Hi
We were looking at Nepal, but have found a cruise that interests us on the Diamond Princess. A bit of a change!! We are really considering booking - a balcony room - which deck do you think is best? I have researched and some people said Aloha, but others said not as footsteps running above annoying, but other deck balconies are overlooked I believe. Grateful for any thoughts. Thanks.

We just returned from an Alaskan Cruise. Our room was on the Baja Deck (423) and we thought it was great. It was totally covered so we were protected from the elements. I have no complaints at all about that room and the balcony was worth every cent. Where do you intend to cruise?

The cruise is 31 nights from Bangkok
(Laem Chabang) to Auckland. If we want to choose a room it seems the ony choices are on Aloha deck, A201 and farthest back is 216. Maybe it doesn't make too much difference?
Pleased to hear any others tips/ideas you have. Thank you.

Cruised Diamond Princess to Alaska. Choose the highest deck with balconies (can't remember the name) because they are more private. Lower balconies jut out some so you can see people from above.

Doesn't really apply to janev because he/she states only choices are on Aloha deck, but the Baja balconies are completely covered, which is why we chose that level.

My usual advice - whichever deck Aloha or Baja that you can get a midship cabin. You can encounter some rough seas in that area so you want to be in the most stable part of the ship. (I am speaking from experience here!!)

Thanks for all your help. I'd be gratefu for any further tips you have for Diamond Princess.

Sorry to go on - but a little worry in my mind now - are seas in this area from Bangkok to Kota Kinabalu then down to Australia and New Zealand very rough???

The crossing from Australia to New Zealand can get quite rough but if you get a midship cabin you should be fine. I am a very seasoned cruiser and the only time I was seasick was on that crossing but in fairness we had a cabin that was quite forward so you could really feel it. Since then I have been on rougher seas eg Drakes Passage from Antarctica but have discovered meclezene (bonine) and wouldn't be without it. It doesn't make you drowsy and really works when patches etc didn't work for others. Don't worry - get midship cabin and some bonine and enjoy!!!

Thanks again for your help. We have just booked - we have Aloha deck - the cabin is forward, but fingers crossed it'll be fine - not many cabibs were left! We have to say by tomorrow morning if we woud accept an upgrade or not - we are now in a balcony cabin BC grade. Not sure what we should say - any further advice please???

Go to Expedia.com and look up the cabin general location. If you have cabin # look up and see location.

I don't know what to tell you but I looked at the Diamond deckplan on cruisestateroom.com and I don't see how you could go wrong getting an upgrade. Your cabin category is quite forward and they are open to the deck above When I look at BB and BA they seem to be a little better. I think if I were in your place I would go for the upgrade. But as I said if you have your Bonine with you it will be fine. Either way you will have a wonderful cruise. Enjoy!!

We are looking at Diamond Princess cruising from Vancouver to Beijing in September. Last year we went on Sun Princess and there were some irritations. Half the lifts had been turned off under captain's order. In the Horizon all day dining nobody could identify the vegetarian food. The cost of the Internet was very high when compared with other boats. How have others found these points on Diamond princess? (Yes, I do know about Cruise Critic but I like the people here).

We are on the Diamond November 22, 2009 Bangkok to Sydney. Have Alhoa balcony front of ship. Would welcome views on the Diamond and the Princess crew, and dining. I never heard of Bonine, but i'll be sure to look into it for seasickness. Ship docks in Sydney on December 10, 2009 at 6:00 AM, and I have a 10:00 AM flight. Yikes - Sydney airport is 7 miles from port. Think I can get off ship early ? Ports are Bangkok, Cambodia-Sihanoukville, Phu My - Vietnam, Singapore, Australia ( Darwin, Port Douglas, Airlie Beach, Brisbane. Any suggestions, ideas on Ports, ship etc. ? Thanks a bunch !

You will probably have found out by now that the first 300 passengers who can carry their own baggage are allowed off as soon as the boat has clearance, you have to register for this. The road to the airport can have traffic problems at times, you might be better with a taxi to Central Station then a train to the airport. Tell the taxi driver that you are catching a train from platform 22 so that you are dropped nearby. You never have to wait more than 15 minutes for a train and the journey takes about 15 minutes. I've often thought it odd that there is no shuttle bus from the passenger terminal to Central Station.

I've just had a look at the wharfs in use on that day, Diamond Princess is scheduled to arrive at 7:00 a.m. to the International Passenger Terminal. That terminal is only about 500 metres level walk to Circular Quay Railway Station, the airport train leaves from the platform nearest to the ferry terminals. We are leaving on the same day from Wharf 8 in the Sun Princess, seven days around Tasmania.