A Silver Shadow Over The World - December 2023 to May 2024

[mysty]

This World Cruise sails from San Francisco on January 15, 2024.  Between the day of sailing and reaching Savusavu on the south coast of Vanua Levu Island, Fiji on February 4 there will be 13 days at sea out of the 19 travel days.

 

Between San Francisco and Honolulu there will be 5 sea days.
Between Kona and Christmas Island there will be 4 sea days.
Between Christmas Island and Apia, Samoa there will be 3 sea days.
Between Apia and Savusavu there will be 1 sea day.

 

On our first big adventure we were concerned about how we would cope with the many sea days you face when you sail west from the Americas.  We sailed from Lima, Peru on January 17, 2016 on our way to Easter Island and Pitcairn Island.  We were not able to set foot on land due to the swells in those two ports.  It wasn't until we got to Fakarava, French Polynesia on January 28th that we could put our feet on solid ground. It was our first experience of 11 straight sea days.

 

We found that we had grown to love the leisurely pace of a sea day.  No need to set the alarm clock, no rushing to a quick breakfast before an excursion, the enjoyment of lingering over a lunch with friends, the many offerings of lectures and games.  We are looking forward to the sea days for this upcoming adventure.

[mysty]

1 hour ago, mysty said:

This World Cruise sails from San Francisco on January 15, 2024.  Between the day of sailing and reaching Savusavu on the south coast of Vanua Levu Island, Fiji on February 4 there will be 13 days at sea out of the 19 travel days.

 

Between San Francisco and Honolulu there will be 5 sea days.
Between Kona and Christmas Island there will be 4 sea days.
Between Christmas Island and Apia, Samoa there will be 3 sea days.
Between Apia and Savusavu there will be 1 sea day.

 

On our first big adventure we were concerned about how we would cope with the many sea days you face when you sail west from the Americas.  We sailed from Lima, Peru on January 17, 2016 on our way to Easter Island and Pitcairn Island.  We were not able to set foot on land due to the swells in those two ports.  It wasn't until we got to Fakarava, French Polynesia on January 28th that we could put our feet on solid ground. It was our first experience of 11 straight sea days.

 

We found that we had grown to love the leisurely pace of a sea day.  No need to set the alarm clock, no rushing to a quick breakfast before an excursion, the enjoyment of lingering over a lunch with friends, the many offerings of lectures and games.  We are looking forward to the sea days for this upcoming adventure.

 

I made a mistake for the number of sea days on the first leg of this cruise.  The count should be 12 not 13.  We cross the International Date Line and we lose a day.  My bad!  

[lincslady]

My brain cannot cope with the losing a day thing - do you get it back ,or will you have paid for a day you never get?😉

 

Lola

[mysty]

59 minutes ago, lincslady said:

My brain cannot cope with the losing a day thing - do you get it back ,or will you have paid for a day you never get?😉

 

Lola

 

Actually on this cruise we do get it back because we gain a day traveling from Japan over to Alaska.   I have more trouble with the concept of gaining a day than of losing one.  Feels like something from the movie Groundhog Day.  😅

[mysty]

As I have admitted Geography is not my strong suit.  Although I am fascinated with the wonders of our world I don't necessarily know where in the world they are.  Each journey allows me to broaden my skimpy knowledge.  This voyage is no exception.  Let's take our first port after the Hawaiian Islands...Christmas Island.  What follows is information found on Wikipedia.

 

"Kiritimati (also known as Christmas Island) is a Pacific Ocean atoll in the northern Line Islands. It is part of the Republic of Kiribati. The name is derived from the English word "Christmas" written in Gilbertese according to its phonology, in which the combination ti is pronounced s.

 

Kiritimati has the greatest land area of any atoll in the world, about 388 square kilometers (150 square miles); its lagoon is roughly the same size. The atoll is about 150 km (93 mi) in perimeter, while the lagoon shoreline extends for over 48 km (30 mi).  Kiritimati comprises over 70% of the total land area of Kiribati, a country encompassing 33 Pacific atolls and islands.

