BruceMuzz

Not quite true. Haneda Immigration is quite well organized, regardless of the number of planes arriving. But many arriving passengers are not completely prepared with all the COVID paperwork and Apps required. This forces them to wait in long lines while the Japanese assist them one at a time. If you have all your paperwork and Apps prepared correctly, you usually breeze through in about 30 minutes.

This "chair hogging" behaviour and problem is confined to the low-end mass market cruise lines. If you want to avoid it, simply move up to a better cruise line. The company I work for has small ships with more pool loungers than passengers. We have never experienced the problem you are trying to solve.

There are still quite a few countries that will not allow COVID positive passengers to disembark. This winter in Central America, quite a few positive passengers were forced to remain on the ship - in quarantine - for another cruise (and pay for it) because the Costa Rican and Panamanian authorities refused to let them disembark.

The best shared transfers in Japan are public transit. Narita to Tokyo: Narita Express Train from the B2 level of each Airport Terminal. Reserved seats, free WIFI. Airport to Tokyo Station in 60 minutes. Airport to Shinjuku Station in 75 minutes. 3400 yen per person or free if you have a JR Pass. Tokyo to Yokohama Cruise Port (Osanbashi): Minato-Mirai Express Train from Shinjuku or Shibuya Station. 40 minutes from Shinjuku Station; 34 minutes from Shibuya Station. Fare is 440 yen per person. Yokohama to Narita: Narita Express from Yokohama Station. Reserved seats, free WIFI. 90 minutes from Yokohama to B2 level of the Narita Terminals. Around 4,000 yen per person. Free if you have a JR Pass.

There is an authority much higher than Cruise Line Executives who is phasing out older cruisers. When I worked for Holland America Line for many years, we called ourselves "Heaven's Waiting Room".

In over 40 years of managing Cruise Ships, I see this all the time. Many cruise ports charge ships for a set number of hours. Often, cruise ships will advertise a 7am arrival. If they arrive a few minutes early, the ship will just sit in the harbor until 07:00, then move to the pier. If they arrived even one minute early at the pier, the port could charge them huge additional fees for overtime. The same thing often happens at midnight. If the ship leaves the pier just one or two minutes after midnight, the port could charge them for several hours more pier time.

A further note on electricity in Japan. It is ALMOST the same as in North America. Standard Japanese voltage is 100 volts, 50 cycles in East Japan (Tokyo area) and 100 volts, 60 cycles in West Japan (Osaka area). Your 120 volt machines from America will generally operate well with Japan's slightly lower voltage. Larger machines from America will operate with less power and sometimes a bit slower. Most electronics do not have a problem with the difference in hertz between East and West Japan. But if you try to use analog electric devices - like alarm clocks - between Tokyo and Osaka, some will not keep correct time.

If a US Citizen without a passport has a medical emergency abroad, they need to contact a US Consulate or Embassy to get a waiver or emergency passport to fly home. Many islands in the Caribbean do not have a US Consulate or Embassy. Without a passport, a US Citizen cannot fly to an island that has a US Consulate or Embassy. They can take a ferry boat if / when one is available.

If you have USBc, you can buy a USB converter plug.

American "Baconaise". Bacon flavored mayonaise. It is guaranteed kosher. What is wrong with you people?

Cheapatoni cruise lines offer sherbet because it is cheaper.

Osaka, Japan for most seafoods. Kushiro in Hokkaido Japan for King Crab and Salmon

Most cruise ships are built in either Asia or Europe, and have primarily 220 volt systems. Windstar's 2 small sailing ships (Star and Spirit) were built in France - but have 110 volt systems, with plenty of 110 volt outlets. Windstar's motor ships have 220 volt systems, but recently added many USB outlets to their cabins. USB does not rely on specific voltage. You can plug in all your toys there. On almost any cruise ship, the Housekeeping Department has a supply of power strips that you can borrow for use in your cabin.

You didn't mention which month or year. There are four possibilities for cruises to / from Tokyo: - Osanbashi Terminal in Yokohama - Daikoku Terminal in Yokohama - International Cruise Terminal in Koto Ward, Tokyo - Harumi Cruise Terminal in Tokyo (only small cruise ships) If you Google "Osanbashi Cruise Terminal Schedule", you will find that Celebrity Millenium will be calling there a few times in 2023. There are many great hotels in Yokohama that are within walking distance of Osanbashi.

Daikoku Cruise Terminal is relatively new. Built on a small artificial island off Yokohama. This island is primarily a cargo terminal for ships that are too large to pass under the Yokohama Bay Bridge. There are no hotels on the island. Other than private cars, the only transportation is a shuttle bus to Yokohama, or a taxi. The nearest hotels are in Yokohama City, near the Osanbashi Cruise Terminal or in China Town. Distance from Daikoku Pier to Osanbashi Terminal area is about 3.5 Kilometers.

Hank, You almost have it correct. "Gaijin" (外人) is shorthand for "Gaikokujin" (外国人) ; literally "outside country person". The intended meaning depends much on context and situation, but frequently 外人 does mean Barbarian - and often rightfully so. Many Americans speak 2 languages; English and English Louder.

You are correct to question things like that. Many of the "Cruise experts" on this website have been one or two dozen or so cruises and consider themselves the final authority on cruising. The poster in question has worked for more than a dozen cruise companies for several decades, and knows what he is talking about.

Sorry Chief. I work for USPH when I am not onboard a ship. In actual practice and inspections, sourcing of crew food does not have the same restrictions.

Yes, it does.

Visitors are not required to wear masks, although some businesses may not allow you to enter without one. Many Japanese businesses -especially restaurants - require you to take a temperature test at the entrance. 99.9% of Japanese people are wearing masks always.

As of today - 11 February 2023 - Japan requires any foreigner entering Japan to prove a minimum of 2 COVID Vaccines. Cruise Ship crewmembers must have a minimum of 3 vaccines.

One of the best kept secrets in the Cruise Industry is Food Cost. Just how much money do the cruise lines budget and spend to feed you every day?? Carnival Cruise Line and Norwegian Cruise Line are essentially tied for the lowest food budgets in the Cruise Industry. That explains why you see so much "red food" (pasta and pizza) in their restaurants that do not charge extra. Most of the better cruise lines spend more money to feed their crew than Carnival and NCL spend to feed you. HAL is just a small step higher than Carnival and NCL. Does spending more money translate to better food? It is no guarantee, but if you compare pizza and pasta VS. lobster and steak, it gives you a good starting point.

There is no tipping in Japan. The Japanese are actually insulted when you try to bribe them with money to do a job they are already being paid to do. However, there is a custom in Japan. called Q-Miyagi Suru that is acceptable. This involves giving a small, inexpensive gift from your home country / home town. This signifies friendship, and is appreciated.

The Northern Japan ports can still be quite chilly at the end of April, but the Cherry Blossoms are still there to be seen. Busan South Korea is rapidly becoming a very interesting stop. Jeju Island is a local holiday stop, with very little of interest for Westerners. Kyoto is 15 minutes away from Osaka by Shinkansen and 30 minutes away by train. Kyoto is a very quiet place in the evening. Osaka is the second largest city in Japan, with a very vibrant night life. Many Japanese say it is friendlier and more fun than Tokyo.

All Japanese Airports have free internet / WIFI. While it is still possible to exist and operate in Japan without a mobile telephone, it is quite difficult and time-consuming. One can use a paper printed QR code when entering Japan, but you will be forced to get into yet another line to visit yet another desk to do so