Ciaranaman Posted November 15, 2023 #176 Share Posted November 15, 2023 Aw, those egg eyes really do look sad! And I'll admit, I felt that way knowing this was your last report on such a beautiful trip! Thank you for sharing your adventures. I'll be keeping an eye out for your next live report 🙂 ~Bernadette 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CardowMD Posted November 16, 2023 #177 Share Posted November 16, 2023 I enjoyed your Japan adventures, but really look forward to the Singapore to HC trip. I am looking at this itinerary, but going solo. Any insights you all can share will be appreciated! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Miaminice Posted November 18, 2023 Author #178 Share Posted November 18, 2023 Second week of being back at work and we miss Japan terribly 😁 BTW in case you are interested in the travelogues of our previous Japan cruises, here they are: Japan on Millennium, Fall 2017 https://www.travelandcruise.net/travellove_en/Our-Trips/Celebrity-Millennium-Japan/celebrity-millennium-japan.html Japan on Westerdam, Cherry Blossom Cruise 2019 https://www.travelandcruise.net/travellove_en/Our-Trips/HAL-Westerdam-Japan-01/hal-westerdam-japan-01.html 1 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coloradocruiser01 Posted November 22, 2023 #179 Share Posted November 22, 2023 Thanks so much for the great review of your cruise and the information of all the things to do at each of the ports. We will be sailing on the Millennium August 19, 2024 after a 10 day trip on the Beyond in February. Do you suggest doing any of the ship tours or just hiring local guides? I will use your review to help plan our 12 day Best of Japan cruise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Miaminice Posted November 22, 2023 Author #180 Share Posted November 22, 2023 9 hours ago, Coloradocruiser01 said: Thanks so much for the great review of your cruise and the information of all the things to do at each of the ports. We will be sailing on the Millennium August 19, 2024 after a 10 day trip on the Beyond in February. Do you suggest doing any of the ship tours or just hiring local guides? I will use your review to help plan our 12 day Best of Japan cruise. Hi, tbh I really dislike the ship tours with big groups and following a number. So I would always recommend a private guide for a small group. You can always find people to join you on the cruise critic roll calls. However, you need to be able to manage some stairs and steps. Not just at the sights themselves but also getting there via the train stations etc. Oliver 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmblob Posted December 3, 2023 #181 Share Posted December 3, 2023 @Miaminice This is a bit late to your postings but thank you for a very nice review of your travels in Japan and insights on Millennium this fall. We are on Millennium in April 2024 with a similar Best of Japan itinerary but with some different ports. But your tips and photos are great. Especially your Yokohama excursion to Kamakura, which we may try to replicate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Miaminice Posted December 4, 2023 Author #182 Share Posted December 4, 2023 (edited) 11 hours ago, bmblob said: @Miaminice This is a bit late to your postings but thank you for a very nice review of your travels in Japan and insights on Millennium this fall. We are on Millennium in April 2024 with a similar Best of Japan itinerary but with some different ports. But your tips and photos are great. Especially your Yokohama excursion to Kamakura, which we may try to replicate. Thank you! You might find some of your other ports in our older reviews linked in post #178. I was ready to book another cruise to Japan. Birgit persuaded me to book something different. I am already sorry I listened to her 🙂 Edited December 4, 2023 by Miaminice 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RinAsami Posted December 4, 2023 #183 Share Posted December 4, 2023 Thank you so much for sharing this report and pictures, @Miaminice. We booked the August 31, 2024 trip and was curious about the stops. I've been to Tokyo before but never on a cruise this long and to Japan. Did the ship tend to have more Japanese cuisine on the cruise you took or is similar to other ships with more variety instead of focusing on a destination theme food-wise? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Miaminice Posted December 4, 2023 Author #184 Share Posted December 4, 2023 10 minutes ago, RinAsami said: Did the ship tend to have more Japanese cuisine on the cruise you took or is similar to other ships with more variety instead of focusing on a destination theme food-wise? Except for Ramen on the last day`s buffet, there was no focus on Japanese food. It was the usual variety. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare DaKahuna Posted December 4, 2023 #185 Share Posted December 4, 2023 1 minute ago, Miaminice said: Except for Ramen on the last day`s buffet, there was no focus on Japanese food. It was the usual variety. That is one of the disappointing things about Celebrity - menu does not reflect local cuisinces / cultures. Our current plan is to have all our lunches ashore so we can enjoy as much Japanese food as possible. Unfortunately, as much as we would love to bring bento's back on the shiip to enjoy, we know they will not let us bring food aboard. This will be our first cruise were I do not anticipate us eating at Sushi on 5. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Miaminice Posted December 4, 2023 Author #186 Share Posted December 4, 2023 26 minutes ago, DaKahuna said: That is one of the disappointing things about Celebrity - menu does not reflect local cuisinces / cultures. Our current plan is to have all our lunches ashore so we can enjoy as much Japanese food as possible. Unfortunately, as much as we would love to bring bento's back on the shiip to enjoy, we know they will not let us bring food aboard. This will be our first cruise were I do not anticipate us eating at Sushi on 5. I hear you... however, any cruise ship copying local food is still not the real thing 🙂 So having lunch or a snack at local restaurants is just part of the whole experience. And one thing is guaranteed - you won´t stay hungry in Japan 🙂 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RinAsami Posted December 4, 2023 #187 Share Posted December 4, 2023 1 hour ago, DaKahuna said: That is one of the disappointing things about Celebrity - menu does not reflect local cuisinces / cultures. Our current plan is to have all our lunches ashore so we can enjoy as much Japanese food as possible. Unfortunately, as much as we would love to bring bento's back on the shiip to enjoy, we know they will not let us bring food aboard. This will be our first cruise were I do not anticipate us eating at Sushi on 5. I agree, a bit disappointing. But I think we'll do the same and get as many snacks and lunches we can while ashore. And thanks for the quick reply, @Miaminice! 🙂 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mthomast63 Posted January 7 #188 Share Posted January 7 (edited) Sorry replied to the wrong post Edited January 7 by Mthomast63 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
macaroni Posted January 7 #189 Share Posted January 7 Miaminice… I have followed and read all your Japan adventures. I know you have stayed in both the Tokyo station area and also the Shinjuku area…..which did you prefer? We will be first time visitors. Coming in from a few days in Kyoto, then staying in Tokyo for a few nights before boarding the Millennium for our Japan cruise. Any thoughts, preferences, opinions would be appreciated. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Miaminice Posted January 8 Author #190 Share Posted January 8 (edited) 23 hours ago, macaroni said: Miaminice… I have followed and read all your Japan adventures. I know you have stayed in both the Tokyo station area and also the Shinjuku area…..which did you prefer? We will be first time visitors. Coming in from a few days in Kyoto, then staying in Tokyo for a few nights before boarding the Millennium for our Japan cruise. Any thoughts, preferences, opinions would be appreciated. Thanks! Hmmmhhh, well we did stay in the Shinjuku area again on our last visit. Mainly because we liked the buzz. But in terms of convenient location and getting to places, both areas are great. Maybe Shinjuku station is a bit easier to master than Tokyo Station. Both are not small but Tokyo Station is a maze 🙂 So if you also enjoy a bit of unusual buzz, I´d suggest Shinjuku. We liked the Gracery Hotel. If you stay longer than a night book a larger room. Edited January 8 by Miaminice 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
macaroni Posted January 8 #191 Share Posted January 8 Thank you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cookiersmom Posted January 13 #192 Share Posted January 13 Oliver, It was great fun to review through your "not really live"! We had a great time touring around with you and Birgit! We are now preparing for our adventures to Australia and New Zealand next month! Laurie 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RinAsami Posted January 16 #193 Share Posted January 16 On 10/27/2023 at 5:55 PM, Miaminice said: Koichi (Koichi Wasa) from Toursbylocals. com. Just note that you should be able to walk swiftly and manage many steps for the tours. 🙂 I am looking at the different tours that Koichi W. offers on the toursbylocals. Do you mind sharing what your tour(s) were called? There are so many to choose from and we've never been to Kyoto/Osaka. Thanks again for such a great report! We're going in August 2024 and am using your trip as a guide. 🙂 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare NMTraveller Posted January 16 #194 Share Posted January 16 What were the top ports and the highlights of your cruise? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare NMTraveller Posted January 16 #195 Share Posted January 16 If you could only do one cruise would you do the Japan cruise or your last cruise? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Miaminice Posted January 16 Author #196 Share Posted January 16 1 hour ago, RinAsami said: I am looking at the different tours that Koichi W. offers on the toursbylocals. Do you mind sharing what your tour(s) were called? There are so many to choose from and we've never been to Kyoto/Osaka. Thanks again for such a great report! We're going in August 2024 and am using your trip as a guide. 🙂 our tours didn’t really have a name. Since we had been there twice before, Koichi created a tour incl. new things. He can offer customized tours. Golden Pavillon, Fushimi Inari, and Kiyomizo-dera are beautiful sights… and so many others. But not all are in the same area. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Miaminice Posted January 16 Author #197 Share Posted January 16 (edited) 31 minutes ago, NMTraveller said: If you could only do one cruise would you do the Japan cruise or your last cruise? Last cruise as in Vietnam and Thailand? That’s really a hard question to answer. Both are very different. Japan has so much to offer as a single country. And on Japan cruises, I am glad that it is only Japan, or better that the focus is on Japan. the last one had different things to offer. Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam… We would do both again for sure!!! Edited January 16 by Miaminice 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
villauk Posted January 16 #198 Share Posted January 16 4 hours ago, Miaminice said: Last cruise as in Vietnam and Thailand? That’s really a hard question to answer. Both are very different. Japan has so much to offer as a single country. And on Japan cruises, I am glad that it is only Japan, or better that the focus is on Japan. the last one had different things to offer. Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam… We would do both again for sure!!! I agree. I think these sort of itineraries offer so much more of an experience. We cruised your Vietnam sailing a few Christmases ago and are doing Japan this year, which we are very much looking forward to. It’s not like comparing one side of the Caribbean to the other. We’ve also booked India and Sri Lanka for next, expecting a totally different sort of experience in those places. All our sailings are on M class ships, it’s a base for us and not the destination like it would be if one was sailing the Caribbean for the nth time. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Miaminice Posted January 16 Author #199 Share Posted January 16 (edited) 5 hours ago, villauk said: I agree. I think these sort of itineraries offer so much more of an experience. We cruised your Vietnam sailing a few Christmases ago and are doing Japan this year, which we are very much looking forward to. It’s not like comparing one side of the Caribbean to the other. We’ve also booked India and Sri Lanka for next, expecting a totally different sort of experience in those places. All our sailings are on M class ships, it’s a base for us and not the destination like it would be if one was sailing the Caribbean for the nth time. 👍 Which is one of the reasons why we do not sail the Caribbean 🙂 @NMTraveller I asked Birgit your question... and she could not answer it as well. We both lost our heart to Japan. So it will always be special. Vietnam was also fabulous. We both immediately mentioned and remembered the friendliness of the Vietnamese people right away. Although the people of Vietnam would have enough reasons not to like Americans and Europeans (esp French), they are most welcoming and genuinely friendly. Plus, I think our guide Rose and her team of young guides were outstanding ambassadors for this beautiful and interesting country. We are seriously considering to cancel a cruise to New Zealand which we have booked for fall 2024 and repeat Asia again. Just haven´t found a good and affordable itinerary yet. Edited January 16 by Miaminice 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare NMTraveller Posted January 16 #200 Share Posted January 16 2 minutes ago, Miaminice said: 👍 Which is one of the reasons why we do not sail the Caribbean 🙂 @NMTraveller I asked Birgit your question... and she could not answer it as well. We both lost our heart to Japan. So it will always be special. Vietnam was also fabulous. We both immediately mentioned and remembered the friendliness of the Vietnamese people right away. Although the people of Vietnam would have enough reasons not to like Americans and Europeans (esp French), they are most welcoming and genuinely friendly. Plus, I think our guide Rose and her team of young guides were outstanding ambassadors for this beautiful and interesting country. We are seriously considering to cancel a cruise to New Zealand which we have booked for fall 2024 and repeat Asia again. Just haven´t found a good and affordable itinerary yet. Thanks. My question was more about which itinerary should I do first? I think that I will go with Japan... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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