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margord

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    Tours in Nagasaki

    in Asia

    Posted

    Can anyone recommend a tour/tour guide for Nagasaki, Japan. Any information would be greatly appreciated.

     

    Also, can any one tell me if getting around on your own is relatively easy. Will we have problems with the language (we speak English).

     

    Marilee

    Sapphire Princess Dock in Shanghai

    in Asia

    Posted

    We are on the Sapphire Princess sailing on March 24 - April 10 from Singapore to Beijing, China.

     

    We will be in Shanghai, China on April 5. Shanghai has 3 cruise ship ports. The one located in the city center is called the Shanghai International Cruise Terminal. The other two, which are located about an hour out of town, are the Waigao Qiao Cruise Terminal and the Wusongkou Cruise Terminal

    Any idea which of these cruise terminals we will dock?

    Layover in Hong Kong--can we get off plane?

    in Asia

    Posted

    Is it a United code sharing flight with Singapore Air with a stop in SFO? Your layover will be just about an hour in HKG, usually you will not be allowed to leave the plane. They will stay long enough to deplane HKG passengers and pickup SIN bound ones and top off the fuel tanks. IIRC passengers debarking in HKG will go directly to the immigration and customs area via a secured corridor, no wandering around the gate areas.

     

     

    No it is United the entire way and the layover is 2 hours and 20 minutes. That is long time to just sit in an empty plane waiting.

    Layover in Hong Kong--can we get off plane?

    in Asia

    Posted

    We are flying from Chicago to Singapore on United for our Asia Cruise. We have a layover, but no plane change in Hong Kong. Has anyone done this before? Do they allow you off the plane in Hong Kong? If they do allow you off do you need to take your carry on luggage with you?

     

    Marilee

    Nagasaki, Japan

    in Asia

    Posted

    Glover Garden is very close to the pier. It's a street nearby that you walk up - this street is lined with shops and the popular Castella cake to sample and purchase and souvenir shops.

     

    For shopping in Japan: there are beautiful fans in all price ranges from $10 USD and upwards.

     

    One thing that I loved, found in department stores, are hankerchiefs. The Japanese use these to wipe the sweat off their brow or to dry their hands when using a public loo (most times there was not an air dryer nor paper towels). Why are these so special, you may ask? Well, they come in all price ranges (from $3 and up, on average $10) and are designer brands: Yves Saint Laurent, Lanvin, Burberry, Givenchy, etc. You can get these placed in an envelope for gift-giving. Both mens and womens. I've bought several for gifts.

     

    And yes, in the department store basements is where you'll see all sorts of foods. Incredible food hall. We liked these dessert fruit jellies in tiny cups. If you are looking for wine (international), sake, and Japanese beer, it's here too.

     

     

    Also, I bought quite a few of these small, ultra-compact umbrellas - useful for sun and rain at equivalent to $5 USD. I've never seen them in Canada so I bought several; they fit in my purse.

     

    Cheers.

     

    I am coping all this and putting it in a file to take with me. Thank you so much.

    Nagasaki, Japan

    in Asia

    Posted

    Just walk around the town. Walk along the creek that runs through the city. It has schools of fish - amazed at how clean it is. Have lunch (ramen noodles) at a lunch counter - you will interacted with the natives a little bit. Go to a Japanese department store, generally in the basement there is a food area which makes for very interesting browsing. Go into a public toilet and see how clean everything is.:D

     

    Great Info.

    Bangkok, Shanghi, Nagasaki and Busan

    in Asia

    Posted

    Marilee:

     

    Nagasaki - from the dock to the cruise terminal is a 3 minute walk, and then to the tram stop is about a 5 minute walk. The tram ride to Atomic Bomb Museum took ~15-20 minutes. Always verify with a local who is waiting to make sure you are on the correct one! The tourist map also has all the important tourist tram stops by name and tram stop number.

