Diamond Princess
Cruise line
Princess Cruises
Diamond Princess current position
Diamond Princess current location is at East Asia (coordinates 32.66597 N / 133.93271 E) cruising at speed of 17 kn (31 km/h | 20 mph) en route to Keelung. The AIS position was reported 2 minutes ago.
All Itineraries Current PositionCurrent itinerary of Diamond Princess
Diamond Princess current cruise is 20 days, one-way from Yokohama to Brisbane. Prices start from USD 1799 (double occupancy rates). The itinerary starts on 04 Sep, 2024 and ends on 24 Sep, 2024.
Date / Time | Port |
---|---|
04 Sep 16:00 | Departing from Yokohama, Tokyo, Japan Kanagawa hotels |
05 Sep 07:00 - 14:00 | Shimizu, Japan Shizuoka |
06 Sep 09:00 - 21:00 | Kobe-Osaka, Kyoto, Japan |
09 Sep 07:00 - 18:00 | Keelung, Taipei City, Taiwan China |
11 Sep 07:00 - 18:00 | Hong Kong, China |
13 Sep 08:00 - 18:00 | Manila, Luzon Island Philippines |
20 Sep 07:00 - 18:00 | Alotau, Papua New Guinea |
21 Sep 07:00 - 18:00 | Conflict Islands PNG, Papua New Guinea |
24 Sep | Arriving in Brisbane, Queensland Australia hotels |
Specifications of Diamond Princess
Year of build | 2004 / Age: 20 |
Flag state | United Kingdom |
Builder | Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (Nagasaki, Japan) |
Class | PRINCESS GRAND |
Building cost | USD 400 million |
Speed | 23 kn / 43 km/h / 26 mph |
Length (LOA) | 290 m / 951 ft |
Beam (width) | 48 m / 157 ft |
Gross Tonnage | 115906 gt |
Passengers | 2706 - 3247 |
Crew | 1100 |
Passengers-to-space ratio | 36 |
Decks | 16 |
Cabins | 1353 |
Decks with cabins | 8 |
Last Refurbishment | 2020 |
Sister-ships | Caribbean Princess, Crown Princess, Emerald Princess, Golden Princess (Pacific Adventure), Grand Princess, Ruby Princess, Sapphire Princess, Star Princess (Pacific Encounter) |
Christened by | Yoshiko Tsukuda |
Owner | Carnival Corporation & PLC |
Operator | Princess Cruise Lines Ltd (USA) |
Diamond Princess Itineraries
Date | Itinerary | Departure Port | Price from |
---|---|---|---|
2024 Aug 15 | 20 days, round-trip Grand Japan with Kumano Fireworks | Yokohama | |
2024 Aug 25 | 10 days, round-trip Japan Explorer | Yokohama | |
2024 Sep 04 | 20 days, one-way from Yokohama to Brisbane | Yokohama | $1799 |
2024 Sep 04 | 22 days, one-way from Yokohama to Sydney | Yokohama | |
2024 Sep 04 | 24 days, one-way from Yokohama to Melbourne | Yokohama | |
2024 Sep 04 | 29 days, one-way from Yokohama to Adelaide | Yokohama | |
2024 Sep 24 | 2 days, one-way from Brisbane to Sydney | Brisbane | |
2024 Sep 24 | 4 days, one-way from Brisbane to Melbourne | Brisbane | |
2024 Sep 26 | 2 days, one-way from Sydney to Melbourne | Sydney | |
2024 Sep 26 | 7 days, one-way from Sydney to Adelaide | Sydney | |
2024 Sep 26 | 9 days, one-way from Sydney to Melbourne | Sydney | |
2024 Sep 28 | 5 days, one-way from Melbourne to Adelaide | Melbourne | |
2024 Sep 28 | 7 days, round-trip Southern Australia Explorer | Melbourne | $839 |
2024 Oct 03 | 19 days, round-trip New Zealand | Adelaide | $1599 |
