Goodnews for Princess and the Diamond Princess

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melissa_bel

Guest
Launch ceremony held for twin of fire-damaged liner

The Japan Times: April 13, 2003

NAGASAKI (Kyodo) The launch ceremony for an enormous luxury liner, the
twin of a vessel that caught fire last year, delaying its construction,
was held Saturday at a Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. shipyard in
Nagasaki.

The 113,000-ton Diamond Princess has taken the name of the other vessel,
which was renamed the Sapphire Princess after being severely damaged in a
fire in October, MHI officials said.

Some 80 officials, including representatives of the ship's owner, British
shipping company P&O Princess Cruises PLC, attended the ceremony, which
included fireworks and balloons.

The ship, 290 meters long and 41.5 meters wide, is designed to accommodate
3,100 passengers and is one of the world's largest luxury liners.

The Diamond Princess was pulled by tug boats from the dock to a quay some
700 meters away.

Nobuyoshi Aikawa, head of the MHI Nagasaki Shipyard and Machinery Works,
told staff to do their utmost to complete the liner and help restore trust
that was damaged by the fire.

MHI is scheduled to deliver the Diamond Princess to the owner in February
after finishing interior work, and to complete the Sapphire Princess in
May next year, the officials said.

Reconstruction of the Sapphire, of which about 40 percent was damaged in
the fire, is proceeding smoothly, they said. The fire caused an estimated
30 billion yen worth of damage.
 
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Jasmine

Guest
we cant wait to go on the diamond next spring from seattle to alaska. We almost had it booked for this year the day before it burned down. So, we decided to wait for when it is built, whichever comes out first, the diamond or sapphire...I think they are identical.
 
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tispwisp

Guest
That's awesome news! Can't wait for it to sail and to see the first of the reviews come in. Thanks for the info!
 
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melissa_bel

Guest
Yeah... the ship seems really nice. I have seen the deck plan. Instead of having 2 big main dining rooms, they will have 4 smaller ones. It pretty much looks like the Grand class exept the Skywalker lounge won't be hanging on the back, it's going to be hanging approximatively over the middle of the ship.
The one I'm excited for is the Caribbean Princess. It will feature a "Dive-In" section where you can dine and watch movies on deck on a Time-Square style screen by the main pool. it will also be used for big sport events showcase and will have more balconies than her Grand class sister ships...
 
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Lady Jag

Guest
Melissa - We're looking into booking the Diamond Princess for next March. Can you tell me if the CABIN deck plans are similar to the Grand? Are the cabin categories the same? We're trying to book without even seeing the deck plans. I can't find them anywhere online. I'll try to pick up a brochure today, but in the meantime, can you help? Thanks! :thumb
 
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melissa_bel

Guest
Hi LadyJag!
I have the Diamond's plan in front of me and it is similar exept the Caribe, Baja and Aloha decj have cabins on the fore side of the ship, suites are on the corners and cabins with balconies up front. If you give me more information about what kind of cabins you would like, I may be able to be of better help.
 
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Lady Jag

Guest
Hi Melissa! I finally found a deck plan of the Diamond in Princess' Alaska brochure. The cabin deck plans look identical to most of the Grand Class ships.

I'm really surprised to see a few adjoining cabins. I think we'll go for 2 of those (1 for us, 1 for the boys) on the Caribe or Baja Deck. I don't want to be on the Aloha (too close to the Lido Deck for my tastes) and prefer to bit a bit lower, midship.

We did the Vista Suite last time and I'll never do it again on Princess ships! WAY too much noise and motion!!!!

Can you tell me if this ship will have the balcony partition that can be opened so you can go between balconies like the Grand has?

Thanks,

bobbie
 
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melissa_bel

Guest
Sorry Bobbie,
I don't have this information... but I suspect they have that, since it looks so similar.
 
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Lady Jag

Guest
Just got off the phone with Princess.....here's some info that may be helpful:


Cat. BC - total SF is 237 SF with an 8'11" x 5'2" balcony

Cat. BA - total SF is 277 SF with an 8'11" x 9'10" balcony

- They actually have adjoining cabins! Very few Princess ships do.

- The Diamond Princess won't be out until March 13th now, not in February.

- The balconies will be just as the Grand's are in that they will have the balcony partition that can be unlocked and opened by the cabin steward.


Now all I have to do is book it, Dano!! :lol
 
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