The cruise ship that was at the forefront of all of the Coronavirus cruise news back in February 2020 has arrived back to the United States for the first time in nearly a decade.

Princess Cruises’ Diamond Princess arrived at the Los Angeles World Cruise Center on Thursday, August 3, following a voyage across the Pacific Ocean.

Previously, the ship had offered a variety of itineraries in Asia and the Pacific Ocean. Following the cruise industry shutdown, she has spent the last 2+ years laid up in southeast Asia and then anchored off the coast of Cyprus in the Mediterranean.

Diamond Princess is gearing up for her passenger restart on September 1st out of San Diego. It will mark the first time the ship has sailed from a United States port since 2013.

This fall and winter, the vessel will operate a series of mostly seven-night California Coast and Mexican Riviera cruises. Two 16-night Hawaiian Islands voyages will be offered in October and January.

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In February, the ship will depart on a transpacific cruise back to Asia to offer a variety of cruises from Japan.

Another ship that’s been in Asia for years is also heading back to the United States. Sapphire Princess is set to arrive in Los Angeles on August 20, and resume cruises from there on September 24. The 2,600-guest ship will offer four to 15-night voyages to the Mexican Riviera, California Coast, and Hawaii. This will be the first time Sapphire has been in the U.S. in eight years.

Like Diamond Princess, Sapphire also spent the shutdown in Asia and the Mediterranean.

Back in February 2020, just as the world was starting to learn about the Coronavirus, Diamond Princess was in the midst of a long Lunar New Year cruise. The ship gained media attention as an outbreak was reported on board; over 700 people on the ship wound up infected with the virus and up to 14 people died.

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The post Diamond Princess Arrives Back in the United States appeared first on Cruise Radio - Daily Updates On The Cruise Industry.

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By: Sarah Bretz
Title: Diamond Princess Arrives Back in the United States
Sourced From: cruiseradio.net/diamond-princess-arrives-back-in-the-united-states/
Published Date: Mon, 08 Aug 2022 21:29:00 +0000

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