2024 Oct 05 | 14 days, round-trip New Zealand | Melbourne | |
2024 Oct 19 | 7 days, round-trip Southern Australia Explorer | Melbourne | $789 |
2024 Oct 22 | 21 days, round-trip New Zealand | Adelaide | |
2024 Oct 26 | 14 days, round-trip New Zealand | Melbourne | $1269 |
2024 Nov 09 | 7 days, round-trip Southern Australia Explorer | Melbourne | $928 |
2024 Nov 12 | 21 days, round-trip New Zealand | Adelaide | $3278 |
2024 Nov 16 | 14 days, round-trip New Zealand | Melbourne | $1408 |
2024 Nov 30 | 7 days, round-trip Southern Australia Explorer | Melbourne | $868 |
2024 Dec 03 | 4 days, one-way from Adelaide to Melbourne | Adelaide | |
2024 Dec 03 | 8 days, one-way from Adelaide to Brisbane | Adelaide | |
2024 Dec 07 | 4 days, one-way from Melbourne to Brisbane | Melbourne | $399 |
2024 Dec 11 | 9 days, round-trip Tasmania | Brisbane | $1540 |
2024 Dec 20 | 14 days, round-trip New Zealand | Brisbane | $1588 |
2025 Jan 03 | 10 days, round-trip Tasmania | Brisbane | $1473 |
2025 Jan 13 | 14 days, round-trip New Zealand | Brisbane | $1308 |
2025 Jan 27 | 14 days, round-trip New Zealand | Brisbane | $1318 |
2025 Feb 10 | 7 days, round-trip Queensland | Brisbane | $788 |
2025 Feb 10 | 11 days, one-way from Brisbane to Sydney | Brisbane | $1178 |
2025 Feb 17 | 4 days, one-way from Brisbane to Sydney | Brisbane | $378 |
2025 Feb 17 | 26 days, one-way from Brisbane to Yokohama | Brisbane | $2538 |
2025 Feb 21 | 22 days, one-way from Sydney to Yokohama | Sydney | $2368 |
2025 Mar 15 | 10 days, round-trip Kyushu Spring Flowers | Yokohama | $2318 |
2025 Mar 15 | 21 days, round-trip Kyushu Explorer Spring Flowers | Yokohama | $4708 |
2025 Mar 25 | 11 days, round-trip Japan Explorer Spring Flowers | Yokohama | $2878 |
2025 Mar 25 | 22 days, round-trip Sea of Japan Explorer Spring Flowers | Yokohama | $5438 |
2025 Apr 05 | 11 days, round-trip Sea of Japan Spring Flowers | Yokohama | $2598 |
2025 Apr 05 | 21 days, round-trip Sea of Japan Hokkaido Spring Flowers | Yokohama | $6298 |
2025 Apr 16 | 10 days, round-trip Hokkaido Spring Flowers | Yokohama | $2108 |
2025 Apr 16 | 20 days, round-trip Hokkaido Spring Flowers Southern Islands | Yokohama | $3596 |
2025 Apr 26 | 10 days, round-trip Golden Week Southern Islands | Yokohama | $1718 |
2025 Apr 26 | 20 days, round-trip Golden Week Southern Islands Explorer | Yokohama | $3398 |
2025 May 06 | 10 days, round-trip Japan Explorer | Yokohama | $1878 |
2025 May 06 | 19 days, round-trip Southern Islands Explorer | Yokohama | $3928 |
2025 May 16 | 9 days, round-trip Southern Islands | Yokohama | $1418 |
2025 May 16 | 19 days, round-trip Southern Islands Sea of Japan | Yokohama | $2958 |
2025 May 25 | 10 days, round-trip Sea of Japan | Yokohama | $1988 |
2025 May 25 | 20 days, round-trip Sea of Japan Hokkaido | Yokohama | $3788 |
2025 Jun 04 | 10 days, round-trip Hokkaido | Yokohama | $1628 |
2025 Jun 04 | 18 days, round-trip Hokkaido Circle Japan | Yokohama | $2555 |
2025 Jun 14 | 8 days, round-trip Circle Japan | Yokohama | $1448 |
