Sign up to our newsletter for all the latest cruise news, reviews, photos and answers...
All these Diamond Princess Cruises Reviews are written by REAL cruise passengers & we DO NOT moderate or change any of the review. You can agree or disagree by posting up your own comment. If you write your own review we will send you a Fodor's Guide to Cruising for FREE, Why Not Book APrincess Cruise Today
Diamond Princess Laem Chabang (For Bangkok) sailing 15th April 2009
When booking our cruise we forgot two things the Thai New Year Songkran we arrived at the start to the festivities and on Mayday, we dock in Beijing that day!
We decided not to stay in Bangkok, a good decision due to the political situation. We had arranged a private transfer with Travel2 to our chosen resort Pattaya which was by a Mercedes for transfer to Pattaya. This took 1 ½ hours all dual carriageway and through two heavy rain storms one with thunder and lightning. We stayed four nights at the Marriott Spa.
We arrived in Pattaya and there were many police out, the red shirts had been blockading the Asian summit meeting, what a start. The red shirts then moved to Bangkok all this did not affect us!
The Marriot Hotel is super. Last week we were told it rained all week. Now it is hot and sunny.
We have found Shenanigans, out front hotel “cross” road (note cars do not stop at zebra crossings) and about 300m to the left!
The Diamond Princess is 116,000 tons, 952 feet long, 16 decks, and carries only 2670 passengers when full.
It is the largest ship we had been on and we were impressed, great staff, good food and lots of areas to “disperse” about the ship.
Took 55 minutes from hotel to entering stateroom. We left Laem Chabang and set sail to Singapore, second day was at sea and we arrived in Singapore.
Due to the size of the ship, we had to dock at Singapore’s container port Pasir Panjang, so at most ports one is NOT allowed to walk out of the dock and no taxis allowed in/out, there is a bus transfer to the centre. When we got off the coach. We did our own thing and went to the Botanic then Clarke Quay and Boat Quay and then a bit of Orchard Road.
Day at sea then Phu My the port or more accurately the industrial port, for Ho Chi Minh City. There is absolutely nothing here and a very bumpy road to the main road! Again courtesy bus to Vung Tau, takes 45 minutes.
It was a two-hour drive from the port to Ho Chi Minh City, we saw a number of “tourist” places and the highlight was the water puppet show.
Next stop next day was Nha Trang. The port could not take a ship our size so it dropped anchor and we were tendered ashore. The tendering process was extremely well organised. Again courtesy bus to town, takes 15 minutes.
The temperature since Singapore has been circa 37o C. As we sailed “great” thunder and lighting storm! Next day at sea then Hong Kong we are docked two days.
In Hong Kong, on both days we did our own thing, we berthed at “H.I.T” terminal Princess coached us to Ocean Pier. the first day we went to Stanley Market by using Star Ferry and the 260 express bus, then bottom end of Nathan Road and Kowloon Park. That night the ship moved from the berth to Victoria Harbour and at 2000 saw the laser show, biggest in the world! The next day we went ashore by tender , again extremely well organised by local tender boats carrying 100 to 400 tpersons, we walked to Western Market, tram back to Central.
Then a day a sea, followed by Keelung, port for Taipei. We arrived to Scottish weather heavy drizzle, it went off by the time we got to Taipei but the mist stayed. Our excursion into Taipei took us to a fantastic working temple with the locals having a service and “chanting” Lungshan Temple then onto Chiang Kai Cheks Memorial Hall, great and we say changing of the guard, last was a visit to the worlds tallest building, Taipei 101.
One could walk off the ship into Keelung.
We left Keelung, heavy seas, ship is moving about!
Then it was Okinawa Japan.. First, a lot of paperwork, had to have picture and finger prints taken then a thermal something to get landing pass. All like what the USA does to us. It was interesting to hear Americans complaining about the process! Docked at Naha New Port again courtesy bus to Okinawa down town.
Our excursion took us to Surijo Castle, very interesting then to Kokusai Street typical Japanese High Street, which was disappointing
Docked at Shanghai Waigaoqiqo Port again courtesy bus to centre Shanghai about 45 minutes. We took the sampler excursion which we found to be great, went up the Jin Mao Tower, we were told it was the tallest building, so who is right? and went up to the 88 floor, 340 metres up, there are more non public floors, passed through The Bund major building works ongoing, walked through the Old Town and Yu Gardens,
both fantastic, then to the Jin Long Silk Store, lastly a walk around Remin Square.
Docked at Xingang Port for Beijing again courtesy bus to centre town about 2 ½ hours away. We had a private transfer that was efficient, but, being the 1st May a national holiday, traffic was bad so it took 3 hours.
Overall we really enjoyed the cruise on Diamond Princess, great ship, great service and friendly staff.
Quality of Food
Could not be more helpful in providing gluten free food.
Entertainment
Shore Excursions
Great excursions, getting of the ship was fast and efficient.
Comment
by Beck-Richards, Derby (10 Sep 09 12:28)
about
this REVIEW
Found your 'round up' to be a great help -- thank you! Have been to Singapore/Bangkok before so know our well round there pretty well but the other info was very interesting, especially now we know the Docks can't host the Diamond Princess we will ensure we have our walking shoes with us and plenty of dollars for taxis etc.
Question
by Pirie, ABERDEEN (07 Sep 09 15:57)
about
this REVIEW
There seem to be a lot of long bus transfers into various places, can you tell me if these are air conditioned buses , and if they have facilities such as toilets on them. If not do they tend to stop for toilets en route? What are the toilet facilities in the places of interest, are they really as bad as made out to be?
Previous Cruise Reviews
