By
Rebecca Gibson |
Princess Cruises’ Diamond Princess has arrived at Sembawang Shipyard in Singapore to undergo an extensive US$30 million refurbishment before she sails to her Tokyo homeport in April.
As part of the renovation – which is scheduled to finish on 2 April – the 2,670-passenger ship will receive a range of new features, as well as renovated interior furnishings, fresh hull paint and exterior refurbishment, and Asian-style touches.
Designed to cater for the needs of Japanese passengers, the ship will feature a new bathing complex, which has been modelled on the popular onsen Japanese bathing experience. The 8,800 sq ft bath and garden complex will have both indoor and outdoor bathing areas, as well as an open-air Japanese unisex hydrotherapy pool and a shaded lounge area with footbaths. The vessel will also have two indoor gender-segregated bath experiences, a dry sauna with floor-to-ceiling windows, a mist sauna and the Stone Bath, which will feature an Utaseyu, a cascade of hot water.
“Because bathing is an important part of the Japanese culture, we want to offer passengers an authentic experience onboard, complete with unparalleled ocean views.” said Jan Swartz, Princess Cruises president. “This is just one of several additions we’re making to the ship to give passengers an appealing Japanese experience.”
In addition, passengers can enjoy a new, 66-person sushi restaurant, which will offer both table seating and a sushi bar serving fresh seafood. Horizon Court, the ship’s buffet area will also be upgraded to feature contemporary food service areas and action stations for live a la carte cooking, as well as a pastry shop, refreshed décor and an expanded seating area.
Diamond Princess’ duty-free boutiques will also be remodelled to include a new luxury watch boutique; The Meridian Bay boutique; Limelight boutique, which will offer designer leather goods; and The Essence boutique, which will introduce the first fragrance bar at sea where passengers can sample and learn about new scents.
Other changes include 14 new cabins, a sports court on the roof of Skywalker’s Nightclub, a revitalised photo gallery and Platinum Portrait Studio, new art gallery displays, renewed décor in Sabatini’s Italian specialty restaurant and a reconfigured casino, while the internet café and wedding chapel have been relocated.
Following her drydock, Diamond Princess will homeport in Tokyo and sail an extended season of nine-day cruises that include visits to Taiwan, South Korea, Hokkaido, Russia and 15 Japanese ports, including five new itineraries created especially for the ship. During the popular holiday period of Golden Week, Diamond Princess will offer a ten-day itinerary, enabling guests to visit several festivals and a visit Nagasaki – home to Mitsubishi Heavy Industries where the ship was built – to celebrate Diamond Princess’ ten-year anniversary.