2025 Jun 14 | 17 days, round-trip Circle Japan Southern Islands | Yokohama | $2418 |
2025 Jun 22 | 9 days, round-trip Southern Islands | Yokohama | $1428 |
2025 Jun 22 | 18 days, round-trip Southern Islands Sea of Japan | Yokohama | $2658 |
2025 Jul 01 | 9 days, round-trip Sea of Japan | Yokohama | $1528 |
2025 Jul 01 | 19 days, round-trip Sea of Japan Hokkaido | Yokohama | $2788 |
2025 Jul 10 | 10 days, round-trip Hokkaido | Yokohama | $1608 |
2025 Jul 10 | 17 days, round-trip Hokkaido Kyushu | Yokohama | $2698 |
2025 Jul 20 | 7 days, round-trip Kyushu Korea | Yokohama | $1598 |
2025 Jul 20 | 16 days, round-trip Grand Japan with Nebuta Festival | Yokohama | $2798 |
2025 Jul 27 | 9 days, round-trip Circle Japan with Nebuta Festival | Yokohama | $1418 |
2025 Jul 27 | 19 days, round-trip Grand Japan with Nebuta Summer Festivals | Yokohama | $2528 |
2025 Aug 05 | 10 days, round-trip Circle Japan with Nebuta Summer Festivals | Yokohama | $1668 |
2025 Aug 05 | 20 days, round-trip Grand Japan with Nebuta, Kumano Fireworks Summer Festivals | Yokohama | $2968 |
2025 Aug 15 | 10 days, round-trip Japan Explorer with Kumano Fireworks | Yokohama | $1608 |
2025 Aug 15 | 20 days, round-trip Grand Japan with Kumano Fireworks | Yokohama | $2688 |
2025 Aug 25 | 19 days, round-trip Southern Islands Japan Explorer | Yokohama | $3220 |
2025 Aug 25 | 10 days, round-trip Japan Explorer | Yokohama | $1638 |
2025 Sep 04 | 9 days, round-trip Southern Islands | Yokohama | $1728 |
2025 Sep 20 | 18 days, round-trip Circle Japan Southern Islands | Yokohama | $3198 |
2025 Sep 20 | 9 days, round-trip Circle Japan | Yokohama | $1738 |
2025 Sep 29 | 19 days, round-trip Circle Japan Southern Islands | Yokohama | $3228 |
2025 Sep 29 | 9 days, round-trip Southern Islands | Yokohama | $1728 |
2025 Oct 08 | 10 days, round-trip Kyushu Korea | Yokohama | $1768 |
2025 Oct 25 | 9 days, round-trip Circle Japan | Yokohama | $1738 |
2025 Nov 03 | 22 days, round-trip Circle Japan Fall Foliage, Kyushu Korea | Yokohama | $3808 |
2025 Nov 03 | 9 days, round-trip Circle Japan | Yokohama | $1798 |
2025 Nov 12 | 25 days, one-way from Yokohama to Singapore | Yokohama | $4018 |
2025 Nov 12 | 13 days, round-trip Circle Japan Fall Foliage | Yokohama | $2408 |
2025 Nov 25 | 28 days, one-way from Yokohama to Singapore | Yokohama | $3888 |
2025 Nov 25 | 12 days, one-way from Yokohama to Singapore | Yokohama | $1908 |
2025 Dec 07 | 16 days, round-trip Malaysia, Thailand Vietnam with Halong Bay | Singapore | $2298 |
2025 Dec 23 | 14 days, round-trip Malaysia, Thailand Vietnam | Singapore | $2328 |
2026 Jan 06 | 14 days, round-trip Malaysia, Thailand Vietnam | Singapore | $1998 |
2026 Feb 10 | 14 days, one-way from Singapore to Yokohama | Singapore | $2128 |
Diamond Princess Review
Review of Diamond Princess
The 2004-built Diamond Princess cruise ship is the 4th Grand-class Princess Cruises liner, with sisterships Caribbean, Crown, Golden (Pacific Adventure), Grand, Emerald, Ruby, Star (Pacific Encounter) and Sapphire.
