What Travel Advisors Need to Know About Princess Cruises’ Unique Diamond Princess Japan Experience

Although North American guests sailing through Japan on Diamond Princess will certainly encounter many of Princess Cruises’ familiar products and features, the onboard ambiance of this ship differs substantially from the rest of the fleet by reflecting the distinctive pillars of Japanese society: respect, politeness, order, and above all, quiet. 

On a recent 10-night Golden Week Southern Islands itinerary sailing round trip from Yokohama (near Tokyo), Japanese guests made up 70% of the passenger mix, creating a fascinating milieu for us North Americans, who, along with Brits and Australians, comprised the bulk of the remaining guest list.  And according to Princess management, those percentages hold roughly true for most sailings on this ship.

Hardware and Activities Distinguish Diamond Princess’ Onboard Experience

Just over 20 years old, the Diamond Princess is a comfortable, clean vessel (last refurbished in 2023), but to be fair, the hardware isn’t necessarily a draw. Being dedicated to Asia, however, enables a rotating mix of longer, more exotic itineraries, with a heavy focus on Japan and nearby East and Southeast Asian ports including Taiwan, South Korea, Vietnam, Thailand, and Malaysia. And although the onboard product skews largely towards Western sensibilities, Japanese influence remains pervasive throughout the vessel.

There is, however, a distinctive hardware and cultural feature unique to Diamond Princess within the fleet.

The Izumi Japanese Bath (onsen), which offers indoor and outdoor bathing experiences including steam rooms, saunas, and hot tubs with ocean views, was a popular spot on our sailing – drawing even some adventurous Westerners. 

But clients should be advised that nudity is routine in the indoor baths, per Japanese custom. (Men and women are not in the same areas of the Bath at the same time.)

Meanwhile, multi-function, bidet-style toilets are standard in all mini suites, suites, and public restrooms aboard, requiring a bit of adaptation for the uninitiated.  And although the French may have invented the bidet, the Japanese have improved and perfected it.

The Japanese guests really drive heavy participation in the activities, which include themed dance parties, exercise classes, Zumba lessons, sing-alongs, games, karaoke, and art classes – all led by the hard-working, mutli-lingual entertainment team.  As just one example of the fervor shown for the activities, hundreds of Japanese guests eagerly took part in the paper airplane competition, with a line that snaked twice around the Piazza atrium.

The entertainment team on our sailing was led by co-Cruise Directors (one Japanese, one South African) who played off each other naturally and gracefully.

The ship has a high-energy vibe, primarily driven by guest involvement in all the above-mentioned activities. But notably, that involvement quotient does not generate excessive noise, as it would aboard a U.S.-focused sailing.  Instead, the Japanese reverence for quiet imbues the onboard ambiance with a level of serenity typically not experienced on a ship sailing at capacity. That quiet extends to all public areas, including the pools, gym, bars, and lounges.    

Diamond Princess’ Food and Beverage Provide Mix of Western and Eastern Delicacies

Although menus aboard generally focus on Western culinary delights, there are a plethora of Japanese dishes available – in every venue – to satisfy most palates. In the main dining rooms, a “Princess Japan Favorites” section offers marinated octopus, tofu with ginger, scallions and soy sauce, grilled salmon with miso sauce, and other exotic dishes.

The casual buffet venue, Horizon Court, features an always-available ramen station, a pan-Asian station, chirashi sushi at lunch, three cold-fish plus two hot-fish options at breakfast, ten unique hot tea choices, and rotating specials.

Kai Sushi’s $14.99 set menu was extremely popular on our recent sailing, with long lines forming starting at 5 p.m. for the no-reservations eatery. And on sea days when the venue opened for lunch, heavy demand forced the use of neighboring Sabatini’s seating area to accommodate the guest overflow.

Japanese influence certainly shows its force in the beverage and dessert selection at the buffet, during tea time, and at bars and coffee venues across Diamond Princess with multiple matcha (green tea) options for hot and iced drinks, matcha ice cream, and desserts in Horizon Court.  Meanwhile, Yokohama-brewed beers are featured in bars and lounges, and tea kettles are furnished in all stateroom categories.

Onshore Activities Provide Deep Cultural Immersion

While Princess offers a wide range of shore excursions – in both Japanese and English language versions – in all ports, the experience, particularly in the Japanese ports, also lends itself to independent exploration. Volunteers at the terminals in the Japanese ports (which, like virtually everywhere in Japan, are incredibly safe) eagerly direct visitors with detailed information, guides, and in some cases, personal escorts, to local points of interest. 

And, at the end of the day, during sailaway at every Japanese port, local entertainers – school bands, other musical acts, and dance troupes – perform an emotional sendoff that is unmatched elsewhere in genuine warmth and emotion, thanking visitors for coming and expressing a heartfelt desire to welcome them back.

On shore, North American guests get a taste of what Japanese society is all about, specifically: cleanliness, order, consideration, extreme practicality, and flawless organization.

With barely a speck of dust or dirt on anything – cars, trucks, and indoor surfaces included – cleanliness is integral to the country’s identity and a proud touchstone. Taxi drivers wear white gloves, windows are spotless, there’s nary a public trash can to be found across the entire country (you’re expected to carry your trash until you get inside), and the locals are unfailingly polite. 

Trains run on time, service in restaurants is extremely attentive, tipping is frowned upon, Tokyo’s subway stations are models of efficiency, and practical, thoughtful measures apply to nearly every function and activity.

Even in tourist areas, however, English isn’t universally spoken, so learning a few words and key phrases in Japanese goes a long way towards full enjoyment of the culture. Let your clients know the Google Translate app – particularly the camera function to decode signage – is invaluable.

Travel Advisors Should Qualify Clients for Diamond Princess Appropriately

Diamond Princess isn’t a product for ethnocentric, incurious North Americans. Instead, it’s a partial immersion into Japanese culture within the confines of a shipboard environment, with myriad shoreside experiences that further unfold the complex, Japanese way of life in fascinating ways.

But with the benefit of all the familiar comforts of Princess, it’s the best of both worlds for North American guests.