 

It lies 232 km (144 mi) north of the equator, 2,160 km (1,340 mi) south of Honolulu, and 5,360 km (3,330 mi) from San Francisco. Kiritimati is in the world's farthest forward time zone, UTC+14, and is therefore one of the first inhabited places on Earth to experience New Year's Day.  Although it lies 2,460 km (1,530 mi) east of the 180th meridian, the Republic of Kiribati realigned the International Date Line in 1995, placing Kiritimati to the west of the dateline.

 

Nuclear tests were conducted on and around Kiritimati by the United Kingdom in the late 1950s, and by the United States in 1962. During these tests, the island was not evacuated, exposing the i-Kiribati residents and the British, New Zealand, and Fijian servicemen to nuclear radiation.

 

The entire island is a Wildlife Sanctuary; access to five particularly sensitive areas is restricted."

 

There are no excursion on offer here.  So we will wander.

 

Red dot is Kiribati

 

[highplanesdrifters]

Who knew you could gerrymander a dateline.  Loving your thread Mysty!

 

For the non-Americans

verb

gerund or present participle: gerrymandering

1. manipulate the boundaries of (an electoral constituency) so as to favor one party or class.

   • achieve (a result) by manipulating the boundaries of an electoral constituency.

     "a total freedom to gerrymander the results they want"

[mysty]

11 minutes ago, highplanesdrifters said:

Who knew you could gerrymander a dateline.  Loving your thread Mysty!

 

For the non-Americans

verb

gerund or present participle: gerrymandering

1. manipulate the boundaries of (an electoral constituency) so as to favor one party or class.

   • achieve (a result) by manipulating the boundaries of an electoral constituency.

     "a total freedom to gerrymander the results they want"

 

So glad you are enjoying it High!  Thanks for providing the definition of gerrymandering!  

 

It seems that Kiribati is the first to celebrate New Year's Eve. 

 

https://www.worldatlas.com/geography/which-is-the-first-place-to-experience-new-year-s-eve.html

 

 

[Port Power]

19 hours ago, mysty said:

 

So glad you are enjoying it High!  Thanks for providing the definition of gerrymandering!  

 

It seems that Kiribati is the first to celebrate New Year's Eve. 

 

https://www.worldatlas.com/geography/which-is-the-first-place-to-experience-new-year-s-eve.html

 

 

Let’s hope you one day get to visit the other Christmas Island, to the west of Western Australia in the Indian Ocean.  Not to mention another Christmas Island near King Island off the coast of Tasmania.

[mysty]

53 minutes ago, Port Power said:

Let’s hope you one day get to visit the other Christmas Island, to the west of Western Australia in the Indian Ocean.  Not to mention another Christmas Island near King Island off the coast of Tasmania.

 

Thank you Port!  In my research I had to sift through the various Christmas Islands.  That was an education in itself.  I would like to visit the Christmases around Australia.  That would make for a very interesting comparison.  😁

[mysty]

Originally this cruise was to visit 2 ports in Russia.  For obvious reasons those ports were taken off the itinerary.  That left a rather wide gap between the last planned port in Japan (which was Akita) to Dutch Harbor, Alaska.  We were beyond thrilled when Silversea reworked the ports to give us 11 ports in Japan.  We lost Akita from the original itinerary and we gained Shimizu, Kagoshima, Kanazawa, Niigata and Sakata.  The 5 ports they added plus Hiroshima, Aormori, Hakodate and Otaru would be new for us.

After 2 sea days sailing from Tianjin (Beijing), China we would reach our first port in Japan....Hiroshima on April 17, 2024.  From there we would sail east to Osaka.  Then northeast to Tokyo.  A tad southwest to Shimizu.  Then further southwest to Kagoshima.  Followed by northeast to Kanazawa, Niigata, Sakata and Aomori.  Then slightly north to Hakodate.

 

 

                                                  Arrival    Departure
17 Hiroshima, Japan                 8:00 AM     6:00 PM
18 Osaka, Japan                       8:00 AM
19 Osaka, Japan                                         5:00 PM
20 Tokyo, Japan                        6:00 PM
21 Tokyo, Japan                                          7:00 PM
22 Shimizu                                 7:45 AM    6:00 PM
23 Day at sea
24 Kagoshima                            8:00 AM    6:00 PM
25 Day at sea
26 Kanazawa                             9:00 AM    7:00 PM
27 Niigata                                  8:00 AM    11:00 PM
28 Sakata                                  8:00 AM    6:00 PM
29 Aomori                                  8:00 AM    11:00PM
30 Hakodate                              7:30 AM    6:00 PM
1 Otaru                                      9:00 AM    6:00 PM

 

We're really looking forward to this part of the cruise!