The vessel (IMO number 9228198) is currently UK-flagged (MMSI 235103359) and registered in Southampton.
History - construction and ownership
Princess Cruises is a USA-based passenger shipping company headquartered in Beverly Hills CA. A former subsidiary of P&O Princess Cruises (1977-founded), in 2003, the company merged with Carnival Corporation - the world's largest cruise shipowner. Among Princess Cruise Lines Ltd's assets is the Caribbean private island resort Princess Cays (on Bahamas Eleuthera Island's southern end), located approx 80 km (50 mi) from Nassau.
The 2700-passenger ship Diamond Princess debuted in winter 2004 as the fleet's biggest vessel and also the first Japan-built cruise liner in more than a decade. The restaurants and diversity of lounges disperse the crowds and make tourists feel like they are on a much smaller ship.
There are times the Princess Diamond ship does feel big, especially at night when passengers find themselves at the wrong end of the hallway from their stateroom. Diamond Princess, with her 4 swimming pools, a children's splash pool, extensive kid's center and cutting-edge amusement and programs, is especially well suited to families, and that's likely why there were a good number of multigenerational groups onboard. Couples will find much to like on this cruise too, including the fact the dining venues have a decent number of tables for two.
Decks and Cabins
Most Diamond Princess staterooms (1353 total, in 33 grades) are 170-ft2 balcony cabins (522). Almost 75% of the ship's outside accommodations have private step-out balconies. Wheelchair-accessible cabins are 27. The largest accommodation is the Grand Suite (615 ft2 / 57 m2, with terrace sized 115 ft2 / 11 m2).
The boat has 16 decks, of which 13 are passenger-accessible and 8 with cabins.
Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks
Nearly all dining options onboard Diamond Princess are complimentary, including the five main dining rooms: Vivaldi, Pacific Moon, International, Santa Fe and Savoy Dining Room. There is also a free-of-charge buffet, pizza place, ice cream counter and grill. All main dining rooms offer the same menu items, though each has a small selection of signature items, most of which can be made in appetizer size. Sailings that carry a majority of Japanese cruisers feature purposely small entree sizes. On cruises that are not full, certain main dining rooms will not be open. On some sea days, Savoy opens for a special British-style pub lunch featuring fish and chips, steak and kidney pie. Lunch in the International is especially popular with Japanese passengers, as it offers a variety of Asian dishes.
Follows the complete list of Diamond Princess restaurants and food bars.
- Savoy Restaurant (ship's aft Dining Room; offers traditional dinner at 5:30 p.m., as well as “Anytime Dining” between 8-10 p.m., and British pub lunch)
- Pacific Moon Restaurant (ship's forward Dining Room for Breakfast 7-9 a.m., Lunch 12-1:30 p.m., Afternoon Tea 3:30-4:30 p.m.; features “Anytime Dining” for Dinner between 5:30-8 p.m. or 8-10 p.m.)
- Vivaldi Restaurant (dinner only aft Dining Room; offers traditional dinner at 5:30 p.m., as well as “Anytime Dining” between 8-10 p.m.)
- Santa Fe Restaurant (forward Dining Room, “Anytime Dining” dinner only)
- International Restaurant (aft Dining Room, with 2 dinner seatings at 5:30 and 8 p.m.)
- Sabatini’s Restaurant (Italian specialty restaurant; reservations recommended)
- Trident Grill & Prego Pizzeria (self-service, complimentary fast food bar)
- Horizon Court (self-service buffet restaurant, complimentary)
- Sterling Steakhouse (specialty restaurant for seafood, grills, steaks)
In April 2024 Princess Cruises announced that starting September 14th (2024) fleetwide would be introduced 3 distinct main dining/dinner table service options – Traditional, Reservable, and Walk-in Anytime. By the new program (introduced with Sun Princess) on each ship are allocated 3 separate dining rooms - one for Traditional dining (offering early and late dinner seating), one with Reservable times, and one for Walk-in Anytime (open-seating). The new options are integrated with the OceanNow service, allowing anything to be ordered anytime, and delivered anywhere onboard.
Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport
The 2-deck Princess Theater serves as the ship's main entertainment venue. There, guests can catch one of the traditional song-and-dance Princess Cruises' production shows. The theatre also offers a variety of other acts, including magicians and juggling comedians, doing shows that combine English and Japanese. Afternoon movies alternate daily between both languages.
At night, virtually every bar offers some kind of music and enough room for dancing: from Latin and ballroom music in Club Fusion and DJ dance music in the Skywalkers Nightclub to light piano at Crooners. Theme nights (50s rockabilly, Country & Western and Caribbean deck party) are also common.
Follows the complete list of Diamond Princess lounges, clubs and other entertainment venues for kids, teens and adults.
- The Piazza Atrium (3-deck open floor area; features live performances entertainment and lobby Bar Piazza)
- Princess Fine Arts Gallery; Photo Gallery & Shop; Platinum Studio
- La Patisserie (specialty coffee bar)
- Library (with Internet stations); Internet Cafe (24-hour)
- Princess Diamond Theatre (2-level musical and show productions; hosts workshops, seminars, game shows)
- Churchill Lounge & Bar (smoking lounge and sports bar)
- Calypso Cove Shop; Essence Shop; Meridian Bay Shop; Facets Shop
- Princess Diamond Grand Casino
- Crooners Lounge & Bar (live music; also used for seminars)
- Explorers Lounge & Bar (disco/show lounge; hosts karaoke, comedy, game shows and art auctions)
- Wheelhouse Bar (piano bar during the day and an English pub nightly)
- Club Fusion Lounge (hosts dance classes and quizzes, after 7:30 pm becomes Disco Nightclub)
- Scoops Bar (Sundaes Ice Cream Bar, complimentary)
- Outrigger Bar (poolside bar); Tradewinds Bar; Wake View Bar
- Diamond’s Lotus Spa complex; Beauty Salon; Fitness Center (with Aerobics Studio)
- Hearts & Minds (Wedding Chapel)
- Movies Under the Stars (LED screen outdoor cinema)
- Video Games Arcade; Teen Center; Youth Center with Paddling Pool and outdoor playing areas
- The Conservatory (recreation area); The Oasis relaxation area
- The Sanctuary (adults-only open-air area)
- Calypso Reef & Pool area; Neptune’s Reef & Pool area
- Jogging Track; Sports Court (volleyball, basketball, European football); Deck Chess, Shuffleboard; Princess Links mini-golf course, Cybergolf simulator
- Skywalkers Disco & Nightclub.
Itineraries
Diamond Princess itinerary program is based on cruises leaving from Australia, New Zealand and Asia in the summer. During winter months, the ship offers Japan cruises departing from homeport Yokohama (Tokyo). Princess Cruises scheduled the company's ever-longest Japan season with Diamond Princess. Itineraries were from homeports Kobe-Osaka and Tokyo, circumnavigating the country. In season 2018, a total of 63 itineraries (ranging 4-23-days) offered visits to 38 destinations in 7 countries.
Ship's Japan 2020 cruise program was also based on homeports Kobe and Tokyo, with 50+ departures to 50+ destinations in 11 countries. The planned 2020 itineraries (ranging 5-28 days) included special onboard events and shore activities themed on Japan’s traditional cherry blossom celebrations and summer festivals. The program featured:
- 8-day "Japan Explorer with Kumano Fireworks" (roundtrip from Tokyo) visits Wakayama, Kumano, Kochi, Kanmon Straits, Busan, Nagasaki, Gunkanjima, Kagoshima. The voyage departs on August 15 (2020), with prices starting from GBP 1450 pp.
- 9-day "Japan Explorer Spring Flowers" (roundtrip from Tokyo) visits Gamagori, Osaka, Kochi, Hiroshima, Busan, Sasebo. The voyage departs on April 2 (2020) with prices starting from GBP 1400 pp.
