Live from the Diamond, July 10-27, 17-day B2B around Japan and Korea

[Ken the cruiser]

We have arrived in Osaka, Japan and for the first time on our cruise, we have no plans to go ashore, let alone on an excursion. This is also the only port, besides Yokohama, that we visited on both legs.

 

After a tasty breakfast in the Santa Fe RCDR, we went for a walk on the promenade to take some pictures on the pier (port) side of the ship just to see what we were missing by not going ashore on this very hot and humid day in Osaka.

 

Kaiyukan, the largest aquarium in the world, or so the sign says. 

 

 
There is also a Legoland!

 

 
A ferris wheel

 

  

 

 

 

 
Here’s where we are docked in Osaka, which is the same spot as on the first leg.

 

 
And here’s the weather map for today. It will be interesting to see if the blue “light rain” area makes it over to Osaka! I’m guessing not. 😂

 

 

[Ken the cruiser]

6 hours ago, Steelers36 said:

Is that like Family Feud?

 

Yes, very similar.

[Ken the cruiser]

46 minutes ago, rhaemerson said:

Do you know if Princess serves Japanese draft beer on the ship?

TIA

There were 19 different beers listed on the App that you could order. Of those listed, only one was from anywhere in Asia.  It was Tiger Beer, which when I did an internet search on the brand, it was from Singapore. The rest were all “western” beers from what I could tell.

[Norwaylady]

ohhh, I want to go back to Japan🤩

We had a great time during our 6/weeks trip and cruise on Milli in 2018.....

Was supposed to celebrate 10years wedding anniversary in October 2020 on a new Japan & South Korea adventure 4 weeks cruise and land.....

 

Looks like your having a great time!

Really enjoying your review🥰

 

We are a bit split about our 2025 October plans.... Im really split about Galapagos or a new Japan adventure in October 2025.... Your not helping me out on this now😆🤭  

So i will follow along on Galapagos also😁

I know it's comparing apples to oranges.... But I dont know exactly what we want yet....

[Ken the cruiser]

7 minutes ago, Norwaylady said:

ohhh, I want to go back to Japan🤩

We had a great time during our 6/weeks trip and cruise on Milli in 2018.....

Was supposed to celebrate 10years wedding anniversary in October 2020 on a new Japan & South Korea adventure 4 weeks cruise and land.....

 

Looks like your having a great time!

Really enjoying your review🥰

 

We are a bit split about our 2025 October plans.... Im really split about Galapagos or a new Japan adventure in October 2025.... Your not helping me out on this now😆🤭  

So i will follow along on Galapagos also😁

I know it's comparing apples to oranges.... But I dont know exactly what we want yet....

We’ve had a great time! However, if we ever go again it definitely won’t be in the summer, as it’s too hot and humid this time of year! 😂 Maybe in the spring to see the cherry blossoms, or maybe around the much cooler north island on a transpacific cruise from Tokyo to Alaska. 😁

[villauk]

9 minutes ago, Ken the cruiser said:

We’ve had a great time! However, if we ever go again it definitely won’t be in the summer, as it’s too hot and humid this time of year! 😂 Maybe in the spring to see the cherry blossoms, or maybe around the much cooler north island on a transpacific cruise from Tokyo to Alaska. 😁

 

Is it unbearable? We’re planning on visiting towards the end of August next year and I’m hoping it won’t be as bad as it’s been for you 🤞🏻.

[Ken the cruiser]

1 minute ago, villauk said:

 

Is it unbearable? We’re planning on visiting towards the end of August next year and I’m hoping it won’t be as bad as it’s been for you 🤞🏻.

It’s bearable as long as you remember to bring at least 2 bottles of water along on your excursion or plenty of yen to buy water from one of the many vending machines found at every stop.
 

I just did an internet search and here’s what came back. The issue isn’t so much the heat as it is the humidity levels, as the dew point levels range between 75-82 degrees. As a comparison we live in Alabama and when the dew point hits 70 degrees, that is a very humid day! 

 

 

[Ken the cruiser]

10 hours ago, rhaemerson said:

Do you know if Princess serves Japanese draft beer on the ship?

TIA

I just checked with my bartender and he said they serve Asahi draft beer.

