The day began early — very early — at least for Rob. Determined not to miss the arrival of our ship, he slipped out of the hotel at first light and walked down to the waterfront, hoping to catch a dramatic entrance as she sailed into port. Unfortunately, by the time he arrived, the mighty Diamond Princess was already quietly berthed, as if she’d been there all along. No grand arrival — but the excitement was real all the same.
After breakfast, we left the Citadines Harbour Front Yokohama and made the short walk to the cruise terminal at Osanbashi Pier. There she was in full view — sleek, gleaming, and promising ten days of adventure around southern Japan.
Boarding was impressively smooth. Within what felt like minutes, we’d stepped from terminal to ship and found ourselves seated in the International Dining Room, tucking into a surprisingly refined lunch. There’s something wonderfully surreal about enjoying a multi-course meal while knowing your “hotel” is about to sail away.
Soon after, the announcement came that our cabin was ready. We unpacked quickly — always a satisfying moment, turning a cabin into your space — and headed straight up on deck for the sailaway party.
Standing on the forward deck as the ship gently pulled away from Yokohama was one of those travel moments you don’t forget. The skyline slowly shifted, the harbour widened, and the buzz of anticipation rippled through the passengers. As we approached the impressive Yokohama Bay Bridge, everyone looked up.
From our vantage point, it seemed almost impossibly close — the ship’s radar domes appearing to barely squeeze beneath the bridge’s structure. A collective intake of breath… and then we were through, heading out into open water.
That evening, the sense of occasion continued. We enjoyed pre-dinner drinks in Crooner's Lounge — relaxed, atmospheric, and the perfect place to toast the beginning of our voyage.
Later, we made our way to the Princess Theater for an outstanding performance by world-renowned harmonica player Aiden Soon. It was polished, energetic, and unexpectedly powerful — a reminder that cruise entertainment can genuinely surprise you.
From early-morning anticipation to sailing beneath the bridge and ending with world-class live music, it felt like the perfect opening chapter to our journey at sea.
No comments:
Post a Comment