hubofhockey

If anyone here has used the Kansai Pass, I have some questions.

Is it worth it?  

Is it more convenient or easier just to use an IC card?

This pass  seems to work for both Kyoto and Osaka.  We will be in Kyoto 2.5 days before our cruise and 1.5 days in Osaka during our cruise.

It seems as if you can use the pass on non-consecutive days and we would use it two days in Kyoto and one day in Osaka (doing an excursion to Nara the second day in Osaka).  The cost is around $35 per person.  I have no idea if $12 per day for worry free transit is good.  

Ha!, I was advised that Hirosaki Castle may not be worth the long trip, so probably just doing things near port, Nebuta Museum Wa Rasse and lunch at A-Factory.  

22 hours ago, XSYTD said:

Hello, I would be interested in finding out more about  Busan and Aomori as we will be visiting these ones on our June 8 cruise to Japan.

We’re going in six weeks.  In Aomori, we’re just taking a train to Hirasaku and going to the castle.  Busan looks great.  We hired a driver to do the classics on the coast.  Expensive, so sharing it with two other couples.

1 hour ago, Ex-Airbalancer said:

Google Fi is a cellphone plane than will only be good connecting with land cellphone towers so it wouldn’t do much good once you are to far from land to connect to the towers 

Also you would have to have their international package in Japan 

It's not an "international package".  The Unlimited Plan will work just fine there and, from what I understand, the cell signals are strong enough to pick up on the ship.  The Sakura website says everywhere they tested gets at least a 4G signal from Docomo or Softbank.  

On 3/23/2024 at 10:42 PM, Alakegirl said:

Exactly.  It isn’t a charity.

Bet you WIFI income has replaced the rip off photo income they used to get.

On 3/23/2024 at 4:13 PM, Rick&Jeannie said:

I'm curious what kind of service I'll be getting on the Millie around Japan....

 

 

Pocket WIFI, GoogleFi, or an eSim will probably work as good or better than what Celebrity provides.  We have the basic included with our Aqua Class, but we will also have GoogleFi and, from what I understand, it will be better than the package that comes with our Millennium cruise.

You should check and see what Tours by Locals has.  My guess is that most everyone uses public transportation with guides, but there has to be alternatives, especially for some with mobility issues. 

Thanks for your response.  Google Fi uses Softbank as well.  There is no cost savings on Google Fi.  My post above is misleading.  Google Fi  is $110 for two phones unlimited, but it's probably to closer to $130 with taxes and regulatory fees to state and federal government. Two phones on Google Fi is probably similar cost to Ninja pocket wifi.  I suppose the main reasons for the choice are using phones for calls using your US phone # and convenience.  For the most part, we will only Facetime over WIFI , so US number not needed, but it would be useful for calling within Japan even with charges.

I called Google Fi and they told me to activate a week before my trip to Japan just to make sure everything is working and leave them a week to work on problems if so. I have heard that Google Fi works well in Japan and all over Asia, but may have issues in Eastern Europe.  We have a cruise next year on the Iberian coast and other parts of western Europe, so if it works this May, we'll do it again next May.

For two people, for a month, Google Fi is $110.  You get free calls to the USA, unlimited data, 5G coverage in Japan, and can keep your regular phone number.  

Ninja pocket WIFI with insurance and power bank is $139.  It requires pick up and return at the airport and no phone (I suppose you can use facetime audio or whatsapp).  

Google Fi would work on day in Busan, South Korea as well (Ninja, my guess would not).  I suppose the other advantages to Google Fi would be each spouse being able to call the other seamlessly, probably even on the ship in ports. 

I was going to get the pocket WIFI, but I would like to know what the advantages to pocket WIFI are.  Seemingly, you can tether with either.  I am concerned with connectivity while on the ship in Japan.  I have heard that Ninja works well even on the ship.  The Celebrity Basic WIFI was forced on us by getting Aqua and that seems like money flushed. 

34 minutes ago, DaKahuna said:

 

 I think your plan sounds reasonable but before finalizing I would wait until you can check in for the cruise and see what the offered boarding times are.  We will be sailing on 5/2 and our current plan is to arrive around 1100 - 1130 to board the ship. 

