and have been able to enjoy them all. Also her sister ship the Sapphire Princess that we spent a 16 night Beijing to Singapore cruise on is just as good. Both ship have such an open atmosphere that ships these days kind of lack and with the rear facing outdoor seating areas on the Diamond and Sapphire that are a relaxing spot to sit and enjoy a drink. As you mentioned about the fire and the name change, did you know that before the fire and during the hull construction the ship builder place a Diamond gem in the bottom of the hull on the original Diamond Princess and a Sapphire gem in the bottom of the hull on the original Sapphire Princess, these were never changed after the fire like the names were. Hope you get to experience these two wonderful ships again and for longer soon, as so do I. Keep up the great content.

[@TheCruiseandTravelGuy]

Thanks Troy! Didn’t know that about the gems being based in the hull - how cool! Another nod to their past/intended names. Happy cruising.

[@ingridmccarthy0707]

My favourite too! 24 nt repositioning cruise from Sydney to Beijing in 2013 and Japan in 2018. Hong Kong to Singapore in 2015 on Sapphire. Love them! Miss the International Café though.

[@julianigoe1291]

You are making me even more excited for my cruise starting next Saturday 😃😃😃

[@TheCruiseandTravelGuy]

Hope you enjoyed!

[@markt9805]

Great video, I did a 14 night circumnavigation of Japan this year on HAL’s Westerdam and loved Japan. I will definitely go back to Japan and sail on the Diamond Princess but for a longer cruise or maybe back to back cruises.

[@TheCruiseandTravelGuy]

Thanks for watching! I would love to try a cruise with HAL one day.

[@danielodonoghue3529]

We have a quick 4 day sea-cation to Brisbane ex-Melbourne this weekend. Disappointed regarding cafe and casual dining (I don't eat sushi)...but looking forward to trying Princess for the first time.

[@TheCruiseandTravelGuy]

Hope you enjoyed Diamond! What did you think?

[@danielodonoghue3529]

@ still onboard. The refits have helped to give it a relatively modern feel in common areas. The cabins are showing their age but very comfortable nonetheless. We ate at Sabatinis last night and it was the best food we have eaten at sea! Nice small ship vibes and a spacious laid back feel. Would certainly consider her again for a short itinerary.

[@TheCruiseandTravelGuy]

@ sounds lovely! Enjoy the rest of the voyage.

[@Chris23168]

Great video. How do we prebook kai sushi? Other dining options are available to book prior to boarding but not this one!

[@TheCruiseandTravelGuy]

Thanks for watching. Kai is a casual venue, so it doesn’t take reservations online. You shouldn’t have any issues getting a table when you’re onboard during the lunch or dinner service - the restaurant is quite large. We just walked in on a sea day.

[@suerobinson844]

Hi Adrian, Good review. We had 3 weeks on her in May to June around Japan. There was plenty of Japanese food in the buffet. I didn't like the open walk through in the Japanese restaurant. Definitely our favourite Princess ship. I didn't use the Japanese bath but I saw the entrance. There is a free adult only pool, with two spas outside near the Day Spa. Also a sauna in the ladies showers and toilets. Which I used a lot. Happy cruising 🛳 ❤ from Queensland

[@PhilZamagias]

Thanks for the review Adrian. It was good to see you onboard. My first ever cruise was on the DP in 2012 so she is a sentimental favourite. Pity they haven’t added the International Cafe yet. The Japanese cultural influences make it extra special. We eventually worked out how to use the electronic toilets 😂. I agree that it is a good ship for classic cruising without feeling crowded. The passenger to space ratio is one of the best you’ll find.

[@gazstaf]

I too love this ship

[@CherylSanderson-k9v]

Hi Adrian. Not sure if you can help me. I'm sailing on the Diamond soon which unfortunately I was convinced to book with a US company (not again!). I have since found your channel. With my booking the company is telling me I have to pay USD$60 per day for Princess Plus. Would this be correct that I can't pay the AUD$65 per day as I am an Australian citizen? Thanks for your help in anticipation.

[@TheCruiseandTravelGuy]

Sorry we didn’t have a chance to properly catch up!

[@robbroere1384]

Did my second Cruise on the Diamond Princess in 2019 around Japan and Taiwan. Loved the Izumi , Onsen, experience, which on a Japan Cruise was mandated to be naked matching the 90% Japanese customers on board. Found unfortunately that Princess did not change their food offering too much US based, probably matching the “standard” Princess offering. I think cruise lines should have food offerings more based on where the ships operate.

