Diamond Princess Returns to Singapore for Homeport Season Through 2026

Princess Cruises’ Diamond Princess has returned to Singapore for a seasonal homeporting program that runs into mid-February 2026, starting with a longer Southeast Asia sailing that calls in Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam, with Cambodia featured on select voyages.

Singapore homeport season starts with a 16-day Southeast Asia itinerary

Diamond Princess opened the program on Dec. 7 with a 16-day cruise that includes calls in Kuala Lumpur, Langkawi and Penang in Malaysia; Phuket in Thailand; and Nha Trang, Ha Long Bay (two days), Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam. The ship accommodates about 2,700 guests at double occupancy and has been a regular seasonal presence in Singapore before shifting into Japan sailings later in the winter.

Before arriving for the Singapore season, Diamond Princess sailed a 12-day repositioning cruise from Yokohama that began Nov. 25, calling at Toba and Osaka in Japan, as well as Taipei, Hong Kong and Ho Chi Minh City along the way.

Holiday-timed departures and additional Southeast Asia roundtrips

Following the opening voyage, Diamond Princess is scheduled to operate additional roundtrip departures from Singapore into mid-February 2026. Across the program, the ship is set to revisit ports in Thailand, Malaysia and Vietnam, while Sihanoukville, Cambodia appears on select sailings.

Princess Cruises is also aligning parts of the schedule with key holiday and festival periods, including late-December celebrations, Chinese New Year and Valentine’s Day. In late December 2025, Diamond Princess is slated to return to Singapore on Dec. 23 after completing the first itinerary, with another sailing scheduled to depart the same day.

• Dec. 7, 2025: A 16-day Southeast Asia cruise that calls in Kuala Lumpur, Langkawi, Penang, Phuket, Nha Trang, Ha Long Bay (two days), Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City.
• Dec. 23, 2025: A 14-night holiday sailing timed for Christmas and New Year, calling at ports across Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam, with Sihanoukville, Cambodia also included.
• Jan. 20, 2026: A 10-night “Vietnam With Halong Bay” itinerary calling at Ho Chi Minh City, Nha Trang, Ha Long Bay and Da Nang.

Repositioning to Japan in February 2026 and a longer Yokohama-based season

Diamond Princess is scheduled to depart Singapore on Feb. 10, 2026, on a 14-night cruise to Yokohama that is sold out. The repositioning itinerary includes calls at Phu My (serving Ho Chi Minh City) and Nha Trang in Vietnam, as well as Hong Kong, Keelung (Taipei), and Japan ports including Osaka and Shimizu before arriving in Yokohama.

After reaching Japan, the ship is set to transition into a broader Yokohama-based program that runs into November. One early sailing is the 10-night Japan Explorer itinerary departing Feb. 24, 2026, which includes multiple calls in Japan, including Beppu, Hiroshima and Shimonoseki, plus a stop in Busan, South Korea. Princess Cruises has scheduled Japan itineraries for Diamond Princess in 2026 ranging from 9 to 20 nights.

Makoto Ocean added as part of a Japanese-market dining push

Princess Cruises has continued adjusting Diamond Princess’ onboard offerings for Japan-focused sailings. In fall 2025, the ship added Makoto Ocean, a restaurant created in partnership with celebrity Chef Makoto Okuwa that features Edomae-style sushi and replaced the ship’s previous Kai Sushi venue.

The concept was first introduced on Sun Princess and Star Princess, and it has also been added to Sapphire Princess. Princess Cruises has positioned Diamond Princess and Sapphire Princess, both designed and built in Japan, as ships that can support Japan-forward itineraries visiting ports such as Beppu, Nagasaki and Hiroshima.

More Princess activity in Singapore: calls, drydocks, and a Royal Princess debut

Princess Cruises’ Singapore activity extends beyond Diamond Princess’ homeport season, with other ships using the port for visits and maintenance periods across 2025-27.

Crown Princess made her first visit to Singapore on Nov. 29 ahead of a three-week drydock planned to prepare for her Australian season, and the ship is scheduled to make an overnight call in Singapore in May 2026 during a 114-night world cruise.

Discovery Princess made her first call to Singapore on Oct. 29, then sailed a five-night cruise to Malaysia before entering drydock in Singapore.

Royal Princess is scheduled to call at Singapore for the first time on Oct. 16, 2026, arriving from Seattle on a 26-night transpacific voyage for a two-week drydock. The ship is then planned to operate two cruises in the region, including a 13-night voyage departing Nov. 10, 2026.

Japan capacity grows further in 2027 with two ships

Looking beyond the 2026 Japan season for Diamond Princess, Princess Cruises is planning to increase capacity in Japan in 2027 by adding Sapphire Princess to the region from March through December 2027, sailing from Tokyo. Diamond Princess is also scheduled to be based in Japan, with the two sister ships set to sail a combined 78 itineraries.

The cruise line is also planning a twin Singapore season for Diamond Princess and Sapphire Princess from December 2026 through February 2027, marking the first time the two ships will homeport in Singapore together since the 2018-2019 season.

No official statement from Princess Cruises executives or Singapore port authorities was included in the available reports, with the next milestones centered on Diamond Princess’ remaining Singapore roundtrips into mid-February 2026 and the ship’s Feb. 10, 2026 repositioning to Yokohama ahead of the longer Japan program later in February.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What are the key features of Diamond Princess's Southeast Asian itineraries?

The Singapore program includes roundtrip Southeast Asia itineraries that call in Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam, with Sihanoukville, Cambodia included on select sailings. Ports across the season include Kuala Lumpur, Langkawi, Penang, Phuket, Nha Trang, Ha Long Bay (including two days on the opening itinerary), Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City, with holiday- and festival-timed departures for Christmas, New Year, Chinese New Year and Valentine’s Day.

When will Diamond Princess begin her Japanese cruise series?

After departing Singapore on a sold-out 14-night repositioning cruise to Yokohama on Feb. 10, 2026, Diamond Princess is scheduled to start an early sailing in the Yokohama-based Japan series on Feb. 24, 2026. The 10-night Japan Explorer itinerary includes multiple calls in Japan, including Beppu, Hiroshima and Shimonoseki, plus a stop in Busan, South Korea.

How is Makoto Ocean different from previous dining options on Diamond Princess?

Makoto Ocean replaced the ship’s previous Kai Sushi venue and was added in fall 2025. The restaurant is a collaboration with celebrity Chef Makoto Okuwa and is associated with Edomae-style sushi; the concept was first introduced on Sun Princess and Star Princess and has also been added to Sapphire Princess.

What deployments are planned for the Sapphire Princess in 2027?

Sapphire Princess is scheduled to sail from Tokyo from March through December 2027 as Princess Cruises increases its Japan capacity. In 2027, Sapphire Princess and Diamond Princess are planned to sail a combined 78 itineraries in Japan, after a twin Singapore season from December 2026 through February 2027.

What is Royal Princess’s role in the Southeast Asian market?

Royal Princess is set to make her Southeast Asia debut in October 2026, with her first call in Singapore scheduled for Oct. 16, 2026. After arriving from Seattle on a 26-night transpacific voyage and completing a two-week drydock in Singapore, the ship is planned to operate two cruises in the region, including a 13-night voyage departing Nov. 10, 2026.