[Ken the cruiser]

Tonight after another tasty dinner at the Santa Fe RCDR, we headed to the theater to watch Enchanted Echoes of a Taiko Drum.

 

 

 
Then before the game show we heard there were going to be some fireworks nearby, which we later found out were canceled due to a potential storm in the area. We then used the time to walk around the ship to take some pictures of the Osaka skyline at night.

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Then we were off to watch another hilarious game show called Body Language!

 

 

[Ken the cruiser]

Day 17 - July 26 - Our last sea day

 

 

 

Edited July 25, 2023 by Ken the cruiser

[EDVM96]

12 hours ago, Ken the cruiser said:

It was Tiger Beer, which when I did an internet search on the brand, it was from Singapore

Tiger Beer belongs to Heineken Asia Pacific.

The Regal Princess had Tiger Beer last fall in Europe / Mediterranean.
And the Sapphire also had Tiger Beer this spring in Alaska.

[adventurenerd]

Hi Ken,

 

We just found your live reports and started to read them.

Thank you for posting these reports and answering to many questions.

We will be following, but, we have to finish reading 16 pages! of great info first!!!

We are doing 9 days circle around Japan starting on September 20th 2023.  Our ports of calls are different except Busan but, we are going to use many great tips you have on your posts.  Thanks!

Mo and Rick

[charlie murphy]

9 hours ago, Ken the cruiser said:

I just checked with my bartender and he said they serve Asahi draft beer.

we were on the ship a cruise or two before and it could have changed by this cruise  BUT the draft box was Asahi ( on the pool deck) the beer from the tap was Heineken!

Also, there was no Japanese whiskey on the ship! looked everywhere and was told at all locations that No we have no Japanese whiskey. That's weird on a Japanese cruise, especially given the popularity of Japanese whiskey , there was Japanese gin and Sake. 

[charlie murphy]

It also looks like you have a GREAT variety of entertainment on this cruise. We did a 2 week, with turn around in Tokyo and entertainment was the same on both. the main productions were good but there was a sever drop off from production show to fill in show.  AND the menu was the same, to the day!, on both segments. It is too bad that the cruise ended Before surf and turf night the second time around. If the cycle held true,  the next cruise passengers got on, and night one was surf and turf.. 

[LACruiser88]

10 hours ago, Ken the cruiser said:

maybe around the much cooler north island on a transpacific cruise from Tokyo to Alaska.

We have two Japan ports (Tokyo and Osaka) on our 32-day, Coral Princess, Singapore to LA, in October of 2024.  Much cooler time of year for sure.

[Ken the cruiser]

2 hours ago, charlie murphy said:

we were on the ship a cruise or two before and it could have changed by this cruise  BUT the draft box was Asahi ( on the pool deck) the beer from the tap was Heineken!

Also, there was no Japanese whiskey on the ship! looked everywhere and was told at all locations that No we have no Japanese whiskey. That's weird on a Japanese cruise, especially given the popularity of Japanese whiskey , there was Japanese gin and Sake. 

All I know is that I went into the Wheelhouse Bar near the theater yesterday and they told me they had Asahi on tap. 

[Ken the cruiser]

2 hours ago, charlie murphy said:

It also looks like you have a GREAT variety of entertainment on this cruise. We did a 2 week, with turn around in Tokyo and entertainment was the same on both. the main productions were good but there was a sever drop off from production show to fill in show.  AND the menu was the same, to the day!, on both segments. It is too bad that the cruise ended Before surf and turf night the second time around. If the cycle held true,  the next cruise passengers got on, and night one was surf and turf.. 

Interesting. We had surf and turf on both cruises on Formal night, but the lengths were 9 and 8 days. We never really noticed the “same” menus on each leg. We saw some of the “same” menu items once or twice, but the menus in their entirety were always different and always served hot.
 

But then again we really didn’t care. The food was very tasty, and they offered a variety of meat and fish choices every night as well as vegetarian, and my DW found plenty to choose from each night, to include the desserts, as she has issues with Gluten.

