Diamond Princess Review
A Classic Cruise Ship That Still Delivers
Susan and I hadn’t sailed on a Princess cruise in almost ten years, which felt a little strange when we started thinking about it. There was a time when Princess was one of our go-to cruise lines, and somewhere along the way we drifted toward trying other ships on various cruise lines.
So when we started planning a 14-night Southeast Asia cruise for early 2026, the Diamond Princess seemed like the perfect opportunity to reconnect with the cruise line that had given us so many great memories in the past.
And in a bit of poetic symmetry, the Diamond Princess is actually one of the few cruise ships built in Japan, which made it feel like a natural fit for an itinerary that would eventually take us from Singapore and through Vietnam, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Japan.
Our sailing ran from February 10 through February 24, beginning in Singapore and ending in Tokyo. We booked a balcony cabin on Deck 12 (Aloha Deck) and settled in for what would become two fascinating weeks exploring both the ship and some incredible destinations across Southeast Asia.
What we didn’t expect, however, was just how much the ship itself would become part of the experience.
First Impressions: A Different Kind of Cruise Ship
Sometimes when you board a cruise ship, everything feels familiar right away. Other times, something feels a little different — and you can’t quite put your finger on it. That was our experience the moment we stepped onboard the Diamond Princess.
At first I thought it was simply because we hadn’t sailed Princess in a while, but after walking around the ship for a day or two, it finally hit me. This ship feels like classic cruising.
There’s a warmth to the design that you don’t always see on newer ships. Wood paneling throughout the lounges and promenade areas, cozy bars tucked into corners, and spaces that seem designed more for conversation than spectacle.
In an era where many ships are adding rollercoasters, go-kart tracks, and waterparks, the Diamond Princess feels almost refreshing in its simplicity. That’s not to say the ship feels outdated — it’s actually very comfortable — but it definitely carries the atmosphere of a more traditional cruise experience.
And honestly, that ended up being one of our favorite parts of the trip.
Embarkation Day in Singapore
Our cruise began in Singapore, which is one of those cities that always seems to impress no matter how many times you visit. Visit our post on Singapore – A Favorite Cruise Port City.
We arrived at the cruise terminal about an hour before our scheduled check-in time — mostly because we’re the type of travelers who would rather wait at the port than sit around in the hotel room watching the clock.
Surprisingly, or maybe not so surprising, the terminal was almost empty when we arrived, except for the few other overly-anxious cruisers.
The check-in process itself was a little disorganized, though I suspect that had more to do with the port operations than Princess itself, since we were dealing with international travel logistics and passport processing for several different countries.
Once we received our Princess Medallions, however, things became much simpler. If you haven’t sailed Princess recently, the Medallion is a small wearable device that replaces the traditional cruise card. It unlocks your cabin door automatically when you approach, allows you to order food and drinks anywhere on the ship, and even lets crew members greet you by name when you walk up to the bar.
It’s one of those technologies that initially sounds gimmicky — until you use it for a few days and realize how convenient it actually is.
Of course, Susan’s first stop after boarding wasn’t a bar or a restaurant, but it was the Medallion accessory shop, where you can “bling out” your device with different lanyards, clips, and holders. Apparently, the standard version wasn’t stylish enough.
Check out our article on Princess MedallionClass Review – which details how the Medallions work.
Getting Around the Ship
One thing we appreciated fairly quickly was how easy the Diamond Princess is to navigate.
Unlike the massive cruise ships that can take a week to figure out, this ship feels manageable. By the second day we already had a good sense of where things were located.
That said, there is one quirk worth mentioning. The aft elevators only go down to Deck 6, which becomes a little inconvenient if you’re staying in an aft cabin and heading to the dining room of Deck 5.
In practice, that means if you are in an aft cabin, you will have to walk to the midship elevators in order to go down to Deck 5 – Vivaldi Dining Room. Not a huge problem — just one of those little ship-design quirks you notice after a few days onboard. We later learned that many Princess ship have this same design layout.
Most of our time ended up being spent across three decks. Deck 5 became our morning routine thanks to Good Spirits at Sea, which served as our go-to coffee and tea stop each morning. Deck 6 housed the Princess Theatre, where we spent many evenings watching shows with our newfound Aussie friends Jacqui and Kent, while Deck 7 became our favorite place to simply relax.
Two lounges on that deck stood out in particular. The Explorers Lounge was perfect for daytime activities and casual drinks, while the Wheelhouse Bar had an old-world charm that made it one of the most comfortable places on the ship…and it also happened to be the only bar we found that consistently offered snack mix, which — when paired with a cocktail and good conversation — made it an easy favorite.
Our Balcony Cabin Experience
For this cruise we stayed in Cabin A631 on Deck 12, which is a balcony cabin on the Aloha Deck.
At first glance the cabin felt very typical of a cruise balcony room, but after settling in we started noticing a few things that made it stand out. The first was the bed.
Our initial impression was that it felt unusually soft — almost like it might be worn out. But after the first night we both woke up feeling incredibly well rested. By the end of the cruise, we were joking that we wished we could take the bed home with us.
The bathroom, like most cruise ship bathrooms, was compact. But the water pressure was surprisingly strong, which is something that frequent cruisers always appreciate.
Where the cabin really impressed us was with storage space. The closet stretched nearly the full width of the wall — probably eight feet across — and there was additional storage hidden behind a full length mirror in the dressing area.
