Best of Japan - Millennium 5/2 - 5/15

[scorfman]

1 hour ago, hcat said:

Assume these and other stamps mentiined are part of  a trip collection?

Yes, something we are collecting as we run across them as a memento. Same with the Eki Stamps which are simple rubber stamps that are mainly at train (eki) stations but also at many tourist spots. We bought a notebook to collect the eki stamps. The goshuin are written into a goshuincho which is a fanfold book typically purchased at any shrine that offers goshuin. We visited a shrine in Yokohama before departure and bought a goshuincho for ¥2000 and they drew the shrine’s goshuin in it at no additional cost. Each goshuin is typically between ¥300-¥500 but some special ones are more. When we get home I’ll prepare and upload a picture album if you like. So far even on the organized tours there has been plenty of time to stop and get them.

 

An example Goshuin: note there are several envelopes you can see which are ones that are pre-drawn on paper rather than some that they actually draw in your goshuincho while you wait. I’ve just put them in thei spot temporarily and when we get home we will paste them in.

A page from our eki stamp book so far:

[debfed65]

9 hours ago, scorfman said:

Yes it was. Please see this post for a full description.

Thank you scorfman for directing me directly to your post.  It was very descriptive and looks wonderful!

[DaKahuna]

MAfter relaxing the in room and reading some this afternoon after the sake tasting it was time to get ready for dinner.  

 

 Tonight was our second Evening Chic night and lobster was on the menu in Luminae. 

 

 Our Amuse-bouche — no idea what the waiter said it was .. 

 

 

 

 We both had the Coconut Sea Bass ceviche — I do not know where the coconut was but if I had not already ordered my entree I would have had a second order of this, it was delicious. 

 

 

 

 My DW had her usual in addition to the ceviche 

 

 

 

For her entree she had the broiled lobster 

 

 

 

 While i went with Surf & turff getting both the lobster and the “filet mignon”.  I put this in quotes as those of us in the know understand that it is sliced similar to roast beef versus how a filet is normally served.  Either way the lobster was sweet and tender and the filet was absolutely delicious .. 

 

 

Being a special night, each table received a “palate cleanser” 

 

 

 

And for desert my DW ordered the Lemon Mascarpone Cream 

 

 

 

 While I had the Raspberry pistachio vacherin 

 

 

 I wish some of my followers who are old time Celebrity Suite Cruisers would tell me when this dessert changed.  A year ago I remember it being a rectangular shape and entirely different, or was I served something else when I thought I was getting this? 

 

 Since I was having surf and turff my sommelier recommend a Pinot noir and I thought that was a good pairing but I’ve had Pinot noir multiple times and wanted to go with something a little bolder so I pushed back and ordered the Conondrum.  It went really well with the filet and that was the focus of my meal despite having the ceviche as an appetizer and lobster with my filet.  

 

 

 He did ask if I wanted a glass or the bottle and I told him glass.  It makes not sense if you have the premium package to pay the bottle price vest the $2.00 and 20% surcharge per glass versus the 15% discount on the bottle price.  The math for buying a bottle just does not work for me. 

 

 After dinner we ventured into the casino to spend some of our OBC.  Bottom line - my DW had a good time and I broke even for the day.  I did not play as long as I wanted to play as a gentleman who had too much to drink was very disruptive and I decided to call it an early night. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[monkey@cruise]

8 hours ago, scorfman said:

Trip day 7, Cruise day 6

 

We boarded the free shuttle to Itsukaichi Station and boarded the San-yo Line toward Hiroshima. Our Suica cards worked fine. We got off the train at Yokogawa Station. That wasn't what google recommended, but we took an old Hiroshima Dentetsu #7 Tram from there to Peace Memorial Park..

 

Google sometimes is not your reliable travel tool.

 

The easiest and most economical travel route from Itsukaichi to Hirosshima Peace Memorial Museum. From JR Itsukaichi station, San-yo Line (for Hiroshima: Shiraichi or Itozaki)  every 15 min, fare ¥200, 10 min,  3 stops, off at Yokogawa Station, the train station is connected to Yokogawa tram  Station.  Ride Hiroshima Dentetsu No.7 (For Hiroshimako) every 15 min, fare ¥220, 15 min , 9 stops get off at Fukuromachi tram station and walk 8 min to the Museum.

