The Diamond Princess became the first cruise ship of the season at the Port of Tauranga this morning, with the 290m-long liner set to make eight visits during what is expected to be her last season in this part of the world.
Before 2014, the Diamond Princess alternated sailing glacier cruises during the northern hemisphere's summer months, and from Australia and New Zealand during southern summers.
The Diamond Princess in port today. Photos: Tracy Hardy.
Since 2014 she has sailed Japan cruises from Yokohama to Tokyo or Kobe in the northern summer season.
Starting from the 2016/17 season, the Diamond Princess will run round-trip sailings in the northern winter months from Singapore, replacing the Sapphire Princess.
The Emerald Princess will replace Diamond Princess on the Australia and New Zealand voyages from Sydney.
At present she carries 2,670 passengers and a crew of 1100. She cost $500 million to build at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in Nagasaki in 2004.
The ship is diesel-electric powered, with the drive to the propellers bolstered by two 20-megawatt electric motors. Her speed is 22 knots (41km/h).
The Diamond Princess will depart Tauranga at 9.30pm this evening, and will return to the Bay of Plenty in mid-December.
1 comment
Interesting to see
Posted on 07-10-2015 18:42 | By How about this view!
The vagrants and lay-abouts in town early this morning (7.30am) with their alcohol cunningly disguised in sports-water bottles. I wonder if the report of an assault in town had anything to do with them being moved-on?
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