Diamond Princess - Japan Season - REVIEW

[A.Emgee]

we love them at the hotel we stay at in Shinjuku.

anyways my question

is it changed toliets for ALL cabins or just the higher catergories? balcony and above??

does anyone know ??

im still trying to talk hubby into one of the 9dys cruises in aug. we were just cruising there in May and he thinks its too soon to go back...I DONT THINK SO!!

cheers,

~nancy

mychineseauntie

My oceanview cabin did NOT have the Japanese toilets. The male public toilets did not have them either, but apparently the female public toilets did.

[Aussie Gal]

We will be in a mini suite in October so I am looking forward to trying out the new toilets. I know that when we were in Japan back in 2009, we were taken to a lovely restaurant off the beaten track by our private guide in Kyoto. This restaurant had the special toilets and I didn't know where to start! By the time our cruise is finished, I hopefully will have a much better idea of how to work these toilets.

 

Jennie

[K2Cruises]

My partner and I just returned from our nine day Ancient Capitals cruise. We had the wonderful experience of booking a mini suite and being upgraded to a penthouse suite. The penthouse suite C423 did indeed have the Japanese style toilet. It did seem that the problems others experienced with the earlier cruises have been ironed out. Menus were displayed in both English and Japanese at all the dining rooms, the announcements and the Wake Show was in both languages and the movies on demand were offered in either language. We did notice the trend of people walking on the right as previously noted.

[Aussie Gal]

We would love to be given the chance of an upgrade. How lucky you were!

 

I know that the Japanese drive on the same side of the road as we do and therefore I imagine that when walking down the corridors on the ship we will be keeping to the left. Actually, as we always travel on ships away from home, we are very used to keeping to the right as so many of our fellow travellers are from the U.S. and Canada. It will probably take me awhile to get used to being on the left again.

 

Jennie

[Lanwood]

My partner and I just returned from our nine day Ancient Capitals cruise. We had the wonderful experience of booking a mini suite and being upgraded to a penthouse suite. The penthouse suite C423 did indeed have the Japanese style toilet. It did seem that the problems others experienced with the earlier cruises have been ironed out. Menus were displayed in both English and Japanese at all the dining rooms, the announcements and the Wake Show was in both languages and the movies on demand were offered in either language. We did notice the trend of people walking on the right as previously noted.

 

Upgraded to a penthouse suite.....you lucky duck...

[OzKiwiJJ]

We will be in a mini suite in October so I am looking forward to trying out the new toilets. I know that when we were in Japan back in 2009, we were taken to a lovely restaurant off the beaten track by our private guide in Kyoto. This restaurant had the special toilets and I didn't know where to start! By the time our cruise is finished, I hopefully will have a much better idea of how to work these toilets.

 

Jennie

 

Start with the button that has a female symbol, that's the "ladies wash". :)

 

You can buy them in Australia. ;) They just replace your regular toilet seat and connect to the toilet water supply. You do need a power point nearby though.

[tjcox9]

There's been discussion of the toilets on the Diamond Princess. For those who have had questions as to whether they are in all cabins, I can say from experience that they are not!! I'm not sure which categories have them, but we were in an outside and did not have one, but did see them in the public areas.

 

Here is an article complete with photos of the units complete with the selections available!

http://www.usatoday.com/story/cruiselog/2014/07/12/japan-cruise-toilets-princess/12564315/

 

But, these don't even come close to some of them I encountered in the various ports. How often have you walked into a restroom and had the lid lift automatically? I ran onto two of these in various places. What a hoot!!

 

We were onboard for the 27 day May 27 combination of three 9 day cruises. We were a bit concerned after reading the initial posts/reviews from earlier. But, we found that overall things went quite smoothly. If there are any questions, I'll try to answer.

[nanwel]

Was in Marseille on a port stop - went to the Casino to see what it was like. There were a group of school girls in the washrooms - talking very loud, and laughing - they kept flushing and watching the toilets flush!

They had the "new" toilets, and the girls had not seen them before! Imagine a bus load of girls - when they get home, well what did you see/like most - the toilets!!

[nanwel]

Guess I should have said, no they were not there to gamble, but it was the only "free" toilet. You did not have to go into the casino, just the front entry and downstairs to the washrooms

[OzKiwiJJ]

Was in Marseille on a port stop - went to the Casino to see what it was like. There were a group of school girls in the washrooms - talking very loud, and laughing - they kept flushing and watching the toilets flush!