 

For those travel without IC card, For San-yo Line, purchase the ticket through the vending machines, choose English language option.
Here is how to ride the tram: https://www.hiroden.co.jp/en/s-howtoride.html 

Transport fare payment accept cash or IC card, also tram only accept 1000 yen bank note for change. If you plan to ride the tram > 3 time, buy a street car (tram) day pass for 700 yen.
 

[Jim_Iain]

10 hours ago, DaKahuna said:

 While I had the Raspberry pistachio vacherin 

 

The original looked similar to the present one but iflatter and a bit more whipped cream

 

This was from about 4 years ago (2019) when Chef B created it.   We had it at his first Chef Table  

 

 

 

 

Edited May 9 by Jim_Iain

[DaKahuna]

Good morning from Busan, Korea. 

 

 We had a nice breakfast in Luminae and then stepped out on the port side to see how disembarkation was going.  Not surprisingly there is a very long line to clear customs. 

 

 On the way back we stopped by the Retreat Lounge and picked up some maps of Busan. 

 

 

 

Some pictures from the port side of the ship.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And from the starboard side 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited May 9 by DaKahuna

[monkey@cruise]

On 5/7/2024 at 8:22 PM, DaKahuna said:

 

 

Unfortunately as you can see not all the signs and information is presented in multiple languages.  Most of the signs on the island are in Japanese only but I still find them interesting. 

 

Japan's Three Most Scenic Places: Miyajima (Shrine Island), Amanohashidate (Heaven Bridge) and Matsushima (Pine Island).  https://nihonsankei.jp/eng/

 

The most popular item in Miyajima is the oyster curry bread (500 yen), which contains two whole large oysters. "Hiroshima Curry bread Laboratory Miyajima Main Store"

 

Oyster lovers, try the Oyster set meal in Kakiya or Oyster okonomiyaki in SAKURAMARU.

Travelling from JR Itsukaichi Station (Shuttle drop off) to Miyajima on public transportation is easy and inexpensive:
- From Itsukaichi Station, take San-yo Line (For Iwakuni or Ono-Ura) to Miyajimaguchi Station, every 15 min, fare ¥200, 4 stops, 12 min.
- Walk 5-8 min to Miyajimaguchi Ferry Terminal, take JR West Miyajima Ferry or Matsudai Kisen Ferry to Miyajima, fare ¥200 + tourist tax ¥100, 10 min crossing time. 15 min walking time from ferry terminal to Itsukushima Jinja.

 

From Miyajima to Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum:
1. Expensive high speed ferry from Miyajima to Atomic Bomb Dome pier, 45 min time,  fare ¥2400-2800
2. Travel back to Miyajimaguchi Station, take San-yo Line (for Hiroshima, Shiraichi or Itozaki) to Yokogawa Station, every 15 min, fare ¥330, 7 stops, 22 min.
The train station is connected to Yokogawa tram  Station.  Ride Hiroshima Dentetsu No.7 (For Hiroshimako) every 15 min, fare ¥220, 15 min , 9 stops get off at Fukuromachi tram station and walk 8 min to the Museum.

 

[DaKahuna]

We waited until after breakfast and left the ship about 1030.  The queue from my earlier pictures were completely gone and there were two people walking ahead of us as we entered the terminal.  Presented our passports, they scanned them, attached a sticker to them and we were on our way.  

 

We proceeded directly to a shuttle bus that dropped us off on the far side of the train station.  We then proceeded to walk about 30 minutes to the edge of downtown to the Lotte Mall.  My wife had an item she wanted to purchase, found one she liked, purchased it.  We walked around the store a little more, including going down to the food market in the basement before exiting the store.  

 

 We then walked back to the cruise ship shuttle bus stop, boarded the bus and it left as soon as we were seated.  Came back aboard, stopping to fill out the Tax Rebate form for my wife’s purchase, showed our passports, and proceeded aboard.  Since our bags were scanned ashore, they were not rescanned once we were onboard. Just presented our sea pass cards to the RFID reader and were pinged aboard.   

