toseaornottosea

Looking for a luxury hotel in Tokyo for pre-cruise stay.  Suggestions welcome including best areas to stay.

Looking for a luxury hotel in Tokyo for pre-cruise stay.  Suggestions welcome including best areas to stay.

Looking for a luxury hotel in Tokyo for pre-cruise stay.  Suggestions welcome including best areas to stay.

14 hours ago, mwike said:

 I just don't want to waste 6 hours traveling if it's 1 1/2 hours each way, each day.  Any thoughts/suggestions for this plan?

You might want to consider taking the high speed train Kobe to Kyoto and Kyoto back to Kobe.  Maybe someone who has done this will comment.

2 hours ago, briar14 said:

 The Hotel Okura welcomed us with typical Japanese graciousness. Now to figure out how to turn off the lights in our room 😊. 

Booked this cruise for next year and considering the Okura. Would love your review of the hotel and it’s location. 

When can we expect staffing levels and quality to return to pre-pandemic levels?

This may have been asked and answered before but does Regent provide a complimentary jacket/parka similar to what Seabourn does for it's Alaska cruises?

If you Google taxi from Venice cruise terminal to Marco Polo Airport you will find lots of info and choices.

On 3/20/2024 at 8:45 AM, briar14 said:

We are staying at The Okura next week.

Would love to get your review on The Okura. 

Good to know. Thanks 

Does anyone know if one can walk from the ship to the terminal and terminal to ship or does it require taking a shuttle in each direction? 

Does anyone know if a shuttle is required to get from ship to terminal or terminal to ship or can one just walk?

According to the tour description of the included shuttle "the coach will drop you off at City Hall" and goes on to say "after 6 hours of free time, reboard the coach at the drop-off point (City Hall) and return to the ship."

Another option is the Silversea "included shuttle" from the port to central Kyoto.  They say it's only 1 hour but I'll bet it's more like 75 minutes.  Just don't miss the return shuttle unless the ship is overnight in Incheon.

We used Stugeron 15 for our Antarctic cruise on the Venture in 2023.  Tried it at home to make sure we had no bad ill effects.  Had no problems.  On both our crossings we had the "Drake Quake."  12 to13 meter seas.  We never got ill and felt the Stugeron was great.

How about the high speed train from Osaka to Kyoto - about 15 minutes - and return?

What questions do they ask?  Mostly Covid related?

Bingendore we are doing essentially the same thing very soon but only 2 of us.  We’re using Chris Rowthorn Tours. We have a guide meeting us at the Osaka cruise terminal to escort us to the high speed train to Kyoto.  Then another guide meets us in Kyoto and we spend the day touring in Kyoto and then make the return to Osaka the same way with the guide in Osaka escorting us back to the cruise terminal. 

2 hours ago, texanaust said:

I'm curious...what is happening to all the passengers on Icon of the Seas and the Ascent?  Are they all being inconvenienced too?

Just took a peek at the RCL and Celebrity boards.  Crickets.

I'm pretty sure if you go on the Tours by Locals website you will find what you are looking for for each of the cities you list in the Asia board..  Here's an example for Kagoshima.  

https://www.toursbylocals.com/KagoshimaLocalExperienceTour

17 minutes ago, jdk-atlga said:

I'm trying to remember, but I seem to recall that there is an early-riser coffee set-up in the Observation Bar on the ships. Best, jdk

As I recall you are correct. 

On 2/20/2024 at 5:35 PM, toseaornottosea said:

Any suggestions for a sit-down restaurant within a short distance of the Incheon Port International Cruise Terminal?

Asking again.  Any suggestions?

Crew welfare fund is a good place to park any unused OBC.

3 minutes ago, sfvoyage said:

In this article:  https://latteluxurynews.com/2024/01/19/apt-new-ships-in-2025/

 

The 14-day Arctic Explorer Small Ship Expedition Cruise Reykjavik Return explores the coastlines of Iceland and Greenland, giving an in-depth view of the landscapes and culture in this region. Prices start at $18,395 per person, twin share. Book by 30 April 2024 for an Early bird saving of up to $3,000 per couple.

 

Latte is an Australian company and in all likelyhood that $18,395 price per person is in Australian dollars which translates to around $12,000 US.  On the US Seabourn website the price for the Venture,  August 16, 2024, 14 day Icelandic Saga Reykjavik return starts at $11,024.  Their early bird saving gets it down to $15,395 Australian or around $10,200 US.  So when it comes down to it it's not an elevated price.

Better yet book your own private excursion with a driver/guide.  Easy to find online.  You'll save heaps of money and get to do exactly what you want to do at your own pace.