[mysty]

5 hours ago, Port Power said:

Let’s hope you one day get to visit the other Christmas Island, to the west of Western Australia in the Indian Ocean.  Not to mention another Christmas Island near King Island off the coast of Tasmania.

 

Port Power, you piqued my curiosity.  I did some research on the Christmas Islands you pointed to and in the process I found one in Canada.  Although this cruise does not visit these 3 islands, I thought I'd provide a little snapshot of them.

 

The first Christmas Island @Port Power mentioned is described below with information coming from Parks Australia and Wikipedia.

 

Christmas Island is located in the Indian Ocean, 1500 km west of the Australian mainland and 2600 km from Perth. Although it is an Australian territory, Christmas Island's nearest neighbour is Indonesia, which lies about 350 km to the north.  The island is around 500 km from Jakarta. This Christmas Island is situated at the peak of a basalt volcanic seamount which arose from the ocean floor in the Eocene era about 60 million years ago, when the ocean eroded cliffs from uplifts, forming steep terraces and cliffs at the central plateau.

 

Christmas Island had a population of 1,692 residents as of 2021, the majority living in settlements on the northern edge of the island. The main settlement is Flying Fish Cove. Historically, Asian Australians of Chinese, Malay, and Indian descent formed the majority of the population.

 

Despite its relative isolation, Christmas Island can be easily reached by air from Australia, Indonesia and Malaysia.  The white icon on the map below shows the location.

 

 

The second Christmas Island mentioned is Christmas Island (Tasmania).  The description below comes by way of Wikipedia.

 

The Christmas Island, part of the New Year Group, is a 63.49-hectare (156.9-acre) granite island located in the Great Australian Bight, lying off the north-west coast of Tasmania, Australia.  According to the International Hydrographic Organization, the line separating Bass Strait from the Great Australian Bight runs through King Island, so Christmas Island lies in the Great Australian Bight.

The island forms part of the King Island Important Bird Area because of its importance for breeding seabirds and waders.  Breeding seabird and shorebird species include little penguin, short-tailed shearwater, Pacific gull, silver gull, sooty oystercatcher, pied oystercatcher and black-faced cormorant. Reptiles include tiger snakes and lizards. A species of mouse is present.

 

King Island appears in the upper left of the map of Tasmania below.

 

 

 

The Christmas Island (Nova Scotia)  is a Canadian community of the Cape Breton Regional Municipality on Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia. It has a post office, a firehall and a very small population. It has a beach with access to the Bras d'Or Lake.  A small island just off shore, also named Christmas Island, encloses Christmas Island Pond, a pond that runs into the lake.

The post office of Christmas Island gets thousands of postcards and packages a day—up a thousand on the busiest days—during the peak holiday timeframe. These come from around the world during Christmas time so they can be sent on to their destinations with the unique Christmas Island postmark. Greeting cards and packages come from as far as Hong Kong, Seoul, Paris, Mexico City, Sydney, Tahiti and various points across Canada and the United States from collectors and holiday enthusiasts to be franked with the official postmark of Christmas Island. Each year the post office mails out from 12,000 and 14,000 Christmas cards hand-stamped with the special postmark.

 

The dotted red lines in about the middle of the map outline the Christmas Island area.

 

 

Thank you @Port Power for the incentive to further explore!

[mysty]

I found another interesting site which has suggestions for things to explore in some of the ports in Japan.  The site is called NOMADasaurus.  It is run by an Australian married couple who are professional photographers, content creators and full-time travellers, Alesha Bradford and Jarryd Salem.

 

Here is a link to their suggestions for our first port of Hiroshima.....

 

https://www.nomadasaurus.com/things-to-do-in-hiroshima-japan/

 

Below is the Table of Contents from that site for what to do in Hiroshima.  When you go to this site, if you hit the orange links in the list, you will be taken a description of the suggestion.