 

 We then proceeded to our room and dropped off the items we were carrying and then went to Sushi on 5 for lunch.  Lunch was excellent and I had two small glasses of unfiltered sake with my rolls. 

 

 

 

 

 

Found some information from our Retreat Concierge’s in our room upon our return. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[hcat]

23 hours ago, scorfman said:

One word “delicious”. Basically noodles, cabbage, meat, egg, sauce, and a pancake all grilled to perfection. Paired with a nice cold oolong tea. More info here. He also recommended the Osaka version as well so we have that on our list for next time. Reserve an hour for the meal exclusive of any wait time.

thank you.. for more info and the link...It looks like a great treat..never saw this before in the US..

[hcat]

10 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

 

The original looked similar to the present one but iflatter and a bit more whipped cream

 

This was from about 4 years ago (2019) when Chef B created it.   We had it at his first Chef Table  

 

 

 

 

very impressive retrieval skills!

[hcat]

23 hours ago, scorfman said:

Yes, something we are collecting as we run across them as a memento. Same with the Eki Stamps which are simple rubber stamps that are mainly at train (eki) stations but also at many tourist spots. We bought a notebook to collect the eki stamps. The goshuin are written into a goshuincho which is a fanfold book typically purchased at any shrine that offers goshuin. We visited a shrine in Yokohama before departure and bought a goshuincho for ¥2000 and they drew the shrine’s goshuin in it at no additional cost. Each goshuin is typically between ¥300-¥500 but some special ones are more. When we get home I’ll prepare and upload a picture album if you like. So far even on the organized tours there has been plenty of time to stop and get them.

 

An example Goshuin: note there are several envelopes you can see which are ones that are pre-drawn on paper rather than some that they actually draw in your goshuincho while you wait. I’ve just put them in thei spot temporarily and when we get home we will paste them in.

A page from our eki stamp book so far:

my post got lost ( operator error)

 

It said something like ..this is a very nice way to remember your trip & some nice artwork.

 

We  collect small prints/ paintings/ ceramics from our Carib travels and display at our place in Fl..keeps the tropical vibe going.

 

if my orig post turns up..sorry for dup!

 

[monkey@cruise]

Do expect slow Japan immigration and customs clearance onboard at Hakodate (3-4 hours). The plus side, ship will dock at Wakamatsu Wharf Quay: 500 feet to JR Hakodate station, 0.6 mi to Red Brick Warehouse, 1.2 mi to Mt Hakodate Ropeway station. 2.2 mi to Goryōkaku Tower. 
You can view these attractions from Deck 12. Suite and Aqua cabin passengers, ship excursion passengers and confirmed private tours passengers will assign priority clearance.

Anyone who got off the ship late, still can visit these attraction on a budget.

 

Beer lovers,  the onboard Sapporo beer is from CANADA! I picked up the genuine (125-150 yen) from MAXVALU supermarket, 15 min walk from cruise terminal, will see ship crews pick up their supply from there, the eating area is on 2nd floor, also my beer hall.

[macaroni]

In Hakodate, do elite passengers get early clearance as they normally get priority tendering as a perk?

thanks!

[valuemkt]

Will be reading your updates.. Just booked this cruise for early October. 

[monkey@cruise]

6 hours ago, macaroni said:

In Hakodate, do elite passengers get early clearance as they normally get priority tendering as a perk?

thanks!

I did ask customer relation regarding who authorize the priority, they always say Japan immigration. I know Suite and Shore Excursion passengers always the top. You will receive your immigration letter and time ticket day before Hakodate arrival. If immigration done onboard the stations will be in Rendezvous Lounge, and Deck 4 will be off limits,  

[DaKahuna]

1 hour ago, monkey@cruise said:

I did ask customer relation regarding who authorize the priority, they always say Japan immigration. I know Suite and Shore Excursion passengers always the top. You will receive your immigration letter and time ticket day before Hakodate arrival. If immigration done onboard the stations will be in Rendezvous Lounge, and Deck 4 will be off limits,  

Thank you for this information. We read on earlier live reviews about the immigration process and although we are in a Suite, we elected to do a sightseeing tour as neither of us have ever been to Hokkaido before.

