Random Notes, Mariner, 3/28-4/15/19, Shanghai-Tokyo--LIVE!*

[Mr Rumor]

The look of love:  In the Kobe port terminal last night, Yasuo laid eyes on Ginny for the first time in more than four decades.  Ginny and Yasuo met 50 years ago when Ginny visited Japan as a guest of her then U.S. Navy boyfriend, who was stationed at the time in Sasebo. 

 

Yasuo and Hiromi have been married almost as long as us, 37 years!

 

Dinner was in Compass Rose, where things got a little silly when Yasuo and Ginny swapped doo-rags (Yasuo is a Route 66 buff) and our wonderful server Romeo got in on the act.  Romeo worked in Japan for a couple of years, and made a point of brushing up on his Japanese in preparation for meeting and conversing with Yasuo and Hiromi. 

 

Edited April 11, 2019 by Mr Rumor

[Mr Rumor]

Krew Kapers in today’s program?  Waaaaahhh—our cruise is ending!

 

Kapers, long a part of the Captain’s Farewell and just about Ginny’s and my favorite Constellation Theater event, is my cue each blog to share some crew stats with you.  Would you believe that our 444 Mariner crew members, 337 males and 107 females, hail from 45 countries?  

 

As usual, the Philippines leads the way with 182 crew members—127 males and 55 females. India follows with 77 males and four females.  Indonesia is third with 49 males and four females.

 

Here is the complete Crew Nationality Breakdown for “Way of the Emperors”:

 

Philippines, 182

India, 81

Indonesia, 53

Ukraine, 12

Bulgaria, 11

United Kingdom, 9

France, 8

Italy, 7

United States, 7

Myanmar, 6

Poland, 5

South Africa, 5

Honduras, 4

Romania, 4

Canada, 3

Germany, 3

Mexico, 3

Serbia, 3

Thailand, 3

Turkey, 3

Brazil, 2

Croatia, 2

Mauritius, 2

Malaysia, 2

Nepal, 2

Panama, 2

Russia, 2

Argentina, 1

Australia, 1

Chile, 1

Cyprus, 1

Czech Republic, 1

Ecuador, 1

Greece, 1

Jamaica, 1

Kyrgyzstan, 1

Malawi, 1

Nicaragua, 1

Peru, 1

Portugal, 1

Spain, 1

Sri Lanka, 1

Sweden, 1 

Slovakia, 1

Venezuela, 1

[liptastic]

Mr Rumour it’s too soon for this wonderful blog to end. As always you have taken us all along on your travels providing such great information and the photographs are stunning. 

Belated happy anniversary wishes to you and Ginny, such a lovely way to celebrate your special day.

Thanks again to you both and enjoy the last few days on the beautiful Mariner.

Jean.

[Hambagahle]

I agreee with Jean above.  Rich you have given us all some wonderful moments with you.  Your photos are lovely and your commentary is so well written.  Dare I ask where you are sailing next??  Can't wait!!

Many thanks

Gerry

[briar14]

Domo arigato gozaimasu, Rich! A formal Japanese thank you for your wonderful reports and pictures! They brought back memories of favorite trips we took when we lived in Tokyo. Looking forward to following in your footsteps in 2021.

 

[UUNetBill]

22 hours ago, travelwell said:

UUnetBill, I think that the New Zealand-Australia portion of the 2021 WC would be a great way to celebrate your 60th. Who wants to leave SC in April? You  and my DH can support each other’s adversion to neckties. But, this  thread could easily talk you into Japan also...

Well, 'almost neighbor' Travelwell - I agree that going 'down unda' for a milestone birthday would be awesome assuming I could find the vacation time.  Or Japan.  Or South America.  Or...well, wherever Regent goes that I'd like to go, too.  Which is most anywhere.   :-)

 

That's my challenge - travel times involved with getting to my embarkation port.  From the East Coast (we fly from CLT) it's a fairly easy flight to Barcelona or Rome - but getting to Tokyo or Cape Town or Auckland is a bit more time-consuming.  We always need to balance travel time with actual vacation time.  Dangit, where do I sign up to be independently wealthy???

[Smbruner]

Thank you Mr. Rumor for all of your posts. We board the Mariner on Monday and packing now.  Can't wait!

 

[Mr Rumor]

My first view.  I’m humbled. . .

[forgap]

Ah, Fujiyama!   When I was a teen on the Naval Base in Yokosuka, we lived on Halsey Road.  I would walk to the top and there was an overlook before you got to the Admiral’s house on the top of the hill.  On a clear day I would sit there on the stone wall and contemplate Fujiyama in the distance.  All my adolescent deep thoughts and deep angst are tied up in this image.  Thank you, Rich!  

[briar14]

Husband, Dave, climbed, actually walked, up Fujiyama in 1987 with about 3,000 of his closest friends in 1987. We are in the midst of moving across the street this weekend. Today I carried his walking stick, branded with the symbols of the stations as he climbed, to our new house. So, Fujiyama, was on our minds and seeing its picture is a perfect ending to our day. Thank you.

 

 

 

[Mr Rumor]

Thank you so much, Jennifer and briar14, for sharing your beautiful memories.  We have been docked in Shimizu for, I think, about an hour (I’ve lost track of time—Mount Fiji has taken me to a different place).

