When the TV series “The Love Boat” was at the height of its popularity in the late ‘70s, the fun and exciting life on a cruise ship came into focus. On centerstage was the Pacific Princess of Princess Cruises, the setting of the show. Back then cruising seemed an unreachable dream for most of us. Little did I envision that decades later I would be fortunate enough to have that amazing experience many times over.
Last month our travel group led by Cruise Queen Aida Uy of Cebu Fortune Travel took the Japan/Korea cruise of Diamond Princess. We boarded the ship in Yokohama, the second largest city in Japan located 20 miles southwest of Tokyo. From the time of embarkation to our departure six days later we basked in the idyllic life onboard. Yes, cruising the Princess way means royal treatment all the way.
Since I was not new to cruising I had preconceived ideas on what to expect onboard, but this time around I found changes and additions that have made the cruise experience even more pleasurable. First off, instead of a key card I was given a medallion with sensors so that when I was in the vicinity of my stateroom, the door automatically unlocked. Secondly, the annoying mandatory safety drill was scrapped and replaced with a TV demo. Best of all, internet was available at all times through the MedallionNet plan. Then there was the Medallion Class app where one could scan events and activities for the whole cruise as well as browse food and beverage selections. Everything as in everything in the ship was well thought of and attuned to the times. How’s that for comfort and convenience?
Just like any other cruise, the highlight was the Captain’s Welcome Aboard Celebration on the second night. The dress-up affair held at the Grand Plaza gave us a chance to hear the Captain speak and introduce the key people on the ship. Shortly before the festivities we met up with our kababayans from Metro Manila’s travel circuit led by the team from Cruise Professionals Inc. (GSA of Princess Cruises in the Philippines) - chairman Gina Jose Nazal, president Vanessa Jose, vice president-operations Nancy Ong Balingit and reservation agent Sheir Mae Relata.
It was pleasantly cool when the Diamond Princess docked in Busan Metropolitan City, the largest port city of South Korea and the home of the famed Busan International Film Festival. Those who booked the Princess shore excursions made their way to the buses that would bring them to popular tourist spots like the legendary Haedong Yonggungsa Buddhist temple located on a pretty cliff by the sea; the international convention center called the Nurimaru APEC House, which was built in traditional Korean architectural style; the Gukje International Market with its array of Korean items and other goodies; the scenic Haeundae Beach; and other points of interest. Some of us headed to the city center for a bit of shopping at the huge Lotte World Mall.
The next port of call was historic Nagasaki in the island of Kyushu in Japan, known the world over as the 2nd city to suffer a nuclear attack after its bombing by American forces on Aug. 9, 1945. Most of the must-see sites listed for the standard Nagasaki tour were somber reminders of that sad day - the Atomic Bomb Museum and the nearby Peace Park; the Nagasaki National Peace Memorial Hall for the Atomic Bomb Victims; Nagasaki Hypocenter Park (ground zero of the bombing); Sanno Shrine and the One-Legged Torii Gate (the shrine was obliterated by the explosion with only a single pillar of the gate remaining). A most pleasant exception in the list was Glover Gardens, the park on a hillside with a stunning view of the Nagasaki port. The place honors Scottish merchant Thomas Blake Glover who contributed to the modernization of Japan in shipbuilding and coal mining. On the way up the hill were little tea shops and souvenir stores, which made for delightful distractions.
We had one whole day at sea before the end of the cruise and we felt it was our last chance to make the most of what Diamond Princess had to offer - yummy food (drinks, desserts, delicacies), fun games, live music, dance lessons, eye-opening demos, informative talks, tempting auctions, outdoor movies, spa treatments, gym sessions, inviting pools, and all else that spelled Happy Times. Of course we made sure to watch the farewell show at the Princess Theater, the grand finale of the ship’s nightly entertainment. Indeed nothing beats going on a cruise for an exciting and exhilarating interlude.