 

 We have not seen anything regarding the immigration process that I have not shared but it is still early in the sea day before arriving. 
 

[monkey@cruise]

9 minutes ago, DaKahuna said:

Thank you for this information. We read on earlier live reviews about the immigration process and although we are in a Suite, we elected to do a sightseeing tour as neither of us have ever been to Hokkaido before.

 

 We have not seen anything regarding the immigration process that I have not shared but it is still early in the sea day before arriving. 
 

Can't use Visit Japan Web app because only applicable for airport arrival. Will be paper arrival card and customs declaration. All passengers must face picture and index fingers print again, and new tourist sticker.

[DaKahuna]

 To pick up where I left off.  Yesterday we had lunch at Sushi on 5.  It was good.  The gyoza seemed smaller than we recalled but the flavor was still there.   I verified my favorite cocktail, the Gingertini, was no longer on the menu our and waiter had never even heard of it.  

 

 

We had standard maki rolls and the omakasi nigiri and I did not bother to take pictures as they have not changed since last year.   We did share the sorbet and it was very good.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

After lunch we went up to our stateroom and relaxed until sail away.  There was a group invited to the sail away on the Helipad but we were not a part of it so did not go up.  

 

Instead we watched it from our balcony.  I have a 1:14 video of us going under the bridge on the way out of port.  It’s too big to upload but even from deck 6 it looked impressive sailing under the bridge. 

 

 

Edited May 10 by DaKahuna

[rinshin]

2 hours ago, DaKahuna said:

Thank you for this information. We read on earlier live reviews about the immigration process and although we are in a Suite, we elected to do a sightseeing tour as neither of us have ever been to Hokkaido before.

 

 
 

Don’t know time constrains on this Hakodate stop but if you have any free time, your wife would love Hakodate Asaichiba for all the incredible fresh seafood offering, esp fresh ika.  It is right in town.  Take a cab.  

[DaKahuna]

For dinner last night we managed to get an 8 PM reservation in Tuscan Grill.  I had mentioned in another live post that after our previous experience I doubted we would dine there again.  However, others said to try it again as it varies with the chef and waitstaff.  So glad we decided to try again,  We had an excellent meal. 

 

Started with the Pizzetta Caprese 

 

 

And classic Caesar Salad

 

 

My DW went with the spaghetti and meat balls

 

 

And I had the filet, medium rare 

 

 

 

For sides we had garlic mashed potato and Broccolini Aglio E Olio 

 

 

I had a classic Chianti to go with my steak 

 

 

For dessert my wife chose the Fig Gelato 

 

 

And I had the Spumoni Donuts

 

 

All in all a wonderful meal and very pleasant service.  

 

We did find Tuscan Grill to be a bit noisier than Luminae.  This was due to a boisterous table of either close to where we were seated.  Once they completed their meal, the atmosphere was significantly improved.  🤣

 

 

[DaKahuna]

Today’s Friday and our third of four sea days.  

 

We decided to sleep in today and went to the Elite Breakfast in Tuscan Grill.  We shared the Ultimate Platter and my wife ordered the Freshly Baked Viennoiserie as well.  I managed to snag a single bagel and a single almond croissant.  

 

 Here is the menu 

 

 

 

 

 The only thing out of the ordinary that has not been posted many times before is the mixed berry smoothie I had.  Someone must have read my previous comments regarding  the temperature as this was served cold and very much to my liking. 

 

 

We enjoyed the breakfast and the relaxed atmosphere very much. 

 

 

 

 

[DaKahuna]

After breakfast I hung out in the lounge while my wife went window shopping.  She did not buy anything but has her eye on a necklace she wants to get for our granddaughter who will be graduating from High School in just under two weeks. 

 

When she finished her window shopping she joined me in the lounge and when I finished my soda we came up to the room.  

