FromSea2ShiningSea

50 minutes ago, Jimbo said:

What's your itinerary look like for Norway and what is your mode of Transportation?  Plane, Train, Automobile or Cruise Ship?

It is an Arctic Circle Cruise from Amsterdam going to I think, 8 Norway ports.

15 hours ago, jmh2006 said:

Thank you for the birthday wishes!  I wish I could say it was the best day ever, but I actually spent all morning at the hospital with my DH, Dave, who had a second kidney stone episode yesterday.  So most of yesterday was in the ER, he spent the night at the hospital and this morning had another stent put in.  The first round came last December.  This stone is bigger and since we are scheduled to depart for Italy and our cruise on Explorer a week from today he is having lithotripsy performed on Monday the 20th.  Not exactly the best birthday but that is okay as long as we make our trip.  Anyway he is comfortable now and we did go to a Sushi restaurant in Detroit tonight for dinner so it wasn't all bad! 😁

Jennifer, I hope Dave is doing better now.  I’m glad that this happened before the cruise and not during.  Give him our best and have a wonderful and fun cruise next week!

10 hours ago, sgmn said:

Your Japanese adventure looks fantastic and i live that you got to see and do so much. . Hubby desperately wants to visit Japan but I am daunted by all the planning and all the unknowns. Its such a different culture.  I'm usually the planner in the family but I just don't know where to start.  Maybe a guided tour would be the way to go ?

It does seem overwhelming to plan this on your own when everything about the country and culture is so new and different.  Perhaps doing a Japan cruise then.  You can sign up for shore excursions for each port.

4 hours ago, Sea Dog said:

When I was in Tokyo for a week that’s what I noticed too. Spotless everywhere. The other thing I was impressed with were the subways. The areas and subway cars were so clean. Even more so with all the people when a subway car came into a stop and the doors opened everyone was  orderly in exiting and entering. Everyone was so respectful of each other. Americans could learn a thing or two by visiting this wonderful country with its people and culture.

I 100% absolutely agree with you, Greg! It is very evident that the Japanese people have a lot of integrity, dignity and respect. Japan very much values its culture and its way of life and it wants to preserve these things.

This wraps up our one month long (3/24-4/24/2024) trip to Japan.  

In summary, this was one of the most memorable experiences we’ve ever had.  Japan is beautiful.  The first thing I noticed was how clean the streets were.  There was no trash anywhere.  There were no trash cans anywhere either.  We figured out that whatever trash we have, you take it home with you.  Also there were no homeless.

The first half of the trip (11 days out of 15) were all planned out by DH, covered all the places that we comfortably did on our own (Osaka, Miyajima, Hiroshima, Okayama, Himeji Castle, Kyoto, Tokyo- Shinjuku, Shibuya Sky and Yokohama). Then the next 4 pre-cruise days were private tours with a group from the cruise, that tour guides took us to Mount Fuji as well as castles, shrines and temples.  All the while, enjoying all the cherry blossoms as much as we could.

The tours that we took at each port were private tours with the same group of folks from the cruise and the same tour guide.  I am thankful that the tours took us to see the beautiful castles, gardens, waterfalls, many shrines and temples.  And even though we have had enough of shrines and temples, they were all different in their own ways with their own history behind each one.  Through the tour guides and a lecturer on Millennium, we learned a lot about Japan’s history, traditions, customs and culture.

Japan was a bit crowded in some of the popular tourist sites.  Japan had been closed for 3 years because of the pandemic and only opened up less than a year when we were there in March/April.  So I guess, people could not wait to visit, especially during cherry blossom month.  They were making up for lost time.  We were so excited to see Mount Fuji in clear, beautiful weather In the beginning of the cruise and all the cherry trees everywhere we went.  The most spectacular was in Aomori, the last port on the cruise.  They bloomed later so the cruise timed it just right with the trees in full bloom.  It was definitely a grand finale - an explosion of cherry blossoms everywhere.  Or cherry trees on steroid.

The ship- Millennium is one of the older ships and the size of Radiance class ships.  It was clean and in great condition.  It looks almost new after its recent refurbishment.  Even though it is small, it seems very spacious with lots of sitting areas.  The crew was very polite and friendly.   Even senior officers such as Andrea, the Hotel Director was the most active crew I have ever seen.  She was everywhere, to greet guests- at the gangway, in the theater, sky lounge, or just all around the ship.  Because this cruise was so port intensive, we didn’t really get to spend much time on the ship or participate in many activities.

The food- Oceanview Cafe had all the different stations with a lot of options for everyone.  Food was very good.  The Main Dining Room food was very good also.  We did not make it in there every night as some days the tours did not get back till late or we were not hungry because of a late lunch.  Service was excellent though.

All in all, this was a great unforgettable once in a life time trip for us.  We really enjoyed the experience of being in Japan to share in their sights, food and culture but after 4 weeks, we were happy to head home.