 

As far as the entertainment goes, we have no complaints there either, as no guest entertainer did more than 2 shows in the main theater our entire cruise. However, we are getting tired of Bravo and our feelings would not be hurt if PCL let that show finally drift off into the sunset. 😁

Edited July 25, 2023 by Ken the cruiser

[Ken the cruiser]

Here is the Disembarkation Information for those that are interested in the walk-off times.

 

 

[rhaemerson]

Is there any place to see liquor prices aboard Princess ships?

[Ken the cruiser]

2 hours ago, rhaemerson said:

Is there any place to see liquor prices aboard Princess ships?

Just on the App from my understanding. However, if you have some specific interests, I’d be happy to find those entries and post them here. For example, all canned beer is $7-7.50 each except for

  

 
All Bourbons are $8-9 except for

 

 
All Classic Cocktails are $9-11.

 
All Cognacs are $10 except for

 

 
All frozen drinks are $11-12

 

All gin prices are $8 except for

 

 
All liqueurs are $8-9 

 

All margaritas are $11-12

 

All rum is $7.50-9 except for 

 

 
All scotch and whiskey are $8-12 except for

 

 
As far as the wines go, there are a bunch listed either by the bottle or by the glass. If you have a specific type or types, let me know. Hope this helps.

Edited July 26, 2023 by Ken the cruiser

[rhaemerson]

Thanks again for the liquor costs. I’m on 17 day b2b on Diamond from 8/14-8/31. Reserved this in 2019 - cancelled 3x.  Maybe we’ll make it this time. 5th time to Japan. Premier Plus pkg is too much for casual drinkers like my DW and I. We’re Elite so I get Wi-Fi 50% off - free before Covid. Got to go ashore to get good noddles and sushi. You’ve got some great pics there. 

[Ken the cruiser]

23 minutes ago, rhaemerson said:

Thanks again for the liquor costs. I’m on 17 day b2b on Diamond from 8/14-8/31. Reserved this in 2019 - cancelled 3x.  Maybe we’ll make it this time. 5th time to Japan. Premier Plus pkg is too much for casual drinkers like my DW and I. We’re Elite so I get Wi-Fi 50% off - free before Covid. Got to go ashore to get good noddles and sushi. You’ve got some great pics there. 

We got the Princess Plus package (originally $50 pp/day when we booked the cruise) and it worked out for us, especially with all the water bottles we needed for the excursions as well as while on the ship. As far as drinks go, I usually have 2-3 (half) glasses of Moscato at dinner, sometimes a (half) glass for lunch, a beer for my afternoon pre-dinner drink on the balcony, and my triple Baileys before heading to the evening show. My DW only drinks water and hot chocolate, both of which have a purchase fee. Also included, of course, were the gratuities and unlimited Wi-Fi.

 

But to be honest, we really enjoy just not worrying about the cost of things once we board the ship. However, once we make Elite this fall after our CB Canadian cruise, we may have to relook at the math since the Plus package is now $60 pp/day and our unlimited internet package will drop when we make Elite from $15 to $7.50 pp/day.

Edited July 26, 2023 by Ken the cruiser

[EDVM96]

5 minutes ago, Ken the cruiser said:

As far as drinks go, I usually have 2-3 (half) glasses of Moscato at dinner,

Oh, a Moscato at dinner? I never heard that before. It's very sweet, it's a dessert wine usualy for after dinner.

[KLM3164]

On 7/24/2023 at 1:09 AM, Ken the cruiser said:

And there it was, a beautiful and very elusive Nara pigeon amongst all the Sika deer ! 😂

I love all your photos of the deer and even the elusive Nara pigeon was very colorful! I was surprised to see how friendly the deer appeared to be in your photos.

[Ken the cruiser]

9 minutes ago, EDVM96 said:

Oh, a Moscato at dinner? I never heard that before. It's very sweet, it's a dessert wine usualy for after dinner.

At home I only drink blackberry and blueberry wine, and when on a cruise I’ll either drink a good German Kabinett Riesling or Moscato. I never was much for the more acidic tasting wines that are widely available. The thing about Moscato is that the alcohol content is only 7-8%. So I don’t get light headed and start getting loose lips if I have an extra glass! I tell ya, it’s tough getting old! 😂
 

Edited July 26, 2023 by Ken the cruiser