Princess Cruises Returns To Asia In March For 2023-2024 Japan Cruises
An itinerary breakdown of Diamond Princess’ Japan itineraries as Princess Cruises returns to one of their most popular destinations after three years.
Diamond Princess with Mount Fuji in the distance. PHOTO: GOO BLOG
Princess Cruises is set to return to Japan in March 2023, in time for Japanese Spring. The Diamond Princess, much beloved by both locals in Japan and guests from overseas, will be the first ship in the Princess Cruises fleet to return to Asia after nearly three years of absence. The 2023 deployment will see Diamond Princess sail all around Japan from March to December 2023, and March to August 2024
A Big Welcome Back To Japan
Japan is one of Princess Cruises’ most popular destinations, with the cruise line having a presence in the country for a significant portion of the year pre-pandemic. In a press release by Princess Cruises, John Padgett, President of Princess Cruises said “The reopening of Japanese ports to the international cruise industry is an important and welcome development that not only vastly expands the vacation opportunities available to guests but also helps to significantly strengthen the Japanese tourism economy,”
He also mentioned that Japanese guests will be able to experience the MedallionClass offerings aboard the Diamond Princess, which offers “unmatched personalization and hassle-free service.”
Diamond Princess’ 2023 Japan Season
Pacific Crossing to Japan (25-Days, One-Way)
12 February 2023 - 10 March 2023
25-Day Pacific Crossing to Japan
PHOTO: PRINCESS CRUISES
From San Diego, California, Diamond Princess will visit Hawaii, Guam and Saipan before arriving in Japan. She will visit Osaka (for Kyoto) and Toba, before concluding the repositioning cruise in Yokohama.
Kyushu And Shikoku (5 - 18-Days, Round Trip)
2023: March, June, September — October
2024: March, July
Diamond Princess will be sailing a series of Kyushu and Shikoku cruises, varying from a short 5/6-Day Korea & Japan Getaway, to middle-length 9-Day cruises. For a longer experience, consider the 18-Day Kyushu & Shikoku Spring Flowers Cruise showcased below.
18-Day Kyushu & Shikoku Spring Flowers Cruise. This itinerary is made up of two 9-Day itineraries to Kyushu and Shikoku placed back-to-back.
PHOTO: PRINCESS CRUISES
Southern Islands Cruises (7 - 17-Days, Round-Trip)
From Kobe: May 2023
From Yokohama: June, August — October 2023; April — June 2024
Explore the southern islands with Diamond Princess! She will sail a series of 7 - 8-Day cruises to visit Okinawa and Taiwan, departing from Kobe in May and Yokohama from June to October. These 7/8-Day cruises are all part of longer itineraries ranging from 12 to 17 days, with visits to other regions of Japan as well.
8-Day Southern Islands Cruise.
PHOTO: PRINCESS CRUISES
16-Day Southern Islands & Hokkaido Cruise
PHOTO: PRINCESS CRUISES
Sea Of Japan / Northern Japan Cruises (8 — 20-Days, Round-Trip)
2023: March, July & October
2024: March — July
These are a series of 8 to 9-Day round-trip cruises from Yokohama to the Tohoku Region (the Sea of Japan coast and Northern Japan). These cruises vary slightly in ports-of-call, depending on the itinerary and season. The 9/10-Day cruises are all part of longer itineraries ranging from 14 to 20 days, with visits to other regions of Japan as well.
9-Day Sea Of Japan Cruise, with possible substitute ports shown.
PHOTO: PRINCESS CRUISES
9-Day Northern Japan Spring Flowers Cruise. This itinerary can be combined with the 9-Day Sea Of Japan Spring Flowers Cruise for an 18-Day cruise experience.
PHOTO: PRINCESS CRUISES
Japan Explorer Cruises (9 — 20 Days, Round-Trip)
2023: March — April, July — August, October — November
2024: March, August
Diamond Princess’ 9-Day Japan Explorer itineraries include most of Japan’s highlights in one short 9-Day package. Think of it as a sampling platter for the best of Japan — perfect for Japan first-timers. Guests looking for an extended experience should consider the 18-Day Sea of Japan & Japan Explorer Fall Foliage Cruise, which adds an additional 9-Days along the Sea of Japan coast.
9-Day Japan Explorer Cruise
PHOTO: PRINCESS CRUISES
18-Day Sea of Japan & Japan Explorer Fall Foliage Cruise.
