Kon'nichiwa もしもし LAFFNVEGAS Live From The Diamond Princess

[LAFFNVEGAS]

Good Morning From Maizuru, this is the first time that The Diamond Princess has sailed into this port in 5 years and the first time for the Captain. Of course it is pouring rain outside 😏 

we will be heading out shortly for our journey to Kyoto 

[ger_77]

It might be raining, but it's not a cold rain like Alaska.  Hope you both have good rain jackets!

 

Smooth Sailing!  🙂🙂🙂

[LAFFNVEGAS]

2 hours ago, ger_77 said:

It might be raining, but it's not a cold rain like Alaska.  Hope you both have good rain jackets!

 

Smooth Sailing!  🙂🙂🙂

The rain is start to go away, so not too bad. 

[LAFFNVEGAS]

Our first stop on the tour called Best Kyoto we went to Nishiki Market, we even trued Beed Sushi 🍣 

[LAFFNVEGAS]

Next stop on our tour was Nijo-jo Castle 

[LAFFNVEGAS]

Then the tour included Lunch which was Japanese Western style at a banquet area in a  beautiful French Restaurant.

The Green Bar was Green Tea Ice Cream with crunchy sweet top like Creme Brûlée, I got lucky to get Tom’s serving 😉

i also enjoyed some very good sake.

[LAFFNVEGAS]

Our last stop for the Day was the Golden Pavillion Rokuon-Ji Temple . 

It has definitely been a full day, I really want to return to Kyoto, so much we did not see. I could spend a full week here.

we are now on our way back for our two hour trip back to the ship. The drive is all freeway, that is quite scenic.

[Snow Lotus]

Mo-tote (Thank you) for the live from Diamond Princess live.

[ger_77]

The area around the Golden Temple has to be one of the most serene places on earth.  The day we were there, there were very few people and it was like having a private tour.

 

Smooth Sailing! 🙂🙂🙂

[Emoliash]

Is the Japanese food on this cruise good? This is one reason I would like to do a cruise around Japan to see how the line makes changes to incorporate the needs of the Japanese cruisers.

 

The breaking of the sake barrel sounds like a lovely tradition.

[LAFFNVEGAS]

Good Morning from Busan South Korea. 

The weather is beautiful, full sun and no clouds unlike last we were here it was raining most of the day. 

We were originally going on a tour today but I canceled a few weeks ago and decided to have a more relaxing day. We are here till 10:30 tonight but have decided to just stay on board the ship. I have a larger blister on my foot from all the walking we have done that I think I will give it a rest. 

Evidently while we were gone all day in Kyoto the ship had a black out where they lost all power , sounds like it lasted for quite a while and until we reach shore side cell service I had no internet. The Princess at Sea website still shows early morning yesterday when I can even pull it up and no way to log into internet. Hopefully they can fix that today. 

I had hoped to have lunch today at Kai Sushi but they are not open for lunch today.

i have pictures to post of us but my high speed data has been reduced because I used it up yesterday posting all the photos 😁 

So will post more later.

 

[LAFFNVEGAS]

On 9/13/2019 at 12:46 AM, DCGuy64 said:

Since you're past passengers on the Diamond Princess, can you comment on how the ship looks now compared to the pre-refurbishment that was done back in February? We're strongly considering this ship for our Japan trip in 2021, and the pictures online make it look really, really dated. (for comparison's sake, we're looking at similar itineraries on the Oceania Nautica and Norwegian Spirit, both of which are due for dry docks next year). On a side note, we're looking for something after March 2021, and those itineraries aren't available yet. Our TA is keeping an eye out for them. Hoping to go in April or in the fall of 2021. Thanks! 

There is not much change in the Diamond since we were last here in October 2017. Other than new larger TVs and a new hair dryer in the suite there is nothing else. 

Sadly the the Diamond is the forgotten Step Sister of the ships. I think Princess tends to update the North America ships. What you are seeing in the photos are correct although I think they did put new carpeting in the hallways and some common areas of the ship the carpet and furniture in our suite is exactly the same. 