They had the "new" toilets, and the girls had not seen them before! Imagine a bus load of girls - when they get home, well what did you see/like most - the toilets!!

 

And that was exactly my reply after a two week trip to Japan some years ago. :D

 

One thing I did notice then was that all the women I talked to thought they were marvellous, and the men just thought they were funny. Hmmm! :rolleyes:

Edited July 13, 2014 by OzKiwiJJ

[pebblertw]

We were onboard for the 27 day May 27 combination of three 9 day cruises. We were a bit concerned after reading the initial posts/reviews from earlier. But, we found that overall things went quite smoothly. If there are any questions, I'll try to answer.

 

Did you visit Korsakov, Russia? Trying to find out if the ship's tour to Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk is worth doing or not. Looking forward to our cruise starting end of August.

[tjcox9]

Did you visit Korsakov, Russia? Trying to find out if the ship's tour to Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk is worth doing or not. Looking forward to our cruise starting end of August.

 

Yes, Korsakov was on our itinerary, however, we did not do that tour, so can't help you there. Sorry!

[pebblertw]

Yes, Korsakov was on our itinerary, however, we did not do that tour, so can't help you there. Sorry!

Thanks anyway.

[Elua]

There's been discussion of the toilets on the Diamond Princess. For those who have had questions as to whether they are in all cabins, I can say from experience that they are not!! I'm not sure which categories have them, but we were in an outside and did not have one, but did see them in the public areas.

 

Here is an article complete with photos of the units complete with the selections available!

http://www.usatoday.com/story/cruiselog/2014/07/12/japan-cruise-toilets-princess/12564315/

 

But, these don't even come close to some of them I encountered in the various ports. How often have you walked into a restroom and had the lid lift automatically? I ran onto two of these in various places. What a hoot!!

 

We were onboard for the 27 day May 27 combination of three 9 day cruises. We were a bit concerned after reading the initial posts/reviews from earlier. But, we found that overall things went quite smoothly. If there are any questions, I'll try to answer.

 

Aloha Kakou,

Sad to say, I have not had the chance to try these on the ship. They are not install din the mens publics, and we haven't been in a passenger cabin yet. I have seen them around places we have visited, but the control panel is in Japanese and I'm a little scared as to what might happen if I press the wrong button.

 

That being said, I'm thinking that when we get back home after this season, we may pick up one of these for our bedroom...

 

Aloha,

Dave

(of Elua)

http://www.facebook.com/eluamusic

[wen_c82]

thanks all for the reviews/input, very helpful for our future planning of Japan cruise!

[kdn hawaii]

we love them at the hotel we stay at in Shinjuku.

 

anyways my question

 

is it changed toliets for ALL cabins or just the higher catergories? balcony and above??

 

does anyone know ??

 

im still trying to talk hubby into one of the 9dys cruises in aug. we were just cruising there in May and he thinks its too soon to go back...I DONT THINK SO!!

 

cheers,

 

~nancy

 

mychineseauntie

 

 

We had an inside cabin and there was no bidet. The public restrooms (women's) had bidets, though.

 

 

Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app

[A.stew12305]

At breakfast MDR, they would poor it within seconds of popping in the tea bag (so basically hot water in my cup). I would generally, politely, wait until they had left and then quickly poor it back into the pot to brew for a minute or two when no one was looking :(). I presumed it must have been something to do with the Japanese teas not needing as long to brew us our English type black teas, and staff not realising this (that's what I chose to believe anyway).

 

Afternoon tea, I didn't have a pot left for me, so it was basically undrinkable for us.

 

Best way to get a good cup of tea on board was either getting a pot (unpored) at the Lobby bar, or, making it yourself in Horizons court (best way for me).....

 

I found the same problem on the Grand to Alaska in May. I figured it had to do with supply and demand. My first cup (we got there right when it opened) was Ok, but after that it was just slightly tinted hot water. I like strongly brewed tea, so I just asked for my own tea bag. That worked perfectly for me.

[Lanwood]

I like strongly brewed tea, so I just asked for my own tea bag. That worked perfectly for me.

 

That should work too. :)

[cafeDB]

Princess does have dining room menus printed in languages other than English and uses them when appropriate for the passenger. I do not know if Japanese is one of those languages.

 

They do, a waiter tried to give my son one before on a RCI ship, on the way to Hong Kong.

