honolulu traveler

It has been years since I set up a Meet and Greet for Cruise Critic members on a Princess ship but I have volunteered to do so for a November cruise.  Does anyone know who I contact at Princess?

Thank you for this post, honolulu traveler.

 

Given that you rented the lowest amount of data, was there any issue keeping under 3GB?

The one I used last year was gratis of our AirBNB host; I don't rent the one for this upcoming trip until October. I don't know how much data was included on last year's but my research indicates that if all I'll be using it for is Google Maps, Trip Advisor or Yelp, checking emails, and Facebook/Messenger for communication with my kids, 3GB should be fine.

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What a wonderfully detailed review. Thank you so much. My husband and I have traveled extensively in Japan pre or post cruises and agree that it's a fabulous experience. We haven't been to Hiroshima yet so that may be a future destination.

Your info about the pocket wifi is much appreciated. We used one last year while staying in a Tokyo airbnb, and it was so helpful. I didn't realize that it is also usable onboard the ship. (We'll be on the Diamond Princess in October and am curious if it will work there, too.). For anyone interested, you can rent one at Osanbashi pier, the airport, or beforehand thru the Cruise Port Navigation app. Same thing: it can be delivered to your hotel before the cruise and returned via the prepaid postage envelope. I think the cost is $35 upfront + $1/day.

Outside of the major cities like Tokyo, we found almost no hotspots (although we understand that Japan is installing new towers in anticipation of the 2020 Olympics). We have had the AT&T international phone/text plan for our Japan visits during the last 2 years, and it is touted as having lots of worldwide hot spots, but we never found any in Japan. That's why I'm going to get a mobile hot spot for our upcoming trip.

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Lots of discussion here about the bullet train (which is an amazing experience). But don't overlook flying. Both ANA and JAL have a program for foreigners that costs a little over $100US per flight. We did it earlier this year, going from Haneda to Fukui. If I remember correctly, you have to book and pay prior to entering Japan, and I think you can book up to 5 flights per person. For our purposes, it was faster and cheaper than the Shinkansen. Google discount domestic Japan airfare for foreigners.

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You can get every train schedule in Japan by going to hyperdia dot com. Also, you might consider using Goodwill Guides (Google: Goodwill Guides Japan and click on the volunteer guides link). You pay their transportation (travel is via train, subway, or bus) and lunch but no fee or tip. (We usually bring something small from home.). We just tell the guide via email beforehand that we've seen enough temples and shrines to last a lifetime. In Kyoto our guide took us to the bamboo forest in Arashiyama; in Yonago, our guide took us to a small shop where they hand make umbrellas and to an art class in a center for senior citizens; in Hakodate, our guide took us to the morning market and to a museum of northern peoples. Most of these places you can do on your own (except for our Yonago visit) but until you become familiar with the transportation system in various towns, the guides can be a huge time saver and provide lots of info.

Knippsel: For your first cruise....

 

 

 

I'll let you know what we did in the ports of call.

 

 

 

Kushiro: Not much around this town. The free shuttle from the pier drops you off at MOO Market (a small fish and veg market, a post office, plenty of souvenirs, and FREE WiFi). I then walked to the Washo Fish Market near the train station, 15 minutes walk. That's where you can see all sorts of fish and seafood for sale. It's popular to buy a bowl of rice and then choose which fresh seafood or fish you'd like on top.

 

 

 

My husband and son went on a Japanese speaking tour to an Onsen (Japanese baths) with a visit to Lake Akan to see cranes. They enjoyed it.

 

 

 

I think it may be worth it to take a tour in Kushiro, farther afield...

 

 

 

Otaru: I went on the Japanese tour transfer to Sapporo. Spent time in Sapporo shopping and had a Sapporo beer. I think this could easily be done on your own by taking a train (I was too exhausted at this point, it was cruise 3 for us, so I easily took the tour bus).

 

 

 

Husband and son went on tour again to an Onsen. Included a good lunch. They were the only non-Japanese. No problems!

 

 

 

Otaru is a pleasing town with lots of restaurants and shops along the canal. Famous for good sushi restaurants.

 

 

 

Hakodate: We went on a ship's tour, all day. Went to the Seiken Tunnel Museum and the Sumo Museum - saw a sumo demonstration. Interesting! Excellent lunch was had in a traditional place, seated on a tatami mat. Last stop was at a Trappist Monastery for yummy soft ice cream. I thought this was a great tour. While the distances are not that far, as this is outside the city, the speed limit on the highway was 70 km/hr - so slow for us!

 

 

 

Korsakov - we went on the ship's tour to Yuhzno-Sakhalinsk. Saw Orthodox church, a museum, Lenin Square, and a place to buy some souvenirs. Felt rushed and controlled. Still interesting to see because it is so remote!

 

 

 

Aomori: We were there when the big, famous Nebuta Festival was on. Free shuttle drops you off in town. From there I went by bus to the Aomori Museum of Art. Great gallery and exhibit. Husband went on a Japanese tour to a forest for a hike.

 

 

 

It's a pretty city, in the city centre. Famous for Fuji apples. So, plenty of apple-type souvenirs - cakes, jellies.

 

 

 

I'll be back later to talk about the next ports.

 

Cheers!

Fabulous info. Thanks. One question about Korsakov. We'll be there at the end of this month, and after reading your comments about the Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk tour, we decided to take it in lieu of just taking the tender to shore for an hour (which we had signed up to do but the only comments I've read about doing so seem to indicate not to bother). We haven't cancelled the walk around Korsakov yet, figuring we can do both in the one day we're at this port, but I wondered if you could stay in Korsakov for a little while when the Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk excursion is over rather than going back to the ship and then coming out again later, or if that would make no sense? Also, did you buy any Russian Ruples, could you spend yen, or was there no need or desire to spend anything?

Also, in Aomori we plan to take the bus to the Aomori Art Museum and the nearby ancient ruins. Then we want to get to Hirosaki Castle, returning to Aomori later by train. I just can't figure out how to get from the museum to the castle. Did you talk to anyone who did this? And did the bus from Aomori to the museum come at frequent times? I can't find a bus schedule.

Many thanks for your help.

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Perfect! Thanks for your extra effort with this; it is very helpful.

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You could tell your friends to pick you up at the cruise ship pier in the ports.

 

 

 

Here are a few ports and the shuttle from what I recall (it's all a blur, really!! as it was a busy itinerary on those three cruises).

 

 

 

 

 

Kagoshima: the free shuttle takes you from the port to the downtown area (where the department stores are). The pick up and drop off point was at a hotel near this area. Sorry can't recall the name of the hotel. It was a 25 - 30 minute ride.

 

 

 

Busan, South Korea: Phoenix Hotel. Centre of town, near the main shopping area. A 25 minute ride from the pier.

 

 

 

In some of the ports there was no need for a shuttle - Nagasaki, for one.

 

 

 

And in other ports we took shore excursions.

 

 

 

Hope this helps a bit!

One more question. Do you know how far the sightseeing bus terminal in Kagoshima is from the hotel that the shuttle stops at? I thought that might be a good meeting point since you can't remember the hotel's name.

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Thanks so much. This is very helpful.

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We'll be on the Diamond for 27 days starting mid-September. In several ports, I'd like specifics about where the ship docks and where the free shuttle will take us. In a couple of ports we have guides or friends meeting us, and I'm not sure where to tell them to meet. Specifically, I'm interested in Kagoshima but other ports as well. If I call Princess, past experience has led me to believe that their info isn't always accurate.

Aloha,

Marilynn