 

Check Out the Top Things to Do in Hiroshima

Atomic Bomb Dome / Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park
Miyajima Island
Visit the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum
Hiroshima Castle
Itsukushima Shrine
Try Local Hiroshima Cuisine
Visit The Mazda Museum
Shimanami Kaido Expressway
Tour Through Onomichi
Mitaki-Dera Temple
Mount Haigamine
Wood Egg Okonomiyaki Museum
Miyajima Ropeway
Miyajima Omotesando Arcade
Hiroshima National Peace Memorial Hall for the Atomic Bomb Victims
Daisho-in Temple
Senko-Ji Temple And Park

 

We are booked on the ship excursion HIROSHIMA CASTLE & GARDEN

 

"Experience the beauty and tranquility of an Edo Period Castle and garden in Hiroshima. Hiroshima Castle, a flatlands fortress built by a powerful Samurai Clan in 1589. The castle's five-story main keep was destroyed by the atomic bomb at the end of World War II in 1945 and reconstructed in 1958, and today houses a shrine, ruins and a section of defensive fortifications. It is hard to climb up to the top of the castle, but it is rewarding when you are greeted by the panoramic view of the City. Later, visit Shukkei-en Garden, literally translated as "shrunk scenery garden." As its name says It gives you an image of miniature natural formation. The garden was built after the Hiroshima Castle, which you can trace back to 1620."

 

The description above comes from the Silversea website.

 

[mysty]

Osaka

https://www.nomadasaurus.com/things-to-do-in-osaka-japan/

 

The Best Things to Do in Osaka Japan
1. Drive a Go Kart Around the City Dressed as a Video Game Character
2. Legoland Discovery Center
3. Eat the Street Food in the Dotonbori District
4. Visit Nishiki Beach
5. Universal Studios Japan
6. Hattori Ryokuchi Park
7. Check Out Osaka Castle
8. Hit Up the Market in Kuromon Ichiba
9. ATC Asobi Mare
10. Sumiyoshi Shrine
11. Hozenji Temple
12. Osaka Science Museum
13. Tower of the Sun
14. Tempozan Ferris Wheel
15. Utsubo Park
16. AVOID the Osaka Aquarium
17. Nagai Botanical Garden
18. Umeda Sky Building
19. Instant Ramen Museum

 

For our first day in Osaka we booked INTRODUCTION TO OSAKA:

Explore Osaka's feudal and religious past during this memorable sightseeing excursion to the Osaka Castle and Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine.

Osaka Castle

Depart the pier for the scenic, approximate 50-minute drive to the Osaka Castle. Built in the late-16th century, the castle was burned down in a series of 17th-century battles. It was later reconstructed, but its donjon was destroyed by fire once again. The castle's final reconstruction took place in the early-20th century. Upon arrival, take a guided walking tour. The first-seven floors of the castle display various weapons, armor and artefacts of a bygone era. The eighth floor features a splendid viewpoint.

Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine

Next, re-board your coach for the drive to Sumiyoshi-ku, and a visit to the Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine. Built in the 3rd century, the shrine is beloved by the people of Osaka as the guardian deity for sailors and a deity to bring prosperity. It also serves as the headquarters of over 2,000 Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrines throughout Japan. Some three-million people visit this shrine at the beginning of each new year.

 

For our second day in Osaka we booked MT. ROKKO & SAKE BREWERY MUSEUM:
Depart the pier for the scenic, approximately 50-minute drive to beautiful Mt. Rokko. Located in southern Hyogo on the northern coast of Osaka Bay, the approximately 3,000-foot (about 914-metre) Mt. Rokko is the highest peak in the Rokko mountain range, and equipped with a variety of leisure and sporting activities. Upon arrival, drive to the top of the mountain for a stop at the Mt. Rokko Observatory. 

Next, re-board your coach and continue on to the Sake Brewery and Museum. Upon arrival, take a guided tour of this large, two-story structure, which is populated by life-size dioramas depicting the various steps involved in sake production. Along the way, learn about the centuries-old history of sake, observe its production process, hear traditional music played through the speakers, view short films and videos, and sample fine quality sake made from the pure water running through the Rokko Mountains.