[@RyanCameron]

My first encounter with the Diamond Princess was when I was taking my first cruise on the Carnival Panorama (my first time not on a Princess ship). The Diamond Princess was anchored just outside the port in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico before she was brought back online from the pandemic shutdown. When sunset arrived, the Diamond Princess looked as if she was sailing off into the sunset and I managed to get several photos of her. I thought it was amusing that my best photo from my first Carnival cruise was of a Princess ship. When Princess brought the Diamond back online, they had her home porting out of San Diego for a couple months, so I wanted to take one of the cruises as she’s not likely to be back in Southern California for the foreseeable future. I thought it would be a shame to have this amazing photo of this ship and not have it seen, so I brought a couple prints of it and left them at Guest Services for the Captain and the Cruise Director. I had no expectation beyond a thank you note, but I ended up invited to dine at the Captain’s table on one of the formal nights and a tour of the bridge and given a crest of the ship, a Stanley bear, and a model of the ship to take home. It truly was the best cruise I’ve ever taken. The Captain asked if I’d be willing to send the digital file so he could have it made into large prints to hang in the officer and crew dining rooms, which I was more than happy to do. I never got confirmation it was done, but it makes me smile thinking my photo is being enjoyed by her crew. I was so touched by my experience on the Diamond Princess that I returned to the port the following week after my cruise end to capture her return to San Diego in additional photos. I even got my request for air clearance approved for drone shots with the government. My sunrise photo of her return to San Diego is another special one in my collection that compliments the sunset in Mexico. I put together a short video of my drone footage that is up on my KZbin channel. Needless to say the Diamond Princess occupies a very special place in my heart.

[@TheCruiseandTravelGuy]

What a brilliant story, thanks for sharing!

[@gazstaf]

Definitely my fav Princess Ship

[@davidoquias6061]

Mine too. Singapore vietnam Thailand singapore

[@LinkeLifestyleAsWeSeeIt]

Hi Adrian, I think we were on the same time! It was our first time on Diamond and we'll be doing a review on our channel shortly. Spoiler: we loved it! I can't go back on this beautiful ship. You've gotta love that medallion technology too, so much better than digging out a cruise card to get your cabin door open! I was looking for Alfredo's the whole time we were on, one of the waiters in the MDR told us it was going to happen but now I can see why all the other crew just looked at me blankly when I asked!

[@TheCruiseandTravelGuy]

Great, I'll keep an eye out for your review! The Medallion is top notch, love it. No Alfredo's and no International Cafe is a bummer though.

[@calumshaw]

Coral P is No 1 with us, but Diamond runs a very close 2nd. On our last Diamond P cruise around Japan we reckoned her crew was the best of any of our 23 Princess cruises we've sailed on - (Regal P being the worst)!! You just can't beat a wrap around promenade deck, one of the reasons why Island P is not top rated with us despite sailing on her several times. And you are spot on when mentioning there's no International Café!!! We're looking forward to the Diamond P NZ Xmas/New Years Eve cruise in 71 days.

[@RobertHansenRob]

Thanks for the review. We sail on her in 16 days to NZ. My favourite has been the Coral princess till now however will see how the Diamond princess goes.

[@TheCruiseandTravelGuy]

I think you might enjoy Diamond in a similar way to Coral (save for no International Cafe). In my opinion, Diamond wins for outer deck space with a much more usable aft section.

[@plasmaDave]

Thanks for the review, we are on the ship in January so very interesting 👍

[@TheCruiseandTravelGuy]

Enjoy your upcoming cruise!

[@asherthomas3851]

Are you going to do a full ship tour Video

[@TheCruiseandTravelGuy]

I'm working on it... it's not a full tour, but nearly complete. The cruise was just too short to record every inch of the ship, but I managed to get most of it captured.

[@chucknorris8704]

NO International Cafe is a dealbreaker!!!

[@TheCruiseandTravelGuy]

It’s definitely a glaring omission. And they have the space to build one!

[@llwil2003]

Sad!

[@bradmoon9574]

Have sailed on Diamond and Saphire and think that these two ships are the best ships in fleets. Like you have said plenty of room and enjoy the smaller number of guests for size of ship.

[@volrathy1]

are you going on the Discovery Princess for the 25/26 season ? It will be the first time Australia gets a relatively new ship only 3 years old when it gets here

[@anneclough7064]

It is not the first time we have had a new ship. My husband and I sailed on Majestic Princess from Auckland to Sydney in 2018 when she was only one year old!

[@TheCruiseandTravelGuy]

I’ll actually be on Discovery in a few weeks time. I’ll share a review and tour here on the channel (and live trip updates on instagram/facebook stories) well before her arrival down under later next year. I do have another cruise booked on DP for while she’s in Australia too.

[@anneclough7064]

@@TheCruiseandTravelGuy Which Discovery Princess cruise are you on in 25-26? We are doing the Southern Australia one leaving Sydney on Feb 28th.

[@TheCruiseandTravelGuy]

@@anneclough7064 I’ll be onboard in January 😁

[@mikemcmanus2049]

terrific ship and Grand class even better. the newer ships just dont have the character and vibe but still great experiences with Princess. These are "right size" ships

[@dottii1]

Wow, thanks for that review. My experience on Diamond was very different so I may have to give her another chance. The food was very disappointing on my cruise.

[@TheCruiseandTravelGuy]

Thanks for watching! I found the food in the dining room wasn’t as good as my recent cruise on Royal Princess, so maybe that marries up with your experience.

[@danellehodgson1711]

Does Diamond have a full wrap around promenade deck?