We have never sailed Oceania, but know the NCL product as well as Princess but have not sailed Spirit. But I believe that they did a total refurbishment on the Spirit in 2017. I like NCL a lot but Princess stays here in Asia mostly Japan and I feel they do a better job of Japan. Many of their crew are Japanese so the experience feels more Japanese. While she needs a total update I would not hesitate to book here again for another Japan/Asia cruise.

 

[LAFFNVEGAS]

We have a late Sail Away from Busan South Korea, with a full moon and beautiful city lights. 

[LAFFNVEGAS]

Good Evening from the Diamond Princess, All Aboard this even was for 9:30 it is almost 10 so we will be leaving shortly. Most have been onboard early since the Dining Room was full . The 8:30 show this evening was a group of 5 your Korean performers that call themselves Chung Myung, they stare they are the hottest rhythm performance team in Korea, there’re were three girls and two guys that played drums and danced. They were very good. Unfortunately I forgot to bring my phone so no photos 😩

we are starting to leave so will sigh off till later.

[LAFFNVEGAS]

Busan Cruise Terminal at night.

[LAFFNVEGAS]

It was a beautiful Sail Away

[kazu]

Gorgeous pictures, LIsa and I am really enjoying your reports 🙂 

 

I hope your blister has healed or at least, is much improved.

[LAFFNVEGAS]

 

Good Sunday Morning from the Diamond Princess as we sail through the Kanmon Straits, its a beautiful day although a bit hazy and a few clouds and it is currently about 80 f. 

I have not written much because ever since the blackout the ship had I am getting little to no signal for internet in our stateroom. Prior it was failed strong. I wanted to mention previously that Princess seem to be doing maintenance constantly throughout the ship although not exactly well coordinated. Yesterday the day we were in Busan in the when we went down for breakfast we saw newly stained balcony chairs, table and lounger. Our cabin jets out to the left at the end where we have the only cabin door so there is room for the furniture. When we returned from breakfast they had replaced the old weather worn furniture with newly stained which was great. But A few minutes later painters arrived stating our balcony was scheduled to be painted. Ok no big deal we can sit and read inside plus it was a bit hot outside. After they finished we found that all the newly stained furniture is now splattered with white paint specks as well as the floor, cushions and railings. 

In our scenic cruising we our sailing between two cities, they are doing commentary out on the open decks and on out tv for the bridge cam. Unfortunately I cannot tell you the two cities. Lots of other boats and cargo ships waiting to go through the straits, kind of reminds me of Panama Canal along with the heat and humidity 😅

 

Tonight is the last formal night, we want to go check out the menu if it’s good we eat in Santa Fe Dining Room where Club Classisms locates, or we may go to Sabatini’s. I do want to go to the Captain’s Circle Cocktail Party at 7.

[LAFFNVEGAS]

I forgot to mention we also had the Ultimate Balcony Breakfast this morning , of course it was way too much food but very good way to start the day. 

[Colo Cruiser]

[LAFFNVEGAS]

Had lunch at Kai Sushi 🍣 and of course had to have sake. It was a very good lunch, Tom was a great husband and watched me eat lol, then he went up to Horizon Court 😉

 

[LAFFNVEGAS]

More pics

[LAFFNVEGAS]

[LAFFNVEGAS]

Good Sunday Evening from the Diamond Princess, I mentioned earlier about the 7 pm Captain’s Circle Cocktail Party. It seems that since there were so many they needed to add a second party one at 5:00 pm and then the original 7:00 pm . We decided to go to the 5:00 pm. 

To my HAL friends following this is a lot like Hal use to before the start the Mariner Lunch and it is similar to how NCL does it. I like the they have actual Live Music and the Cocktail, are not limited. They brought around a tray of various drinks but many order different drinks. 

Formal dinner was also nice this evening. There of course was Lobster and Steak Wellington. I actually had the Lobster tail with Risotto but also some of the Calamari Steak. 

We thought about going to the show but since we have an early morning with a 

tour at Miyajima Island near Hiroshima we decided to relax back in our stateroom, plus we have some Chocolate Covered Strawberries calling us 😉

 

Signing off from the Beautiful and Friendly Diamond Princess.

[travelnap]

Wow, with that ultimate balcony breakfast there was enough food to invite the neighbors over for brunch.  It did look like it would be a very delicious treat.