Diamond Princess

Up with the Kookaburras and Cockatoos, into our cab and check-in at the JetStar terminal at Coolangatta airport.  The flight to Bangkok to join the Diamond Princess was via Melbourne . My wheelchair was stowed away with the rest of the baggage, boarding was with a hoist (I call it the ‘horsefloat’) so the journey started.   Check-in was smooth and the transfer in Melbourne (where we caught up with the rest of the party) was as good as any check-in can be and we were away.  I wasn’t looking forward to this leg as this was the first time I’d attempted a long flight.   The 10 hour flight was uneventful and I didn’t have to move out of my seat until arrival in Bangkok.

I’d booked our group for a three night stay in Bangkok and arranged transfers and sightseeing with Tourismoasia one of the largest ‘inbound’ Bangkok operators.  Customs and immigration taken care of we were transferred to our hotel, the Ramada Plaza Riverside.  The hotel was excellent and very wheelchair friendly, our room overlooked the river and was comfortable and all faciiities both in the room and the bathroom were excellent.  Our tour guide Saiyamarn (Sam) and driver Kumnun stayed with us for the time in Bangkok, these men were both friendly, knowledgeable and efficient we couldn’t ask for better attention. A half day ‘Grand Palaces and  Temples Tour’ which also provided a general Bangkok tour and a full day tour to the river Kwai, floating markets, Elephant station and other attractions were very well conducted by Sam in his friendly, informative way.  Tourismoasia is a very well, run efficient organisation headed by Mr Ekasith (Nino) Jotiskasthira and his mother Bangorn.  The Jotikasthira family is well known and well respected throughout Asia and beyond.

The port (Laem Chabang) was some 2 hours away by road but sitting in the air-conditioned min-bus was easy and comfortable, Sam providing bits of information along the way.  Embarkation was relatively easy and this magnificent ship welcomed aboard another group of eager Aussie passengers.  Our ‘disabled cabin’ was very large as was the bathroom.  A quick freshen-up and we were off to the buffet at the Horizon Court on Lido deck 14.  The buffet was quite easy for me and I was very pleased to note that some easily accessible tables were reserved with the Wheelchair Logo on the table for us ‘wheelies’.

Our restaurant seating arrangement was 'Anytime eating any restaurant'.  We, however changed this to a regular ‘second sitting’ in the Vivaldi restaurant.  This ensures that the restaurant waiter gets to know you and meal times become more of a ‘get together’.  The lifts on the ship were plentiful and spacious, I spent less time on this cruise waiting for lifts than on any previous cruise.  The first port of call  Sianoukville in Cambodia, this was a tender disembarkation and so I did not go ashore      Next port was Phu My, Vietnam.   This was a port so I was able to disembark.  The rest of my party took a shuttle to Ho Chi Min City (cost US $30 return) as this was primarily a shopping tour and access to the shuttle was not available to me, I didn’t participate.   My wife Sylvia found the two hour transfer fairly stressful due to the amount of and undisciplined traffic on the roads   However the shopping was good but again pretty hectic due to the crowds which included many beggars.   I stayed on the dockside, I wheeled around the port area and found a taxi which would accommodate my chair but the driver wanted US $50 to take me to the market.   I couldn’t be bothered hassling over the fare so returned to the ship, but noted I could have secured a taxi.  Next stop Singapore, this was some distance from the city and Princess cruises arranged shuttle buses to the city.   I couldn’t utilise these as I couldn’t get in the bus.   The man organising these transfers informed me that I would have to hire a taxi which would cost US $50 .   I found Matthew Tay of Maxi Cab who took me into the city and charged me US $20.    I arranged for Matthew to collect me for the return trip.   I have noted Matthew’s ‘phone number and will certainly recommend him to visitors to Singapore.    A look around the shops then off to lunch with old friends at the American club round off a very enjoyable day.  Next port Darwin, again coaches were laid on to take passengers into the city.  I couldn’t utilise these so ordered a maxi taxi, after waiting 45 mins with no sign of a cab we trundled into town under our own power, this proved to be very easy and took 10/15 mins.   A look around the town centre and back to the ship.   I picked up a bug somewhere and unfortunately had a very tricky tummy.  The ship’s medical staff came to my cabin quarantined me so that other passengers would not be affected medicated me and kept an eye on my recovery.  This meant 3 ½ days confined to my cabin but he ship’s medical staff acted quickly and courteously to make my confinement as easy as possible.  The ship allowed me free laundry service whilst confined to my cabin and of course meals were delivered to the state room Next stops Port Douglas and Airlie Beach were tender ports so I stayed aboard.   Then home to Brisbane.