PHOTO: PRINCESS CRUISES
Circle Japan/Circle Hokkaido/Grand Japan Cruises (8 — 20 -Days, Round-Trip)
2023: April — November
2024: June — August
As their names imply, these 8 — 10-Day routes take you on a grand tour around Japan’s main islands, with the Circle Hokkaido cruises making a visit to two ports in Hokkaido. For an even longer experience, there are also 16 — 20-Day Grand Japan Cruises, made up of two cruises back-to-back.
Writer’s pick? A 16-Day Grand Japan with Gion, Tenjin & Nebuta Festivals Cruise, where guests can experience three different summer festivals in different parts of Japan.
9-Day Circle Hokkaido Cruise
PHOTO: PRINCESS CRUISES
16-Day Grand Japan With Gion, Tenjin & Nebuta Festivals Cruise.
PHOTO: PRINCESS CRUISES
Seasonal Themed Cruises
Japan is an incredibly diverse place, ever-changing with the seasons. As such, guests who find themselves onboard Diamond Princess around certain occasions and events during the deployment may experience following limited-time themes:
Spring Flowers:
March - April 2023 & 2024Enjoy Japan’s much-coveted Cherry Blossom Season while on your Princess cruise. Forecasts for 2023 expect the flowers to start blooming from late-March in most areas, and full-bloom by the start of April.
Golden Week:
29 April — 07 May 2023; 27 April 2024 — 06 May 2024
One of Japan’s busiest holiday periods, as multiple holidays are lined up consecutively, and often touted for good weather. The 8-Day Golden Week Circle Japan Cruise in 2023, and a series of 9 and 19-Night Cruises in 2024 coincide with this long holiday.Summer Festivals And Fireworks Displays:
July - August 2023 & 2024
Natsu Matsuri, or Summer Festivals are a Japanese summertime staple! Itineraries and port calls during this period have been adjusted to allow Diamond Princess’ guests to experience the following festivals:Gion Festival, Kyoto: 17 & 24 July 2023
Tenjin Festival, Osaka: 24 - 25 July 2023 & 2024
Nebuta Festival, Aomori: 02 - 07 August 2023 & 2024
Kumano Fireworks Festival, Kumano: 17 August 2023 & 2024
Fall Foliage: October — November 2023
Experience the season of harvest and enjoy some of the best local cuisine at this time of the year. Guests will also enjoy the beautiful fall scenery, as lush green transition to vibrant reds and yellows. Currently, Fall Foliage Itineraries are available only in 2023.
The First Medallion-Ready Ship In Asia
Diamond Princess will pioneer the MedallionClass technology in Asia during her upcoming Japan deployment. After receiving the upgrades during the operational pause in 2020, Diamond Princess returned to service as a Medallion-Ready ship in late 2022. She will now bring the experience to Asia when she returns in March 2023.
The Medallion can also be customised with a variety of wearable add-ons and custom designs.
PHOTO: PRINCESS CRUISES
Described by Princess Cruises as the “ultimate in effortless, personalized cruising”, guests will now receive a small, wearable device known as the Medallion®, in place of a cruise card. Features like Keyless Stateroom Entry and Simplified Safety Training (similar to Royal Caribbean’s eMuster) are all available through your Medallion, or the MedallionClass Smartphone App.
Find your way and your travel mates, as well as order towels, pillows, food and beverages on the MedallionClass App.
PHOTO: PRINCESS CRUISES
There is also the Shipmate™ Locator, which allows guests to see exactly where the members of their travel party are onboard, in nearly real-time. The same technology also allows for OceanNow® - an on-demand ordering system, where guests can order whatever they need through the MedallionClass App, and have the items delivered to wherever they are on the ship.
Craving a Dirty Banana while lounging on the pool deck? Order through the App, and a crew member will deliver it to your location onboard.
Itineraries are now on sale. For more details and to book, please visit www.princess.com, or speak with your preferred travel professional.
DISCLAIMER: While due diligence has been taken to ensure all information presented is accurate and up-to-date, the information is subject to change, and discrepancies in, but not limited to, timings and/or ports-of-call may occur. In the event of such a discrepancy, the cruise line’s itinerary will prevail. You are advised to contact the cruise lines directly for information, or to speak with your preferred travel consultant. Singapore Cruise Society will not be held responsible for any discrepancies found in the information provided.
READ MORE
