By
Rebecca Gibson |
Princess Cruises’ Diamond Princess has arrived in Singapore to start a new homeporting season alongside sister ship Sapphire Princess, marking the first time the cruise line has based two ships in the country at the same time.
Arriving from Japan on 19 December, Diamond Princess will operate a 10-day Christmas sailing from Singapore to Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia; Nha Trang and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; and Bangkok and Ko Samui, Thailand. The ship will also offer a 10-day New Year itinerary that includes calls in Bali; Port Klang and Penang, Vietnam; and Phuket, Thailand.
Sapphire Princess began her fifth homeporting season from Singapore on 28 November, sailing three- to 13-day cruises to Southeast Asia ports. The vessel will also embark on a ‘Grand Asia’ voyage trip from Singapore to Shanghai over the Christmas and New Year period.
“A cruise provides the ideal setting to connect with loved ones and celebrate the festive season together,” said Farriek Tawfik, director for Southeast Asia at Princess Cruises. “With two ships homeporting in Singapore for the first time, we’re offering guests an expansive schedule of sailings to experience some of the most incredible destinations in the region, while celebrating in style on the high seas.”
Diamond Princess will undergo a dry dock in Singapore in early 2019 before returning to Japan in February to provide more than 60 roundtrips from Tokyo and Kobe. Meanwhile, Sapphire Princess will continue to sail in Southeast Asia until the summer when she repositions to Europe. The latter vessel will return to Singapore for winter 2019-2020.