 

Here is the view from Deck 12, starboard side.  As you can see, we’ve been blessed with a picture-perfect day:

 

A terrific local high school brass band welcomed us with a short set.

[Mr Rumor]

On the pier. . .

 

Edited April 13, 2019 by Mr Rumor

[xrvlcruiser]

Rich,

Thanks as always for your terrific blog - always great to read and to see the photos!

You're lucky to have Alex - he's so great at his job! I miss him here on the Navigator.

Happy Anniversary to you and Ginny . . . .

 

Safe Travels and I look forward to your next trip!

 

Peggy

[Mr Rumor]

When clouds obscure much or all of Mt. Fuji, locals like to say, “The Lady got shy.”

 

The Lady was a little shy at Sengen Taisha Shrine, the first stop on our Mt. Fuji Highlights excursion.  I didn’t mind as I watched a wedding party’s stroll towards their photo shoot. . .

 

. . . and then photographed a collection of wishes that visitors post on boards surrounding a large tree on the shrine’s grounds.

 

As we were leaving the shrine I noticed that the Lady was beginning to shed her shyness.

 

As we drove to our second and final stop, Miho-no-Matsubata, a coastal pine grove with a famous view of Mt. Fuji, I watched her get less shy still from our bus.

 

But would the Lady retire for the day by the time we made it to the beach for our final photo op? Our guide, Anna, had cautioned us that she had “never” seen Mt. Fuji  completely sans cloud cover by the late afternoon.

 

Well, welcome to the 13th of Never!

 

Anna was thrilled for us—and herself!

Edited April 13, 2019 by Mr Rumor

[Gilly]

Magical!   Thanks so much for the reminder of why Japan is so special to us.  Can't wait for next weekend!!

[jimbri]

Wonderful review and photos!

[Smbruner]

I've loved your reports, I only wish I could've read these before selecting our excursions!

 

[ronrick1943]

As your cruise comes to an end, I want to thank you for taking us along-because you did it with class.  I wish you safe travels home.  We leave on the 16th for a few days around Asia before our cruise on the Mariner.  And thanks for the tip as we'll be going to Magic Hands in Bangkok 😊 But we'll be doing the relaxing massage, not the traditional Thai massage so we'll be able to walk out😂. Thanks again. Rick 

Edited April 13, 2019 by ronrick1943

[Mr Rumor]

Ohayogozaimasu from Table 84 on the veranda of La Veranda—we’ve just arrived in Tokyo!

[GOARMY]

Wonderful portrait in pictures and narrative of your trip.  Many thanks. 

 

That wedding picture reminded me of our 2013 Voyager cruise, which included Hiroshima.  Again, contrast between past, present, and hopeful future.  After an extended tour of the bomb site and Museum; went to the nearby Park.   There was a wedding party.  They were taking post-nuptial photos.  I asked for permission to take a photo of the couple.  Of course. 

 

Poignant. 

 

GOARMY!

 

 

 

[Mr Rumor]

We had quite a view—from the Tokyo Skytree Observation Deck 350 meters up!—of the Lady sleeping in today. (Mt. Fuji is in the distance somewhere, I was assured.)

 

But I think she was the only to do so in Tokyo on this Sunday.  It was so crowded on the Skytree with locals that it took us 25 minutes to make it back down to the lobby via two escalator rides, and two elevator rides (with waits).

 

Asakusa Temple was teeming as well.

 

There was a procession at Asakusa having to do with spring and a prayer for a rich harvest.  Among the costumed participants:

 

Sprawling markets can be found at important temples such as Asakusa.  Our friend Susan took this photo inside one stall:

 

At one of the food booths, I watched a baker make one of Japan’s favorite treats, dorayaki, filled with red bean paste.  

 

As usual, locals were very accommodating regarding having their photo taken. . .

 

And allowing us to be photographed with them:  

 

We’re pretty much packed and now counting down the minutes until Hozumi and Yuki arrive for dinner with us in Compass Rose.  How great to end our cruise by hosting our dear Yokohama friends and showing off the Mariner!

[briar14]

More of your pictures bringing back wonderful memories! I look forward to sitting at the table with you wherever you travel next! Wishing you a safe trip home.

[Anchorbuoy]

Rich, thank you for another great collection of Random Notes, commentary, and photo journalism.  It is always wonderful to follow your travels. Have a safe and pleasant trip back home.  Give our regards to Ginny and congratulations on your anniversary. 

[purpleally]

On 4/11/2019 at 1:41 PM, Travelcat2 said:

 

It is apparent from your numbers that the "Gold" Seven Seas Society members are causing the "Top Tier" events to be less than they were in the past.  They seriously need an event for Platinum, Titanium, Diamond and Commodore Seven Seas Society members.  If you add up these levels there would only be 65 passengers instead of including 194 extra passengers.  Even with 65 passengers, having an intimate Top Tier event would be a challenge.

As gold, I find this dismissive 😕

[Travelcat2]

1 hour ago, purpleally said:

As gold, I find this dismissive 😕

 

Yes - it probably is.  However,  am not suggesting that there not be an event for "Gold" Seven Seas Society Members.  Rather, I am suggesting that they also have one for Platinum and above.  This would likely make it a better experience for both groups.