[Daveywavey70]

1 hour ago, mysty said:

Osaka

https://www.nomadasaurus.com/things-to-do-in-osaka-japan/

 

The Best Things to Do in Osaka Japan
1. Drive a Go Kart Around the City Dressed as a Video Game Character
2. Legoland Discovery Center
3. Eat the Street Food in the Dotonbori District
4. Visit Nishiki Beach
5. Universal Studios Japan
6. Hattori Ryokuchi Park
7. Check Out Osaka Castle
8. Hit Up the Market in Kuromon Ichiba
9. ATC Asobi Mare
10. Sumiyoshi Shrine
11. Hozenji Temple
12. Osaka Science Museum
13. Tower of the Sun
14. Tempozan Ferris Wheel
15. Utsubo Park
16. AVOID the Osaka Aquarium
17. Nagai Botanical Garden
18. Umeda Sky Building
19. Instant Ramen Museum

 

For our first day in Osaka we booked INTRODUCTION TO OSAKA:

Explore Osaka's feudal and religious past during this memorable sightseeing excursion to the Osaka Castle and Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine.

Osaka Castle

Depart the pier for the scenic, approximate 50-minute drive to the Osaka Castle. Built in the late-16th century, the castle was burned down in a series of 17th-century battles. It was later reconstructed, but its donjon was destroyed by fire once again. The castle's final reconstruction took place in the early-20th century. Upon arrival, take a guided walking tour. The first-seven floors of the castle display various weapons, armor and artefacts of a bygone era. The eighth floor features a splendid viewpoint.

Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine

Next, re-board your coach for the drive to Sumiyoshi-ku, and a visit to the Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine. Built in the 3rd century, the shrine is beloved by the people of Osaka as the guardian deity for sailors and a deity to bring prosperity. It also serves as the headquarters of over 2,000 Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrines throughout Japan. Some three-million people visit this shrine at the beginning of each new year.

 

For our second day in Osaka we booked MT. ROKKO & SAKE BREWERY MUSEUM:
Depart the pier for the scenic, approximately 50-minute drive to beautiful Mt. Rokko. Located in southern Hyogo on the northern coast of Osaka Bay, the approximately 3,000-foot (about 914-metre) Mt. Rokko is the highest peak in the Rokko mountain range, and equipped with a variety of leisure and sporting activities. Upon arrival, drive to the top of the mountain for a stop at the Mt. Rokko Observatory. 

Next, re-board your coach and continue on to the Sake Brewery and Museum. Upon arrival, take a guided tour of this large, two-story structure, which is populated by life-size dioramas depicting the various steps involved in sake production. Along the way, learn about the centuries-old history of sake, observe its production process, hear traditional music played through the speakers, view short films and videos, and sample fine quality sake made from the pure water running through the Rokko Mountains.

 

[mysty]

20 minutes ago, Daveywavey70 said:

 

 

Maybe in my much younger days DW!  Now more like this.....

 

 

  😅

Edited February 21, 2023 by mysty

[Daveywavey70]

34 minutes ago, mysty said:

 

Maybe in my much younger days DW!  Now more like this.....

 

 

  😅

Classic! 😂🥳😂🥳😂🥳

Have you booked it yet? 

[mysty]

15 minutes ago, Daveywavey70 said:

Classic! 😂🥳😂🥳😂🥳

Have you booked it yet? 

 

No!  I'm trying to be a responsible person and not endanger the lives of innocent Osakans!  😅

[John&LaLa]

OMG, we are sailing Royal's UWC this December. I should be doing Live as well, but I'd never dream of starting a year early.😱

 

Good luck keeping up

 

 

[mysty]

15 minutes ago, John&LaLa said:

OMG, we are sailing Royal's UWC this December. I should be doing Live as well, but I'd never dream of starting a year early.😱

 

Good luck keeping up

 

 

 

I intend to post when I have information to share.   It won't be everyday! 😅  For now it is serving to build my excitement.   Research fuels that for me.  😁

[John&LaLa]

1 minute ago, mysty said:

 

I intend to post when I have information to share.   It won't be everyday! 😅  For now it is serving to build my excitement.   Research fuels that for me.  😁

 

I considered doing a seperate one in real time, just a year early, and then start a new one in December.  Afraid I'd burn out and not want to do the actual one.