I’d like to thank @dani negreanu for this thread, for allowing me to post long strings of photos here.  I hope you all enjoyed Japan as much as possible through the photos that I shared.  I also hope that it inspired you to maybe visit there some day.  It is truly beautiful.

Next up- Norway

20 minutes ago, Jimbo said:

Phillies need to win the next 2 games in Philly 🙂 🙂  to bring out the 

 

The Phillies are the 1st team in the Majors to 30 wins this year.

 

 

 

 

Your  tulip pictures are amazing as is all your other pictures, I feel like I'm there. What  brand and model cell phone are you using?

Thank you so much, Jimbo!  I have a iPhone 14 Pro which I have since Fall 2022 when it first came out.  I used it for when we were in Florence & Odyssey TA in October 2022.

Last but not least, I have to share with you these cute little cars.  I love them and wish they make these cars here in US because I would get one.

This little pathway leads us to this garden

Onward to Yokohama’s famous Chinatown

A Lego replica of the gate in the photo above

Amazing all done with Lego

Day 2 in Yokohama 4/23/2024

This is our last full day in Japan.  We will take it easy and do some walking along the harbour to admire the landscaping and gardens.

Azaleas in full bloom

As we keep walking more towards town, we find another garden full of tulips.  Everyone walking by are really enjoying them.

Day 1 of Yokohama- 4/22/2024

We have reservations for Chicken Ramen Factory at the Cup Noodles Museum Yokohama.  

This is where we make our own chicken ramen.  This step is mixing the flour and kneading the dough.

After flattening the dough many times and cutting them into noodles, it is fried.  Then place in package.

Package is sealed and we are presented with the ramen that we made ourselves.  This is mine.

You can also make and design your own cup noodle.  

These are the noodles that go into the cups.

You choose the different ingredients you want in your cup.

The lid goes on and then cup is sealed with cellophane.

Goes into this machine to shrink wrap it.

Out it comes with the end product.

Museum shop

All the different noodles through the years.

11 minutes ago, Coralc said:

Kind of looks like apricot and peach maybe, Helen. They are fuzzy for plums. Your photos are great! Thank you so much for sharing them with us. What a lovely and beautiful country. I had no idea. ☺️

They do look too fuzzy to be plums.  Probably stone fruits of some kind.

I hope your cleaning of your house is going well.  We are having some really nice weather lately.

Day 13- 4/21/2024- Yokohama, Japan- Disembarkation Day

Today marks the end of our Japan cruise.  The ship is back to Yokohama and this is where we disembark but we still have one more tour in the morning for those with late flights- the Tokyo City Tour and then a transfer to the airport.

First stop of the tour- Tsukiji Jogai Market (Fish Market)

A long line even this early in the morning for some fresh sashimi 

Onward to Hama Rikyu Gardens

I believe this is plum (?)

Next is Odaiba, where we stop by Seaside Park to observe the Statue of Liberty with beautiful Tokyo Bay and the iconic Rainbow Bridge in the background.

When we get transferred to the airport, DH and I will hop on the train and head right back to Yokohama to stay 2 days there to explore before we fly home.

8 hours ago, Ocean Boy said:

 

Why does the church have an air traffic control tower?😉😇

The tower is actually not a traffic control tower and not a part of the church.  It is down the street a bit, called Goryokaku Tower, an observation tower with scenic views.

3 hours ago, Luckynana said:

The pictures of the lake are gorgeous, Helen.  Especially the first two.  If they were mine, I'd probably get them printed on canvas.

Did you see what denomination the Church is?

Thank you, Maryann.  The church is called Japan Evangelical Lutheran Church.

@ReneeFLL Renee, you are correct, the collection of Mary Frances’ handbags on Celebrity are much bigger than on Royal.  However, I don’t see the pineapple one.  Wasn’t that the one you were interested in?

Day 11- 4/19/2024- Aomori, Japan- Cherry Blossom paradise

Hirosaki Park- A home for 2,000 cherry blossom trees.  We get to witness these trees in full bloom.  It’s like an explosion of cherry blossoms.

Hirosaki Castle

Showa Big Buddha Seiryu-ji Temple

Day 10- 4/18/2024- Hakodate, Japan

A view of the city.  You can see our ship.

This whole time in Japan, this is the first time that I have seen a church.  

Onuma Park- known for its picturesque, island dotted lakes surrounded by birch and maple forests and the majestic volcano, Mt. Komagatake.

Day 8- 4/16/2024- Busan, South Korea - Still feeling really awful, so, not getting off the ship to go ashore on the Busan Tour.  Just want to sleep it off.

A few photos courtesy of DH

Some decorated cake creations in the Oceanview Cafe

Chocolate Fountain

The best dessert in the MDR

It took several attempts by the Japan Coast Guard to position itself perfectly next to the ship in order to lift a passenger off the ship for medical care.

