Diamond Princess joins Sapphire Princess to homeport in Singapore

Diamond Princess has arrived in Singapore from Japan to join Sapphire Princess for a homeporting season that will last until March 2019. It marks the first time that Princess Cruises has based two ships in Singapore, with Sapphire Princess arriving on 28 November.

Sapphire Princess, sister ship to Diamond Princess, is homeporting in Singapore for her fifth season and will sail to South-East Asian destinations on voyages lasting between three and 13 days. During this time, she will also embark on a Grand Asia voyage return trip from Singapore to Shanghai over the Christmas and New Year period. Sapphire Princess will then continue sailing in the region, before sailing to Europe for the summer season.

Christmas and New Year sailings from Singapore to South-East Asian destinations are available over the festive season.

Farriek Tawfik, director for South-East Asia at Princess Cruises, said: “A cruise provides the ideal setting to connect with loved ones and celebrate the festive season together. 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.”

Sapphire Princess will return to Singapore for her sixth homeporting season next year, which will include a unique cruise to see the Annular Solar Eclipse from the Straits of Malacca on December 26, 2019. The cruise to experience this natural wonder when the moon covers the sun’s centre, leaving the sun’s visible outer edges to form a “ring of fire”, departs on December 17, 2019.

Diamond Princess will undergo a dry dock in Singapore before she returns to Japan in February 2019 for her sixth season, sailing round trip from Tokyo (Yokohama) and Kobe. The March-November 2019 season features 60 departures on 40 unique itineraries, visiting 41 destinations in seven countries – more ports than ever before. Offerings include access to 11 Unesco World Heritage sites and nine late-night ports of calls.