 

 

I called Celebrity.  Check in times are 1:30 pm to 5:30 pm.  The Celebrity customer service rep told me that we could choose 30 days in what check in times we want.  You won't be able to board the ship, but maybe you can drop your luggage off and then go back later on.

I will probably stick with our original plan to arrive at Shin-Yokohama at 3 pm and then take a taxi to the cruise terminal, just to be on the safe side.

17 hours ago, Captain-John said:

We were thinking of arriving earlier when we join the 5/27 sailing. We are coming in from Tokyo so thought we would arrive 11-11:30 ish. I think I had read about people checking in on the early side then getting back off the ship to explore Yokohoma but not sure if that is a common thing.

 

It's hard to plan an arrival time and hope they have a bit of leeway if we can't time it exactly. I've not had to worry about specifiying an arrival time for many, many years given status on other lines etc.

5/27 is actually our departure day.  We're coming in from Kyoto on 5/15 after spending 4 days in Tokyo and 2.5 in Kyoto. Figured we would would spend the morning at the Bamboo Forest and Monkey Park in Arashiyama and grab bento boxes at the Kyoto Station and taking the 1 pm train.   At this point, Yokohama is not on our list.  I figure that arriving at the cruise terminal before 3:30 for a 7:00 pm departure is pretty safe, but maybe they stop embarkation at 5.  

12 hours ago, Ferry_Watcher said:

We did the 26 night TP and Circle Japan (Westerdam 10/23) with a 22” carry-on bag, plus a small backpack each.  After getting off the ship, we traveled to Tokyo by train for a few days, then took the train to the airport.  Having traveled in Japan previously, we knew it was less stressful to navigate the trains with smaller suitcases.

I recommend a smaller bag and purchase the ship’s laundry package.

This thread was supposed to be about what is a safe time to arrive at the cruise terminal before original embarkation on the Celebrity Millennium, which departs Yokohama at 7 pm.    (I'm good on luggage)

1 hour ago, rinshin said:

How much luggage do you have on shinkansen from Kyoto station to Shin Yokohama station? Luggage concerns are important in Japan.  You need to plan ahead. 

We will have one larger bag each (standard, bigger than a carryon).  You can reserve seats on a Shinkansen in seats that have oversized luggage.  The Green cars, which we are reserving,  also have luggage racks at the end of the cars, but mine will fit.  Here is a photo of the overhead racks.  

At this point, my issue is really time and not luggage.  

Looks like most itineraries out of Yokohama have a 7 pm departure time.

For now I plan on taking a 1 pm train from Kyoto to Yokohama and the take a taxi to the terminal, getting there about 3:15.  

Was wondering if there would be harm arriving between 4 and 5 pm or is 3:15 about right.  

Nothing against Millennium (like the ship), but have only a couple of days in Kyoto and planning on spending two days in Osaka when we get there (maybe the second short day in Nara).

Thanks to both of you.  The first day in Osaka is a full day and we’re eating dinner at night there as well.  If there is a cruise line excursion, maybe that makes sense.

17 hours ago, Hlitner said:

When we booked the Westerdam (for last year) in Japan, I could not imagine just spending 1 day in Osaka and Kyoto!  Having lived in Japan as a young man (in our military) I understood that flying all the way to Japan for just a single day in Kyoto and/or Tokyo made little sense.  So we flew into Haneda, spent 4 days in Tokyo, took the bullet train to Kyoto, spent 6 nights in that city, and than took the train up to Yokohama to join our cruise.  We could have done Kyoto in 3-4 full days, but did enjoy the extra time (took the train down to Hiroshima on one of those days).

 

 

We're staying 4 nights in Tokyo and 2 nights in Kyoto before our cruise.  There is an overnight in Osaka.  They cut our second day to 3 pm, which is pretty impactful.  Would a second day in Osaka (first is a walking tour/subway with a TBL guide) be preferable to going to Nara?  Wasn't sure if Nara is must see or if time would be better spend in Osaka.

On 1/27/2024 at 12:59 PM, DaKahuna said:

 

 We have eaten at Sushi on Five on every cruise we have taken but I am pretty sure we will not be eating there on our Japan cruise.  I agree - it makes no sense. It is going to be interesting to see how busy it is on our upcoming Japan cruise. 

