Diamond Princess Review

4.0 / 5.0
921 reviews

First Time Cruiser; Good Experience

Review for Australia & New Zealand Cruise on Diamond Princess
User Avatar
KCaz
First Time Cruiser • Age 40s

Rating by category

Cabin
Value for Money
Embarkation
Dining
Public Rooms
Entertainment
Service

Additional details

Sail Date: Jan 2016
Cabin: Interior
Cabin - interior room
Inside pool
Outside pool
Theatre
Atrium on the first formal night. Champagne tower
One of the bars (Club Fusion) hosting zumba in the morning
Horizon Court (buffet)
Movie under the stars on deck at night
Groups meeting and waiting in the theatre for clearance before going on shore excursions
At Akaroa we had to get tenders (lifeboats) to get from ship to shore
Fiordland National park cruising (Milford Sound). View from the top front
Back of the ship - multiple smaller pools and spas.
Sports level - tennis/basketball court
The deck on level 7 during. You can walk all the way around the ship
Horse racing activity in the atrium
Dancing in the Atrium

This was my first time on a cruise although not my first time in New Zealand. Was looking for a relaxing no-fuss holiday and this pretty much fit the bill.

I'll start by noting that towards the end of the trip we were alerted to a gastro outbreak on the ship that made the news once we disembarked. The crew were very professional, gave regular updates and did everything possible to manage the spread of the virus - most notably no more self-service in the buffet and extra cleaning. Unfortunately some passengers didn't follow directions and apparently left quarantine (rather inconsiderate of them) or failed to report they were sick.

Service was great. The room steward kept everything clean and tidy, food service was generally very good with some waiters making jokes and chatting to passengers and maintaining good cleanliness. The crew manning the activities had a great attitude and seemed to enjoy what they were doing.

Cabin Review

Interior

Clean, good, had no problems. Came with lots of space to hang clothes. Had a safe for storing valuables. Had a hairdryer. Shower was fine.

Port Reviews

Auckland

We did our own thing and walked around.

Wellington

We did almost the same as one of the tours but being in the city it was easy to go at it ourselves. Took the Cable Car to the Botanic Gardens and then visited the Te Papa Museum. All were interesting and well worth the visit.

Akaroa

We had free time (dropped off at the Gardens). In hindsight, wished we'd spent time in the gardens and nearby crafts market rather than wander around Christchurch which is still very much under construction. Hard to believe it's been 4 years. The Antarctic Centre was a lot of fun and interesting - huggalund ride, penguins, videos and exhibits. Christchurch was about a 1.5hour coach trip through stunning countryside.

Dunedin

We did our own thing but there isn't much to see in Port Chalmers or Dunedin. Quaint for a relaxing walk around.

5 Helpful Votes
previous reviewnext review

Find a Diamond Princess Cruise from $138

Any Month

Get special cruise deals, expert advice, insider tips and more.By proceeding, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

© 1995—2024, The Independent Traveler, Inc.