[@TheCruiseandTravelGuy]

Yes she does. It technically ascends from deck 7 to 8 around the bow of the ship, but it is a wrap-around deck.

[@danellehodgson1711]

@ Thank you. We are doing a 4 day staycation on Diamond in February as we want to do a cruise around Japan on Diamond in 2026. We thought it was a perfect opportunity to try before we commit to a longer cruise.

[@TheCruiseandTravelGuy]

@ sounds like a good plan. Hopefully you enjoy your time onboard.

[@johnathanwetherill456]

As some one who gets up at 4am no international cafe will be a killer for me . I need that double espresso by 4.10 am . LOL

[@TheCruiseandTravelGuy]

lol!

[@traceywoodward3136]

I have a question about the lotus pool, please? Is it free to use?

[@TheCruiseandTravelGuy]

Yes it is, but typically its reserved for adults only.

[@traceywoodward3136]

@@TheCruiseandTravelGuy thank you.

[@jutarzo]

Oir first cruise and our honeymoon was on Diamond Princess, some time ago now, but it got us hooked. I don't find it the best in the fleet.

[@philiprachtman1217]

A couple of questions. Is it cheaper to book shore excursions before travel. Also if you look at the non alcoholics drinks the price says $27.42 per person per day but if you go into terms and conditions it says "The Classic Soda Package is USD $14.99 per day plus 18% service charge (totaling $17.69 per day) for all itineraries except Australia. The package is AUD $23 per day which includes a service charge for all Australian based vessels." why is there a difference?

[@TheCruiseandTravelGuy]

The shore excursion cost is the same, whether booked before the cruise via the Princess website or onboard. The sorts of price differences you note are evident across other examples as well. It's true of specialty dining and casual dining venues, some of which are USD$14.99 but come to AUD$23 on local sailings. I don't know the reason, I'm sure they've pegged the cost taking into account currency fluctuations, but apart from that I have no other knowledge about it.

[@ColinMizen]

We think we must have been on the same cruise to Melbourne (Much too short) Agree with your comments but thought the buffet was a bit small and lacked variety, we spent a lot of time looking for the international Cafe We are booked on two more Diamond cruises in Nov & Feb The one hidden feature is the Grand Suite Cabin 11748 (check out the u tube video) there is only one and it is half the width of the ship, we were lucky to secure it for next Feb - my wifes 70th Birthday We wish we had known you were on the ship we wouldhave certainly said hello.

[@TheCruiseandTravelGuy]

Way, way too short! Blink and it’s over kind of short haha. Yes, agree about the buffet - rather small, I didn’t actually eat there but walked through during a lunch time to see what was available.

[@andrewboatman8391]

My wife and I were on this cruise, and an adjacent 2 night short hop (so 4 nights total). Our experience was not as good as what Adrian describes. The Medallion App was glitchy, meals were a bit hit and miss, and staff sometimes quite inattentive. Specialty Dining was, I thought, quite expensive - if you didn't have an inclusive package. The additional cost for dining at Sabatinis was twice as much as it was just two years ago (on other Princess ships). I agree absolutely with Adrian, though, about the spaciousness of the ship. (But) I think that he was overgenerous with his description of the Promenade deck experience. A deck change is required forward (from Deck 7 up to Deck 8); and over the period that we were embarked, Deck 8 was often closed due to slightly rough sea state, and not reopened even when the sea moderated. (And the smoking area seemed too well populated - by crew and pax - whenever I walked the deck.). It's difficult to make a definitive judgment based on just 4 nights, but our experience was very much less positive than our Pre-Covid and immediate Post-Covid experiences with Princess.

[@TheCruiseandTravelGuy]

Meals weren't up to the standard I had experienced previously either and I mentioned this. We were totally spoiled on Royal Princess earlier this year. The promenade deck stairs are standard for the Grand Class ships, but this doesn't make it any less of a wraparound deck. This is also the case on the Radiance Class and Voyager Class ships of Royal Caribbean. If you're familiar with the Royal Class ships, you'll know what a step backwards they were in terms of their promenade deck offering.

[@gandjconway30]

So, Adrian, does that mean Sapphire is better than Diamond and therefore the best in the fleet?

[@TheCruiseandTravelGuy]

*taps nose*👃🏼 I think it might. I’m already trying to find a cruise on her…

[@jackredmond6023]

Crime against Humanity!!! 😂 When you’re right, you’re right…

[@TheCruiseandTravelGuy]

🤣

[@pmacgowan]

Been on her twice already

[@Ambientmopar]

🛳🛳🛳

[@davec1034]

Sounds like a unique experience. hmmmm? 🤔. No International Cafe is a deal breaker for my good lady. 😥

[@TheCruiseandTravelGuy]

It's a big omission, no IC is definitely a disappointment.

[@maxtangermann7913]

I didn'tlike the ship The Horizon food place is awful. This year cruise with Diamond Princess was awfu; Give me majestis princess any day

[@TheCruiseandTravelGuy]

The design of the buffet is very dated and compact, typical of the Grand Class ships unfortunately. I didn't eat there during our 2 night cruise, so didn't have anything to say about it.