- 14-day "Borneo and Japan" (from Singapore to Tokyo) visits Bandar Seri Begawan, Kota Kinabalu, Manila, Hong Kong, Taipei, Okinawa, Osaka, Shimizu. The voyage departs on December 30 (2020), with prices starting from GBP 1770 pp.
In early-August 2020, Princess Cruises canceled all Diamond Princess itineraries in Asia for winter 2021-2022 season. The canceled voyages (out of homeport Yokohama Japan) were scheduled for the period October 24, 2021, through April 19, 2022.
On August 18, 2020, was officially announced the ship's inaugural South America and Antarctica season (2021-Fall through 2022-Spring). With the new deployment, Princess planned to replace in the region Sapphire Princess (December-March).
The new Diamond Princess itineraries during the maiden season included:
- "Andes and South America" (departures December 1, 2021, March 19, 2022)
- "Antarctica, Andes and Cape Horn Grand Adventure" (departures December 1, 2021, March 5, 2022)
- "Antarctica and Cape Horn" (departures December 19, 2021, January 4 and January 20, 2022)
- "Cape Horn and Strait of Magellan" (departures in 2022 February 5, February 19, March 5)
- The ship also offers two repositioning cruises (North Pacific Ocean crossings) between Asia and South America (between Los Angeles USA and Singapore/Yokohama Japan via Honolulu Hawaii).
Princess Cruises South American itineraries feature coastline cruising and exploring exotic port cities like Santiago (from Port San Antonio Chile), Buenos Aires Argentina, Montevideo Uruguay, Rio de Janeiro Brazil, Lima (from Port Callao Peru), Pisco Peru, Punta Arenas (Chilean Patagonia's Fjords), Falkland Islands (UK), Cape Horn (scenic cruising), Magellan Strait (passage). On shore excursions/via flights are visited Iguazu Falls (Parana Brazil) and Machu Picchu (Peru's Andes Mountains).
However, due to the Coronavirus crisis, the ship was paused for 2,5+ years (March 202 thru November 2022) and the South America 2021-2022 and Asia-Japan 2022 programs were canceled. Operations were scheduled to restart with California-Mexico itineraries (roundtrips from San Diego) starting on November 20, 2022.
In 2023 (March 13-November 9), Diamond Princess had a total of 57 voyages (43 itineraries) leaving from Japan (homeporting in Yokohama/Tokyo and Kobe/Osaka) and visiting 38 ports/destinations in Japan, China and Korea.
Diamond Princess ship related cruise news
- Cruise Industry
Princess Cruises announces 11 new Japan voyages for 2025-2026
Princess Cruises has announced an extension of its itineraries in Japan for the 2025-2026 season, following a record-breaking number of U.S. visitors...
May 29, 2024 - Cruise Industry
Diamond Princess cruise ship starts Singapore homeporting season in Asia
Diamond Princess commenced her Singapore season, embarking on 10- to 14-day cruises in the region from December 2023 to March 2024. The initial...
December 20, 2023 - Cruise Industry
Princess Cruises marks milestones in Singapore and Southeast Asia
Princess Cruises is set to mark two significant milestones in Singapore and Southeast Asia. Celebrating a 10-year Anniversary in Southeast Asia...
November 1, 2023 - Cruise Industry
Princess Cruises releases 2025 Japan season (ship Diamond Princess)
In response to the growing demand for voyages in Japan, Princess Cruises has unveiled its 2025 Japan season. This newly announced program aims to...
September 21, 2023 - Accidents
Nagasaki Port pilot dies after trying to board Diamond Princess cruise ship
Nagasaki Port pilot fell in the water at ~5:30 Tokyo time (~20:30 UTC) on Friday, May 5th, while boarding Princess Cruises' Diamond Princess ship...
May 6, 2023 - Cruise Industry
Diamond Princess ship returns to Port Yokohama (Japan) 3 years after the epidemic COVID outbreak
Princess Cruises' liner Diamond Princess returned to Port Yokohama (close to Tokyo, Japan) on Friday, March 10th, for the first time since an...