Our balcony was a comfortable size with two chairs and a small table, and thanks to the deck above us it actually felt more private than many cruise balconies we’ve had in the past.
Dining on Diamond Princess
One thing we had heard repeatedly before boarding was that Princess is known for excellent food. After two weeks onboard, I can confidently say that reputation is well deserved.
We had fixed dining reservations in the Vivaldi Dining Room, and while the service started off a little tentative early in the cruise — we later learned that our assistant waiter was on his first contract — it improved steadily as the trip went on. By the end of the cruise, the service felt polished and attentive.
Several dishes stood out during the voyage.
The Mahi-mahi, sirloin steak, and the table-side pasta on Italian night well all excellent. But the real highlight for both of us was dessert. Susan and I like to consider ourselves dessert aficionados, and we both agreed that some of the desserts on this ship were among the best we’ve had on any cruise line.
Horizon Buffet
Unlike some massive cruise buffets that feel overwhelming, the buffet on Diamond Princess felt manageable and thoughtfully designed. The mirrored layout on both sides of the ship kept the flow moving smoothly, and the variety was good without feeling excessive.
The only disappointment was the cook-to-order breakfast station, which relied on a staff member writing your order down and then waiting for it to be delivered to your table. By the time ours arrived, it was meh at best.
Our advice? If you want made-to-order breakfast, just go to the main dining room, where they will bend over backwards to get you what you want – even if not on their breakfast menu.
Entertainment: A Tale of Two Weeks
One interesting aspect of this cruise was how dramatically the entertainment improved during the second week.
The first few days were a bit slow, though one standout performer was Peter Byrne, whose Neil Diamond tribute show was exceptional. Susan and I saw the Broadway musical A Beautiful Noise last year on Broadway, and honestly Peter Byrne captured the spirit of Neil Diamond just as well, if not better.
By week two, however, the entertainment schedule really hit its stride. Two performers stood out in particular.
Prinnie Stevens delivered two incredible tribute performances, the first to Tina Turner and the closing night to Whitney Houston. Dan Middleditch brought the house down with an Elvis tribute, followed a few nights later with a rock-and-roll show featuring classics from Elvis, Johnny Cash, Buddy Holly, and Jerry Lee Lewis.
By the end of the cruise, going to the theater had become part of our nightly routine.
A Surprise: The Gym
I try to walk three miles every morning, even on vacation, mostly to help eliminate the self-loathing many of us experience after two desserts the night before.
The gym onboard Diamond Princess was expectedly smaller than some we’ve seen on newer ships, but what surprised me was how busy it was.
The gym opened at 6:00 AM, and by 6:15 nearly every treadmill, elliptical, and weight machine was already in use. The crowd was incredibly diverse — travelers from all over the world, across multiple generations. It was actually inspiring, except of course when a very determined 70+ year-old woman kept giving me the stink-eye waiting for me to finish.
MedallionClass Technology
One thing Princess deserves real credit for is its MedallionClass technology. The Medallion replaces your cruise card and enables several features that genuinely improve the cruise experience.
Your cabin door unlocks automatically when you approach, drinks and food can be delivered anywhere onboard, and crew members often greet you by name thanks to the system.
It’s one of those innovations that quietly improves everything without getting in the way. If you’re curious how it all works, we actually wrote an entire article about it:
Princess MedallionClass Review
What Surprised Us Most
Like any cruise, there were a few things that stood out, both good and bad.
The biggest pleasant surprise was probably the quality of service, especially from our cabin steward. It reminded us of the level of attention that used to define cruising 20 years ago. You might remember, when you left the cabin in the morning, regardless of when you came back, your room was made up. Like that.
The internet speed was another pleasant surprise. While it seems most cruises we go on still struggle to provide a decent connection – regardless of the internet package you buy, Princess seems to have it together. And for those of you that try to use one purchased connection for multiple devices, you know that switching between devices is a real pain. With that said though, switching between my phone and computer on the Diamond, utilizing my one purchased connection, was seamless and literally took less than a minute. I always felt it was such a simple task, and now know that at least someone figured it out.
Now the biggest downside for us, was that the Entertainment took a few days to find its rhythm. But once it did, the performances became one of the highlights of the trip.
Who Diamond Princess Is Perfect For
After two weeks onboard, we came away with a pretty clear picture of who this ship is best suited for.
Diamond Princess is perfect for couples, retirees, and travelers who enjoy a relaxed cruise atmosphere focused on destinations rather than onboard thrills.
It’s also great for travelers who appreciate the feel of classic cruising, where conversation lounges and elegant spaces matter more than adrenaline attractions.
On the other hand, families looking for waterslides, sports complexes, or high-energy activities may prefer some of the newer mega-ships.
Final Thoughts from MAK’n Waves
So would we sail Diamond Princess again? Without hesitation.
Not because it’s the newest ship in the fleet (which it isn’t), and not because it has the most attractions (which it doesn’t), but because it offers something many ships have lost — a sense of classic cruising done well.
Relaxed spaces, excellent food, friendly crew, and a ship that feels comfortable rather than overwhelming. Sometimes the best cruise isn’t the one with the most bells and whistles, sometimes it’s simply the one that reminds you why you started cruising in the first place.
And for us, Diamond Princess did exactly that.
Planning a Princess Cruise?
If you’re considering sailing on Diamond Princess or another Princess ship, working with a knowledgeable travel advisor can make the experience even better.
Feel free to reach out — we’re always happy to connect readers with trusted cruise specialists.
