Parent Company, Carnival Cruise Lines made a big splash in the cruising industry recently with a special announcement related to their Princess Cruises brand. According to the company, Princess will offer new trips from Japan in the 2016 cruising season.
Heading out of the ports of Tokyo and Kobe, itineraries will include two new ports of call on the island of Kyushu, Korea, Taiwan and even portions of Eastern Russia. Special “Land and Sea” holiday packages will allow travellers to be able to stay in Kyoto and Tokyo City for a few nights to obtain the full and hospitable flavour of Japan prior to or after their designated cruise holiday.
The vessel to receive the honour for Princess Cruises is the ‘Diamond Princess’. The Grand Japan Voyages will range from 14 to 20 nights. The company does promise that a few four and five night sampler itineraries will be on the horizon too in the waters surrounding Japan.
The schedule will be for the months of April to October, and makes Princess the first North American cruise line to offer a full season in Japanese waters.
Bookings for these exciting new cruises begin on April 16th, 2015 and projections indicate that the ship will fill up quickly. However, the Diamond Princess has more than enough staterooms and can hold more than 2,670 passengers.
There are six different types of cabins to choose from, including ‘Ocean view, Balcony, Mini Suite, Suite, Family Suite’ and for those that are willing to go all out, the ‘Grand Suite with Balcony’.
Passengers onboard the ship will not only see the sights but have a chance to explore the wonderful amenities that the Diamond Princess offers. The enormous amount of activities available on the ship will keep passengers busy.
Ranging from enrichment programmes and an international art collection with auction to a Japanese steam bath, there’s something for everyone. The Lotus Spa contains a fantastic array of treatments and for those seeking to keep their bodies in tip top shape can use the variety of exercise equipment and swim in one of the four pools onboard.
Dining on the ship is no less extravagant. There are five main dining rooms, all of which share a menu of international cuisine with a Japanese flair. Four of the dining rooms are flexible but one of them is formal, so remember to pack your best gear! Speciality dining includes Japanese, with Kai Sushi being a standout as well as Sabatini’s, a Tuscan style Italian restaurant and the Sterling Steakhouse, an American style steakhouse.
Entertainment onboard is also prolific, with amazing stage shows and feature length films being shown in the theatre and the Skywalkers Nightclub is a great way to dance the night away. Grand Casino has an enormous amount of gambling options from blackjack to slot machines and the Explorers Lounge has a classy style with lounge music and cosy leather seats.
A cruise with Princess is enticing enough but the latest announcement is sure to bring the cruise line some new passengers looking for new experiences.
Written by Veronica Shine
