For the first time, two Princess Cruises’ liners (Sapphire and Diamond) docked in several Southeast Asian ports on the same day. The sisterships are cruising in the region for their Singapore homeport season.
On January 14, both vessels met in Saigon (Port Phu My), followed by Bangkok (Port Laem Chabang) on January 16 and Koh Samui Island one day later.
Another historical first for Princess Cruises in the region was that the ships were commandeered by brothers - Capt. Paolo Ravera on Sapphire Princess and his older brother Capt. Stefano Ravera at the helm of Diamond Princess when both vessels met in Laem Chabang and Phu My.
Princess Cruises ships finally met in Singapore on Saturday, January 19, where more than 5,000 passengers disembarked at Marina Bay Cruise Centre. Sapphire will continue sailing in the region through March when she will sail back to Southampton UK for a second European season, embarking out of Singapore on a 37-night Indian Ocean & Europe Grand Adventure voyage.
Meanwhile, Diamond Princess prepares for drydocking, and when it is completed in early February, the ship will embark on a 12-night itinerary from Singapore visiting Phu My, Hong Kong, Nha Trang, Taipei, Osaka, Shimizu (Mount Fuji) prior to arriving in Yokohama on February 14. The vessel will then commence a year-long sailing in Japan from Kobe and Yokohama, featuring 60 departures on a total of 40 unique itineraries, calling at 41 destinations in 7 countries.