While I have cruised on a number of ships from different ports, this was my first sailing that both started and finished in Australia.
The journey began with an early flight to Brisbane, where I boarded the Diamond Princess for its four-night sailing back south to Sydney.
Although we are only a paragraph in, here’s my first tip for anyone flying into Brisbane to take a cruise:
It may be faster and cheaper to go straight from the airport to the port. So, if your cruise company offers a transfer, it might be wise to take that option.
I had some time to kill and an old Kiwi friend to catch up with, so I headed into Brisbane’s CBD.
When it was time to head to the port to board Diamond Princess, I caught a train to the nearest station and then took an Uber from there.
It was apparent that this was a common routine for cruisers departing from the Queensland capital. Staff at Central Station admitted it was a weakness in their train network, but at only fifty cents, my train from the CBD towards the port was an absolute bargain.
“It will be the Uber that costs you money,” the ticket seller joked.
Once onboard, everything ran very smoothly. I had a couple of issues with power plugs in my room, but nothing that the friendly staff couldn’t fix within minutes.
It was an early reminder of one of the things I love most about being on a cruise ship—the staff are always extremely friendly and welcoming. It’s reassuring to know that no matter what issues may arise while at sea, the crew will do whatever they can to make things right.
As the cruise was four nights long, with just one port stop in Newcastle, there was plenty of time spent at sea. This gave me ample opportunity to explore the ship and get to know some of its guests.
While the ship has many great spots for food and entertainment, what struck me early on was how many large family groups were onboard, simply enjoying each other’s company.
Since Diamond Princess was heading to Japan after departing Sydney, there were many Japanese families onboard for the long-haul trip north.
Seated around the pool, they played cards for hours—some from first light until sunset, still laughing and hugging as they played their hands all day long.
Those of us onboard Diamond Princess were probably on the most unspoken-about ship sailing the east coast of Australia at the time of this journey.
Meanwhile, Chinese warships were making their way along the Australian coast, dominating news headlines.
As a news geek, I won’t pretend that the idea of possibly spotting the ships with my own eyes didn’t excite me, but I wasn’t so lucky—no warships were seen during the sailing.
A little bit about the ship itself:
It has 16 decks, a capacity of 2,670 passengers, and a crew of 1,100. So, while it’s not as large as some of the mega ships that sail the Caribbean these days, it’s probably the ideal size for docking at ports like Newcastle.
Speaking of Newcastle—what a great little city for visitors to Australia to experience! Its amazing beaches, cafés, and friendly locals offer a fantastic introduction to the country for first-time visitors, without the large crowds and attraction-focused features of Sydney.
I was onboard with a group of travel agents and other media, and we were treated to some behind-the-scenes insights into Princess Cruises and the wider cruise industry—but more on that this Friday.
It’s safe to say that Diamond Princess is more of a traditional cruise ship in both appearance and passenger demographic.
So, while it might not be the best choice for those at the younger end of the market, it’s ideal for travellers who appreciate the old-school charm of cruising.
Diamond Princess has now set sail for Japan for the coming months but will return to Australia for its next cruise season.