The ship, well I could find only one fault there was no hoist on either of the swimming pools or one to enable access to the spa’s, it would have been nice to be able to have a dip on occasions.   The cabin was large clean and very wheelchair friendly our cabin steward Edmundo was a joy, he was happy, eager to please and very efficient, my thanks to you Edmundo.  Dining on the ship was excellent, three main restaurants Vivaldi, Savoy and the International there were also specialised restaurants fro that ‘special occasion’   I sampled only the Vivaldi, why would I go elsewhere the food was good with an excellent variety (lobster tails available on three nights) and the service provide by our water Prasert (pictured on the left with my wife Sylvia and myself) and his assistant Chamlong were the best I have ever received on any cruise, they were fantastic.   How they manage to remain so cheerful and attentive is a wonder to me, thanks Prasert and Chamlong you certainly are great examples of the friendliness of the Thai people.   The only minor complaint was that the temperature in the dining room was pretty cold so a pullover was required on most nights.  As mentioned before the Horizon Court buffet ,where we ate lunch and breakfast most days was pretty easy and as mentioned had tables reserved for the ‘wheelies’   Also available on the Lido deck were omelette and waffle stations for breakfast and Hot dog, burger, pizza stations for lunch.   No one could possibly go hungry on this ship nor could anyone complain about the variety and quality of the food served.   Head waiter Emil a rotund. hearty Romanian saw me early on in the cruise at breakfast and noted that I like a nice fresh omelette and offered to make one for me each day, a little extra service well appreciated.   Disabled toilets were plentiful around the ship and they were large. All public rooms were easily accessible and there was always someone on hand to give me a hand when opening non automatic doors.   Shipboard activities were well organised and the ship’s entertainment staff polite and diplomatic .  Soothing bombastic, overbearing passengers during events such as a trivia quiz, it’s amazing how some people will behave to win a plastic luggage label!    Nightly shows were of exceptionally high standard again the variety was very good, magicians, comedians, singers and of course the ship’s dancers and singing crew.   All entertainment topped off with a good band.    Around the ship in the bars and in the Atrium were performers, singers, pianists even a string quartet,    One entertainer Maurizio drew as big a crowd in the Atrium as at any of the ‘staged’ shows.   Every night there were generally two shows in the Princess Theatre (wheelchair spaces and the last three rows of the theatre reserved for disabled passengers).  Two or three shows in the Explorer lounge (almost as large as a theatre) entertainers in the Wheelhouse bar, Crooners lounge and Club Fusion.   Of course there was a casino, films shown in the Princess theatre during the day.  The in state room TV had a good variety of films and three news channels, two US and the BBC I missed any Australian news perhaps the ship could show Australian Fox!  The nightclub was located on deck 17/18 way out of the way of cabins so no one could be disturbed by late night revellers. The Skywalkers night club was a spectacular lounge to be enjoyed during the day and accessible to me by two lifts.   This area actually overlaps the side of the ship so one is able to look down and onto the ships side.

I spoke to other wheelchair passengers all were impressed by the general ambience and friendly and helpful assistance given by both crew and other passengers.  Jan and Neil from Cairns shared my one and only beef, Neil would like to have been able to get in the pools or at least one of them

This ship is great and gave me a wonderful time, Thanks Princess cruises.  I’ll start saving for the next one as soon as possible

Note.   Princess Cruuses have contacted me since returning.    They noticed my comments with regard to the lack of a hoist on swimming pools.   Princess advise that a hoist is available at the Calypso pool.    Pity neither Neil nor my self could find it.