     

    In Busan, if you have the same drop off point on the shuttle (it was a hotel), there is plenty of shopping around on a street parallel and in general around that district. You'd be amazed at all the beauty/skincare shops! Seems the Koreans are really into it! So I bought heaps of these products from a few of the brands (face masks, creams, lotions, etc.). These stores open at 11 am.

     

    I also went to a Cat Cafe'....cats lazing around where you can have a drink.

     

    There is also a market area where you will see women selling all sorts of street food, and then an area of shops - touristy and clothing/purses/hats/shoes where you can bargain a bit. This market area was open when I got there at 9 am. Cash is king.

     

    A big department store called Lotte is nearby. Several floors. Always check the food hall in the basement levels in S.Korea and Japan - good things there!

     

    Keep in mind the sizes in both these countries. In general, they are small for clothes and shoes.

     

    In Japan, I bought Kit Kats - they have different flavours such as, green tea, strawberry cheesecake, red bean. Cool! And Hello Kitty is everywhere. And cute stationery. And nice fans.

     

    In each of these ports we received a nice send-off at sailaway.

     

    Cheers.

     

    One more question (at least for now), did you get the local money or did you use US dollars? I am asking because our tours we set up in Thailand and Vietnam both want US dollars on the day of the tour as payment.

    Nagasaki, Japan

    in Asia

    Posted

    Can I assume that Glover Garden is walkable fromt he port? Or do I need to take a tram then it is walkable?

     

    Thank you both for this information. As far as shopping I guess I enjoy looking (and buying) things from the area of the world I am in. Like Murano glass in Venice, painted lacquer boxes from Russia, etc. I am not interested in Malls with the same type of stores we can find at home.

     

    Marilee

    Nagasaki, Japan

    in Asia

    Posted

    What is there to do in Nagasaki toher than the Atomic Bomb museum, Peace Memorial Park, etc. Is there any good shopping or other things of interest in the city?

    Bangkok, Shanghi, Nagasaki and Busan

    in Asia

    Posted

    Marilee:

     

    Nagasaki - from the dock to the cruise terminal is a 3 minute walk, and then to the tram stop is about a 5 minute walk. The tram ride to Atomic Bomb Museum took ~15-20 minutes. Always verify with a local who is waiting to make sure you are on the correct one! The tourist map also has all the important tourist tram stops by name and tram stop number.

     

    In Busan, if you have the same drop off point on the shuttle (it was a hotel), there is plenty of shopping around on a street parallel and in general around that district. You'd be amazed at all the beauty/skincare shops! Seems the Koreans are really into it! So I bought heaps of these products from a few of the brands (face masks, creams, lotions, etc.). These stores open at 11 am.

     

    I also went to a Cat Cafe'....cats lazing around where you can have a drink.

     

    There is also a market area where you will see women selling all sorts of street food, and then an area of shops - touristy and clothing/purses/hats/shoes where you can bargain a bit. This market area was open when I got there at 9 am. Cash is king.

     

    A big department store called Lotte is nearby. Several floors. Always check the food hall in the basement levels in S.Korea and Japan - good things there!

     

    Keep in mind the sizes in both these countries. In general, they are small for clothes and shoes.

     

    In Japan, I bought Kit Kats - they have different flavours such as, green tea, strawberry cheesecake, red bean. Cool! And Hello Kitty is everywhere. And cute stationery. And nice fans.

     

    In each of these ports we received a nice send-off at sailaway.

     

    Cheers.

     

    Thank you so much for all these great ideas. I do appreciate.

     

    Marilee

    Bangkok, Shanghi, Nagasaki and Busan

    in Asia

    Posted · Edited by margord

    Nagasaki for us was a ship's tour to the Atomic Museum which we left and came back to ship by cab because husband got very sick (Noro?). We managed well -- taxi appeared and took us to ship even though we spoke no English -- cab driver recognized the Princess symbol on our cruise card:D and we had some JPY from a daughter's business trip. Funny incidents there: We were approached by Jehovah Witnesses while sitting on the bench watching the Japanese school girls roll up their school uniform skirts to a high "tide" while the teachers were out buying tickets and the boys were pretending not to look. Just surreal. Diamond Princess is special in Nagasaki (built there) and we had a very special welcoming ceremony. Hope you get the same.