[cafeDB]

We are considering a cruise on the Diamond Princess from Singapore to HK in April next year.

It's been really interesting reading this thread, thank you to all who have contributed especially Lanwood. I'm looking forward to Japanese breakfasts and toilets! haha!:p

We love ballroom (and latin) dancing and it is one of the most important things when we choose a cruise.

Can anyone who has been on the Diamond since the refurbishment please tell me how many dance venues are left and how big the dance floors are? What are the ballroom dancing opportunities like?

I'm quite hopeful because many of the really good dancers I have seen on past cruises have been Japanese couples and I am hoping that Princess is catering to them in this respect too.

[June51]

We have booked for Grand Japan in July 2015, and wondering how shore excursions with Princess in English went. Were many cancelled due to small numbers, did anyone find their own independent providers? We usually avoid ship excursions but realise there is not the tourism industry that we are used to in Japan.:)

Thanks in advance for any hints you can give us! There are a few on our roll call who are keen to do their own thing so I am happy to pass on your experiences too.

June

[pebblertw]

We have booked for Grand Japan in July 2015, and wondering how shore excursions with Princess in English went. Were many cancelled due to small numbers, did anyone find their own independent providers? We usually avoid ship excursions but realise there is not the tourism industry that we are used to in Japan.:)

Thanks in advance for any hints you can give us! There are a few on our roll call who are keen to do their own thing so I am happy to pass on your experiences too.

June

 

We have recently returned from 18 day cruise from 31st August. Most ports were really easy to do on your own. We only did 2 Princess tours - Beppu and Korsakov. We used goodwill guides in Kobe & Nagasaki and organised a couple of private tours - a taxi in Jeju which was a bit disappointing as we were changed to another driver who was not very organised and a Kushiro Tour through UU-Hokkaido. It was an excellent tour and although not cheap, was good value and we all enjoyed it. I would highly recommend UU-Hokkaido. We know others who also booked a taxi in Jeju and they were very happy with their experience. We like to get out of the cities and hired a taxi in Otaru for the 4-5 hour round trip to Cape Kamui which was very scenic and interesting. Only worth doing on a clear, sunny day, tho. When we asked about the possibility of doing this, our Japanese Port Lecturer was quite excited as it is one of her favourite places.

We had evening flights on debark day so booked a tour to Narita through the Boso Peninsula. Really enjoyed that as well. Had planned to write a review but I am flat out with planning a family celebration so it is low on the priority list. Happy to answer any questions tho.

Judy

[June51]

We have recently returned from 18 day cruise from 31st August. Most ports were really easy to do on your own. We only did 2 Princess tours - Beppu and Korsakov. We used goodwill guides in Kobe & Nagasaki and organised a couple of private tours - a taxi in Jeju which was a bit disappointing as we were changed to another driver who was not very organised and a Kushiro Tour through UU-Hokkaido. It was an excellent tour and although not cheap, was good value and we all enjoyed it. I would highly recommend UU-Hokkaido. We know others who also booked a taxi in Jeju and they were very happy with their experience. We like to get out of the cities and hired a taxi in Otaru for the 4-5 hour round trip to Cape Kamui which was very scenic and interesting. Only worth doing on a clear, sunny day, tho. When we asked about the possibility of doing this, our Japanese Port Lecturer was quite excited as it is one of her favourite places.

We had evening flights on debark day so booked a tour to Narita through the Boso Peninsula. Really enjoyed that as well. Had planned to write a review but I am flat out with planning a family celebration so it is low on the priority list. Happy to answer any questions tho.

Judy

 

Thank you very much Judy. I will resume my researching with your experiences as a new staring point! Much appreciated....June

[Austcruiser84]

I was just reading an article in the Cruise Weekly saying RCCL are going to be repositioning the new Quantum of the seas, after it's New York debut season,to Shanghai to sail between China, Japan and Korea. They're all really taking this Market seriously.....

 

I suspect the big cruise lines are looking for new revenue sources since the traditional Western passenger market isn't spending what they used to and there is an internatinal glut in the number of berths.

 

I was looking at trying the Diamond in Japan next year. Sadly, I've read a lot of reviews that indicate Princess isn't really catering to Westerners on these cruises. I'm all for experiencing new cultures, but I don't want to be limited in my choice of activities and excursions.

 

I guess this is how non English speaking cruisers often feel on big US/UK mainstream ships.

[June51]

We have a roll call for the July 2015 cruise if you are interested.