Key Aspects:
- Specialty dining venues Makoto Ocean and Crown Grill were added to Princess Cruises’ Diamond Princess.
- Diamond Princess is based year-round in East Asia, with most guests hailing from the region.
- Makoto Grill was formed in partnership with celebrity chef Makoto Okuwa.
The number of specialty dining venues aboard Princess Cruises’ Diamond Princess has grown, with the 2,670-guest ship now offering Makoto Ocean and Crown Grill.
The restaurants were added as the Gem-class ship continues her deployment in East Asia, adding more choices for guests who enjoy Japanese delicacies as well as American-style steaks and chops.
Princess Cruises announced its plan to add the two venues in August 2025. Makoto Ocean debuted on Sun Princess and Star Princess when the two new-builds debuted in 2024 and 2025, respectively. The dining spot was also added to Sapphire Princess in late 2025.
The venue was created in partnership with celebrity Chef Makoto Okuwa, who is famous for his Edomae-style sushi and owns six restaurants in the US, Brazil, Spain, and Panama.
On Diamond Princess, Makoto Ocean replaces Kai Sushi in a space situated on Deck 7. The venue’s entrees and cocktails appear to be a perfect fit for Diamond Princess, since the ship sails East Asia year-round and attracts the lion’s share of guests from the region.
Guests can dine on regional specialties such as Miso Sea Bass, Truffle Salmon, and Yellowtail Sashimi, while enjoying drinks like Makoto Gin & Tonic, Nagoya Negroni, and Murasaki Margarita.
Crown Grill, meanwhile, has been a longtime guest favorite aboard Princess ships since its debut in 2013 aboard Royal Princess. The venue offers some chicken and seafood dishes, but is primarily known for its sirloin, strip, and rib-eye steaks, and filet mignon.
Crown Grill was also added in late 2025 to Sapphire Princess, which is due to join Diamond Princess in East Asia from March to December 2027. Princess Cruises announced that the sister ships — both are Gem class and were built in Japan — would serve the Asia market together for the first time.
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“With Makoto Ocean and Crown Grill now onboard Diamond Princess, and also recently added onboard sister ship Sapphire Princess, we’re proud to enhance the guest experience as Diamond Princess sails across Asia and as we look ahead to our dual-ship Japan season in 2027,” said Sami Kohen, Vice President of Food and Beverage at Princess Cruises.
The two ships will sail 50 itineraries and offer 78 departures between them, with cruises from seven to 28 days. The dual deployment in East Asia is a first for the cruise line.
Two Ships to Feature Japanese Festivals, Cherry Blossoms
The wide range of itineraries offered on Diamond Princess and Sapphire Princess in 2027 will allow guests to celebrate Japan’s summer festivals as well as its spring cherry blossom season.
Several “Cherry Blossom Voyages” are timed to coincide with the blooming season, as ships travel south to north, calling at Japan’s four largest islands.
Diamond Princess currently sails roundtrip from Singapore, and in February 2026 she will reposition to Yokohama, Japan, for a series of roundtrip voyages of varying lengths. Her 10-night Japan Explorer cruise features visits to Toba, Osaka, Kochi, Hiroshima, Nagasaki, and Shimizu, Japan, and Busan, South Korea.
Both Makoto Ocean and Crown Grill carry an upcharge of $55 per person and are included for guests booking the Princess Premier Package, a set of inclusive amenities that costs $129 per person, per day.
The package covers several key services besides unlimited specialty dining, such as unlimited drinks, a Wi-Fi plan, room service delivery, and shore excursion credits up to $300 per person, among other perks.
