The Diamond Princess has recently become the first ship to call at Busselton in Western Australia. The guests disembarked on the 27th of November and left very impressive reviews after a full day of sightseeing.
A ‘NEW’ PORT OF CALL
The Princess ship’s guests enjoyed a wide range of tours in the area. Some of the highlights included exploring Ngilgi Cave. Discovered in 1899, it is one of Geographe Bay’s most renowned tourist attractions featuring stunning stalactite and stalagmite formations.
Without getting wet it is possible to head deep below the water’s surface at the Underwater Observatory. Obtain a view that is beaming with a variety of fish species and beautiful corals.
Nature, wine and seafaring adventures can all be found in this port of call.
Apart from walking along the pristine shores passengers can enjoy snorkelling, windsurfing or even sea kayaking. Fishing expeditions can also be arranged.
In recent years, Australian wines have become very popular. Visit the Margaret River wine region and bring back an ideal gift for those back home.
Princess Cruises Australia vice president Stuart Allison said that nine calls to Busselton are scheduled in 2015 and 2016 aboard the Diamond Princess.
The Diamond Princess is one the of the largest cruise ships to be based out of Australia. The ship has just undergone a £17million refurbishment programme and is gearing up for an exciting season down under.
DINING
No expense has been spared on the ship to provide the best culinary experiences around. As with most cruise ships these days, there are two ways to enjoy a meal. There is Traditional Dining, which has several formal dining rooms that open at the same time and Freestyle Dining, which allows the passenger to eat at their leisure.
A large amount of speciality restaurants are located on the ship such as the authentic Italian restaurant Sabatini’s, the oriental delight known as Kai Sushi and for meat lovers, there’s the Sterling Steakhouse. Other options include a buffet with international cuisine, a sundae bar and a poolside grill.
CABINS
There are a wide variety of cabins available onboard the Diamond Princess. Everything from a spacious standard inside stateroom to the luxurious interior of the Grand Suite with Balcony. All cabins come equipped with twin beds that can be made into a queen bed, a private bathroom with toiletries, a television, hairdryer, sofa and telephone.
Added amenities in the suites consist of a separate sitting area with a coffee table, a DVD and CD player, luxury towels and bathrobes, a minibar and even a hot tub.
ENTERTAINMENT
You will never be bored on this ship. The enormous casino will have you dabbling with ‘lady luck’. The Grand Casino presents a variety of the gaming selections from blackjack to slot machines to roulette. An enormous theatre offers unique acts from all over the world. It alternates as a cinema and presents feature length films in perfect quality.
Other entertainment is presented at the Skywalkers Nightclub and the Explorers Lounge, both of which offer musical acts of all kinds. During the warmer months, you can also enjoy cinema by the poolside with the Movies Under the Stars programme.
ACTIVITIES
Even when you’re done with all of the entertainment available, there is still an enormous amount of activities to try out. The pool is always a popular choice and there are four of them onboard and that’s not counting the pool in the Lotus Spa. Keep fit with state-of-the-art equipment in the ship’s fitness centre.
Release any stress with one of the many relaxing treatments available in the spa. There is an extensive Japanese bath that has both indoor and outdoor bathing sections.
Culture is also well represented with enrichment programs in fields such as art, cooking and computer classes. The guest lecturers are available to take Q&A’s.
Other activities include an internet cafe and a cosy library that is filled with books for some quiet reading time.
Children of all ages will be thrilled with the underage club on board which is divided into 3 age groups – the Princess Pelicans (ages 3 to 7), the Shockwaves (ages 8-12) and Remix (ages 13-17).
The Diamond Princess has a variety of other itineraries throughout Australia and New Zealand, as well as Southeast Asia, Japan and the Far East.
Written by Veronica Shine