For @ReneeFLL A large selection of Mary Frances

Metropolitan Theater 

Book your next cruise here

Shopping area

One of the many sitting areas

Gelato

Galley Tour

Making pasta

A dedicated area on the ship with display of old photos and artifacts of The Olympic, the sister ship of The Titanic 

The Solarium

Day 7- 4/15/2024  At Sea -  Finally, this is our first day at sea since Day 1, no ports, no tours, just rest.  I am so thankful because I am so tired by this time.  In fact, I am not feeling very well today.  The sea is getting pretty rough.  All I want to do is sleep.  

Some random pictures around the ship-

Real towels (in addition to paper towels) in all the restrooms

Backwards LOVE

Cafe al Bacio- similar to Cafe Latitude on Royal

Ice Cream in the Oceanview Cafe

Captain and all the officers

Sky Lounge on Deck 13- It is very spacious with lots of seatings.

Right outside Sky Lounge

Day 6 - 4/14/2024- Kochi, Japan

Sunrise this morning 

Kochi mascot

Start today’s tour with Kochi Castle

I see rice fields as we ride along on the bus to Ryugado Cave.

Entrance to Ryugado Cave- one of Japan’s three largest limestone caves formed over 175 million years ago.  I choose not to go into the cave.

Katsurahama Beach- a popular spot among locals

There is our ship

We have been invited to the helipad for sail away.

The helipad is not accessible to anyone anytime even though it is the only location that one can get a forward view from the ship.

The Captain waving to us

I believe this is a lighthouse, OB.

Day 5- 4/13/2024  Day 2 of Osaka

Sanjusangendo Temple- the grounds of a unique temple famous for its 1001 statues of Kannon, the goddess of mercy.

No photos are allowed inside the temple of the statues

Fushimi Inari Shrine (UNESCO) also known as “The Shrine of Thousand Torii Gates”

A spirited Taiko Drum performance for us at the Osaka Port before we sail away

It’s very heartwarming to see so many people here to wave goodbye and see us off as we sail away- Goodbye, Osaka!

Tonight’s sunset

Day 4- 4/12/2024- Osaka, Japan - Today is another long day of tours.

For @Sea Dog Greg

Lego set of Nijo Castle

Nijo Castle- was used as an imperial palace for a while before being donated to the city and opened to the public as a historic site.  Cherry trees planted throughout the castle grounds include about 400 trees of the late blooming kind.  Therefore, the blooming season at Nijo Castle lasts longer than anywhere in Japan, from late March through the entire month of April.

Kinkaku-ji, UNESCO World Heritage site, the Zen temple is commonly known as “Golden Pavilion”

Tenryu-ji Temple, ranked among the city’s five great Zen temples was established in 1339.  The garden survived the centuries in its original form.

Arashiyama Bamboo Forest

Day 3 & 4-  4/11-12/2024 Kobe, Japan

Today, our tour takes us to Isuien Japanese Garden

Azaleas are starting to bloom

Very pretty multi-colored blossoms

Todai-ji Temple…

…that houses one of Japan’s largest bronze statues of seated Buddha

Nara Deer Park- home to hundreds of deer that are free to roam the place. They expect you to feed them with deer crackers and some of them get aggressive and harrass you and bite your clothing.

Port of Kobe - We overnight here until 4/12, 5:00AM

Day 2- 4/10/2024 Shimizu, Japan

Mount Fuji- What an awesome sight to wake up to this morning

Today’s excursion is taking us to Shiraito & Otodome Water Falls

Sengentaisha Shrine- built over 1000 years ago for protection from volcanic eruptions.  In ancient times, the shrine was a traditional starting point for climbing Mount Fuji.  Climbers visited the shrine to pray and purify themselves in the shrine’s Wakutama Pond before making the ascent.

Mount Fuji Museum- There is a simulated ascent to the top of the summit.

Sailing away from Shimizu

For @Ocean Boy

My stateroom attendant delivers this for us being Elite members

Day 1- 4/9/2024 Celebrity Millennium Best of Japan Cruise

Yokohama Cruise Terminal- Check in- very easy and efficient.

Thank you!  It’s nice to be aboard!

A little snack at the Cafe al Bacio

These are the best lemon tarts!

Dinner Menu

Sail Away

This on my pillow before I turn in at night

Today 4/9/2024 starts Day 1 of our Celebrity Millennium Best of Japan cruise.

We have one more little pre-cruise excursion before our transfer to the cruise port.

Hokokuji Temple- best known for its beautiful bamboo grove with over 2000 dark green bamboo trees- is also known as the “bamboo temple”.

There are also a series of shallow caves carved into the hillside, which are believed to hold the ashes of some of the later Ashikaga lords.

A lot of the blossoms fell to the ground because of the heavy rain.