 

They are doing several months in a row in Japan and it makes no sense to keep the Sushi on 5 concept during those months.  They'd do better with a burrito joint in there during that time.

Nice to see low carb beers available.  

On 1/25/2024 at 2:30 PM, cruisestitch said:

Perhaps you still have time to change to a ship more to your liking

Agree.  These M class ships are smaller and do more in the lines of destination cruising.  They can get into better and smaller ports.  The Eclipse is not going to Japan anytime soon.

You can book Retreat for Luminae or Aqua for Blu.  The options for Tuscan, LPC, or Sushi on 5 are fine (not sure why anyone would go to Sushi on 5 on a Japan cruise).  

We don’t even book Celebrity’s larger ships.  We focus on the M class, otherwise we’ll do Oceania or Azamara.  If you want small ship experience with better food and choices, book those lines (and pay more).

On 10/21/2023 at 3:44 PM, ISABELLA said:

They need to realize that some of the younger demographic don't have the money. 

The ones who know how to code make a lot of money at very young ages.  Don’t kid yourself.  They’re out there.

1 minute ago, NMTraveller said:

But they appear to be ignoring their frequent cruisers ...  Which I would value more as a company leader...

You would think, but they are going after a younger demographic these days.  

On 10/16/2023 at 8:45 PM, sixpackeddie said:

This is a very informative video, that has fact checking. Worth watching.

 

Tom Sunday is the one YouTuber reviewers whom I take most seriously.  He doesn’t pull punches and calls it as he sees it.  He’s balanced.  Laura is not as she lies right to the camera, defending the indefensible.

25 minutes ago, pinotlover said:

I believe a valuation of $320-$400 on the credit is fairly inline. Enjoy your cruise and consider the total package provided by Oceania along with the total costs.

 

SM is a price increase. IMO, people are getting too hung up on the mechanism of the increase. Just view it as the new cost of cruising O, and decide how that cost of service meets your wants and needs. At this point wasting time on this mechanics of the increase is just wasting time. 

I am not bent out of shape about it at all. The price of everything is going up and it's only $800 and not as if it includes ALL excursions All ports. Let's just say that Viking is not an option for us.  I like our all in price, so not sweating the details at all.  

On 10/18/2023 at 9:27 AM, pinotlover said:

People need to get over it. SM is a price increase. That’s all it is. Oceania attempts to take part of the sting out by giving everyone the basic drinks package which costs them very little. They take part of the sting out by giving everyone credit on taking hugely overpriced, and often boring, shore excursions. If neither rock your boat then it’s just a needed price increase. That’s it: a price increase.

 

Time will tell how successfully the price increase sticks. They already do almost a continuous slew of differing Sales to fill the ships. Wait, watch, and catch a sale can be a strategy. In the end, there’s going to be a price increase. Customers just have to pay it or move on.

 

I’ll add to this a bit of uncertainty on my part. Perhaps those of us that don’t want to get off the ship and/or go on ship excursions ( I’m definitely in the latter), are no longer the targeted customers. Besides needing a price increase, maybe Oceania has indeed done extensive marketing surveys and that upcoming generation ( under 70) primarily wants a more all inclusive experience. Perhaps those new customers will gladly use the credits and jump on even more ship shorexs. KaChing!! If knitting, darning, and gossiping is your current favorite cruise pastime, you’re now going to pay more to do it on Oceania. That’s it:SM is just a price increase.

New to Oceania.  It's an obvious money grab from those of us who don't spend a dime on overpriced cruise line excursions.  I value the $800 credit at about $400, so making it up elsewhere.  Used an online bid site and got gratuities thrown in ($360) and $1,000 refundable OBC and a nice group rate.  If after the cruise, I don't see value, we'll exclude Oceania from our rotation.  We do like Azamara, but waiting for the new ownership group there to clean up their act (pre-cruise) because their pricing, itineraries, and inclusions offer good value.

On 10/15/2023 at 2:40 PM, VacayAddict said:

I mean easier than checking cards to see who has what. 

Easier?  Definitely.  Is Oceania going to leave money "on the table"?  Doubtful.