March 13, 2023 - Cruise Industry
Japan's Port Kobe welcomes first foreign cruise ship in ~3 years
A foreign passenger vessel docked at Port Kobe (Kyoto Japan) for the first time in ~3 years. The country had suspended cruise shipping following a...
March 11, 2023 - Cruise Industry
Port Guam USA welcomes first cruise ships since the COVID crisis
Port Guam, US Coast Guard, US Department of Homeland Security Police, Guam Police Department, Guam Customs and Quarantine Agency, along with other...
March 9, 2023 - Cruise Industry
Cruise ship arrivals in Japan near pre-COVID levels
Foreign-operated cruise ship arrivals to Japan are set to near the level before the COVID crisis when their dockings to the country restart in March...
February 27, 2023 - Cruise Industry
Princess Cruises launches 32 sailings aboard Diamond Princess from Japan (Mar 13-Nov 9, 2023)
Between March 13th-November 9th, Princess Cruises will launch a total of 32 sailings aboard its Diamond Princess ship from Japan. After 3 years of...
January 31, 2023 - show more news
Other Princess Cruises cruise ships
Diamond Princess Wiki
Princess Cruises Diamond ship is from company's Grand-class vessels, with sistership Sapphire. The other (similarly-designed) liners in this class are Caribbean, Crown, Emerald, Golden (now Pacific Adventure), Grand, Ruby, Star (now Pacific Encounter). Diamond was the first Princess liner built by a Japanese company - MHI. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries is a subsidiary company of Mitsubishi Corporation. Unlike the other fleet mates, Diamond has no spoilers at the stern.
Ship's godmother is Yoshiko Tsukuda - the wife of MHI's President and Chairman Kazuo Tsukuda. The christening ceremony was on February 26, 2004. The inaugural cruise (maiden voyage) started on March 13, from Los Angeles to Mexico Riviera.
Fun fact is, that vessel's hull was first named "Sapphire Princess". A shipyard fire damaged the decks of another vessel under construction (already named "Diamond Princess"). Therefore, Sapphire was renamed to Diamond, and completed on time.
Cruise ship's engines can work either with HFO (heavy fuel oil) or with MGO (marine gas oil). MGO emissions are much lower, but it is also rather costly. However, some cruise destinations like Alaska for instance, have very high emission standards and MGO pays off.
In 2017 (April through November) the ship operated on Asian cruises with departures from Japan (homeports Yokohama-Tokyo and Kobe-Osaka). The itineraries visited South Korea, Taiwan, Russia, China (Hong Kong), Vietnam. Following the 2017 drydock refurbishment (Singapore, March 28 - April 5), Diamond Princess became fleet's 3rd liner (after Royal and Majestic) to feature the company's new livery design.
Ship's Captain is Stefano Ravera - brother of Sapphire Princess' Captain Paolo Ravera.
Diamond Princess refurbishment 2019 review
Ship's last drydock refurbishment in Singapore (14-day project, January 19 - February 2, 2019) was part of the company's USD 450 million fleet-wide renovation project "Come Back New Promise".
Major upgrades included Movies Under The Stars (outdoor theatre updated with 7.1 surround sound), pool deck (new dynamic LED lighting), Princess Casino (new carpeting, TVs, light fixtures), Lotus Spa and Fitness (upgraded treatment rooms and beauty salon, latest Precor fitness equipment). Also were upgraded the digital audio systems in Explorers Lounge, Club Fusion, Princess Theater (show lounge), new furnishings (Horizon Court buffet area). In all public restrooms and all Suites' WCs were added Japanese bidets.
Following the epidemic Coronavirus outbreak in February-March 2020, Diamond Princess completed a Level-3 deep cleaning project (conducted by Belfor USA - recovery and restoration services corporation, 1946-founded). The Yokohama-docked vessel was fully cleaned and disinfected, with the operation being constantly monitored by Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. Following the extensive cleaning, the ship was certified and cleared to leave the country. While in Japan, the liner also entered a wetdock (at a local shipyard) for interior refurbishment (all mattresses, pillows, linens, draperies and curtains were replaced) plus previously scheduled regular maintenance works.