[John&LaLa]

Jealous of your stop in Dutch Harbor. My mother in law grew up there. Left in December 1941 😉

 

Rare to find a cruise stop up there. 

 

Alaska is pretty much the only area our route leaves out

[mysty]

For those interested the excursions for Nawilliwilli, Kauai are now available to book.  They are not exactly the same as those that were originally posted and then disappeared.  I expect retooling is happening in many ports.

 

The pop up for My Reserved Activities for the World Cruise is still not working.  The last print to PDF I was able to create was dated January 12, 2023.

[mysty]

Tokyo

 

https://www.nomadasaurus.com/things-to-do-in-tokyo-japan/

 

Don’t Miss These Top Things to Do in Tokyo

Trip Out at the Robot Restaurant
Get Swept Away at Shibuya Crossing
Go to a Sumo Wrestling Match
Eat All the Japanese Food
Explore Tokyo’s Past At Sensoji Temple
Marvel at the Beautiful Cherry Blossom Season
Relax At Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden
Visit the Majestic Imperial Palace
Make A Stop At Meiji Shrine
Spend the Day at TeamLab Borderless
Attend Kabuki Theatre
Experience The Unique Edo-Tokyo Museum
Zip Around the Streets in Real Life Mario Kart
See From Atop the Tokyo Tower
Visit the Lucky Cats at Gotokuji Temple
Soak in an Onsen
Venerate the Dead at Yasukuni Shrine
Experience Unique Japanese Art
Make a Pilgrimage to Mount Takao
Bike Your Way Through Yoyogi Park
Take a Walk in Inokashira Park
Hike Along the Tamagawa Josui Canal
Explore the Gorgeous Limestone Caverns
Get Lost in Chichibu-Kama-Tai National Park
Have a Picnic at Showa Memorial Park

 

We've booked TOKYO BY NIGHT WITH TEPPANYAKI STYLE DINNER

TEPPANYAKI DINNER
At a local restaurant enjoy a Japanese Meal "Teppanyaki". Teppanyaki is a modern style of Japanese cuisine based around an open iron cooktop, where the food is grilled right in front of you. You will enjoy Japanese Kuroge Wagyu beef with seasonal vegetables accompanied by local wine.

[mysty]

Kanazawa

 

https://www.nomadasaurus.com/things-to-do-in-kanazawa-japan/

 

The Best Things to Do in Kanazawa
1) Visit Japan’s Most Celebrated Garden, Kenrokuen
2) See Kanazawa Castle
3) Check Out Kanazawa’s ‘Ninja Temple’
4) Hit the Slopes and Shred Some Powder!
5) Enjoy Some Seafood At Omicho Market
6) Kanazawa Hyakumangoku Festival
7) Meditate at D.T. Suzuki Museum
😎 Oyama Shrine
9) Higashi Chaya District
10) Learn About Gold Leaf
11) Take a Day Trip to Kaga Onsen
12) Explore Kanazawa’s Former Samurai District
13) Observe A Silk Painting Workshop
14) Attend Kaga Fire-fighters New Year’s Event
15) Seisonkaku Villa
16) Day Trip to the Noto Peninsula
17) Visit the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art
18) Check Out the Kanazawa Phonograph Museum

 

We booked SAMURAI & GEISHA DISTRICTS WITH GOLD LEAF EXPERIENCE
A gold leaf is made by beating gold into an extremely thin sheet with a thickness of 0.1 to 0.125 millionths of a meter. It is so thin that it will disappear when you rub it with your fingers. The production of gold leaf started in Kanazawa at the end of the 16th century and it is produced more than 98% in Kanazawa.
Next stop is in the famous Nagamachi District. Nagamachi was a samurai district located at the foot of the former Kanazawa Castle, where samurai and their families used to reside. The area preserves a historic atmosphere with its remaining samurai residences, earthen walls, private entrance gates, narrow lanes and water canals.
And at the end of the tour drive to the Higashi Chaya Geisha District. A Chaya means teahouse is an exclusive type of restaurant where guests are entertained by geisha who perform song and dance. During the Edo Period, chaya were found in designated entertainment districts, usually just outside the city limits. The largest one of the chaya districts in Kanazawa is the Higashi Chaya district. 

[drron29]

And for those of us over 60 Kenrokuen Garden gives you free admission.