     

     

    Do realize that without letters or signs you can decipher it is much harder to spot the place you are going and harder still to get back. IMHO.

     

    In Bangkok, we had a lovely guide Phan from Wendy's Tours. Very well done tour to my specifications. Look up Bangkok tours and her web page will give you many ideas of what to see. We stayed at the Renissance and found it a very convenient place to stay. The JW Marriott seemed less well placed. Several places to eat (Breakfast at McDonald's next door) ATM on parking lot and the main transit line 1/2 block away made life easy and the guide could easily get in and out of the hectic traffic. Very calm and COOL place to stay. AC was heavenly COLD.

     

     

    Thank you so much for this information. I am so sorry your husband got sick, that had to be horrible.

     

    Thanks for sharing the story about the Japanese school girls. Very funny.

     

    We will be on the Sapphire Princess so I don't think we will be treated to the special welcoming ceremony. Thank you so much for getting back to me.

     

    Marilee

    Bangkok, Shanghi, Nagasaki and Busan

    in Asia

    Posted

    Yes, the ship docks right in the city.

     

    At the cruise terminal, you'll find free WiFi (use it early if you need to as the crew and everyone else comes out later for that reason!), an information desk - where you can get maps, the tram pass, and info.

     

    It wasn't too hard to navigate the city. With the map, the correct tram stop name, you'll not find it difficult. At the tram stop, there is an arrow to point you in the right direction of the Atomic Bomb Museum, in English, for example. From that stop, about a 10 minute walk to the museum. The hypocenter of the bomb is near the museum, and nearby, a short walk to the Peace Park.

     

    From there you can catch a tram back.

     

    We really enjoyed Nagasaki.

     

    For Busan, South Korea, our ship (Diamond Princess) had a free shuttle running into the downtown, about a 25 minute ride. Can't help with tours as this was my shopping stop!

     

    Cheers.

     

    Thanks for thisi adidtional information. How long was the tram ride? Did it take long on the tram from the dock to the city?

     

    Also, thanks for the informaiton on the shuttle. As for shopping--I love shopping. Where did you shop and what did you buy? Is this a good place to shop?

     

    Marilee

    Bangkok, Shanghi, Nagasaki and Busan

    in Asia

    Posted

    While not a private tour, we did manage on our own in Nagasaki. We took the tram to the Atomic Bomb Museum, spent 2 hours there and headed to the Peace Park. Afterwards we strolled into Chinatown and then Dejima. I was out of steam at this point, but my husband, went up into Glover Garden, a 15 minute walk uphill from the ship - which was pleasant.

     

    When you dock in Nagasaki, there will be a tourist information booth at the terminal. You can then find out info, get maps, and buy a tram pass (500 Yen or around $5 USD) for the day.

     

    Be sure to try the famous cake in Nagasaki, called Castella. You can find it everywhere. There is even a cute cake plush toy!

     

    Thank you so much for the great information. I take it that it wasn't hard finding your way aorund. Does the ship dock right in the city? Were you able to easily follow maps and directions and get the right tram without being able to understand Japanese?

     

    Marilee

    Self Serve Laundry on Ruby Princess

    in Princess Cruises

    Posted

    Could anyone tell me how many "quarters" are needed to use the washing machines & driers? We're from the UK so will we need to bring some dollars so we can get them changed into quarters? Do we do this at the Pursers desk. We'll bring our own washing powder.

     

     

    Normally it has been 8 ($2) to wash and 8 to dry; so 16 ($4) for both.

     

    Marilee

    Self Serve Laundry on Ruby Princess

    in Princess Cruises

    Posted

    My tip for the self-service laundry is to check out the deck plans to find the closest one to your cabin. Sometimes it's on a different deck. For instance, on the Sapphire Princess our cabin was at the bow of the ship on the Baja Deck. I did not think to check out the deck plans before starting my laundry in the self-service near the back of the ship.

     

    Great tip.

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