 

Our Retreat Host was just finishing up cleaning and maintenance did some work on a faucet in the sink.  Upon leaving our host presented us with documents regarding immigration tomorrow.   So here goes…

 

 The Disembarkation Card for Foreigners is one per person.  I spoke with the Retreat Concierge and he informed me that my wife, as a Japanese citizen, does not require one of these but I do need to include her on the Customs form. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 The Yellow Customs Declaration is one per family

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[scorfman]

Trip day 8, Cruise day 7

 

Another sea day today so not much of note. We had breakfast in the MDR again, and I spent a good portion of the day relaxing on our balcony and writing up the last couple days events here for the report. I've really come to enjoy chronicling the day and remembering the little details. The wife calls them roses and thorns which I think is a great way to look at it. Many more roses than thorns on this trip, to be sure, with the thorns being tiny. As I write this on Friday afternoon, I get to watch a SpaceX early morning (in the US) launch that I'd normally be asleep for. I'm a bit of a space geek and watch them a lot. Ironically, it is a launch of more StarLink satellites, which is the service the ship offers for wi-fi. I have the streaming service, which is adequate, but throttled a lot. They could stand to open the speeds about 100% more and it would be totally adequate, even for work.

 

Anyway, we occasionally went in and out of the room, piddling about like we do. I went up to watch Deal or No Deal which was fun to watch, particularly while enjoying a couple Timmy's Margaritas. These are just the same as a regular classic margarita but substituting Agave syrup for the orange component (triple sec, Cointreau, or whatever.) I like it with the Teremana Reposado personally. They have more "known" brands like Don Julio and Patron, but Teremana is the best on board in my humble opinion. We have the premium package as the price to upgrade was a bargain when we did it months ago. We had comfort food from the Mast Grill today which is always as expected. A burger, dog, fries, and a drink. Speaking of drinks, I've become a bit addicted to the Caliente as made by Alma in the Sunset Bar. I'm a tequila snob as you might have noticed but as a mixed drink this is quite good. It uses Ghost Tequila, which is a passable Blanco with some heat added by Habanero essences.

 

Sorry, I was making full use of the premium beverage package this day, so I can't recall what we had to eat for dinner and the wife is not here. She might not remember either 😉 I do remember it was good though. I think I can finally objectively declare that good additive-free tequila does not give me hangovers. I want to be sure though, so I will continue my series of experiments. I don't think my wife shares the same conclusion about her love for gin, but the jury is out.

 

I'll end with the weather, which was fine. There was a brisk wind over the ocean causing some big swells during the afternoon and evening, and giving me a photo to post here for today. This is the first time in all our cruising that we've seen the bags come out. We don't get seasick and hope nobody else had to suffer.

 

[Honolulu Blue]

10 minutes ago, DaKahuna said:

After breakfast I hung out in the lounge while my wife went window shopping.  She did not buy anything but has her eye on a necklace she wants to get for our granddaughter who will be graduating from High School in just under two weeks. 

 

When she finished her window shopping she joined me in the lounge and when I finished my soda we came up to the room.  

 

Our Retreat Host was just finishing up cleaning and maintenance did some work on a faucet in the sink.  Upon leaving our host presented us with documents regarding immigration tomorrow.   So here goes…

 

 The Disembarkation Card for Foreigners is one per person.  I spoke with the Retreat Concierge and he informed me that my wife, as a Japanese citizen, does not require one of these but I do need to include her on the Customs form. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 The Yellow Customs Declaration is one per family

 

 

 

 

I got a flashback to the Customs forms I used to fill in for my cruises to and from the US. They were never my favorite part of cruising and I'm glad our government found a way to get rid of them for most people most of the time.

 

[DaKahuna]

Just before lunch I received a call from the Luminae Sommelier informing us that our World Wine Tour scheduled for 2 PM this afternoon had been cancelled.  Seems we were the only two that signed up for it.  He indicated that he would be crediting our account for the cancellation and that he also had a “bottle of my favorite wine” as a consolation gift.  I told him I would pick the wine up when we went to lunch. 

 

Lunch was in Luminae and was very good.  

 

 The Sommelier dropped by and set a bottle on Conundrum on the table for me !! He’s getting a nice tip! 

 

My DW started with the tuna tartare 

 

 

And I had the Key West Salad from the MDR menu

 

 

For her main course my wife chose the Pan Roasted Salmon, and the waiter removed the skin for her. 

 

 

 

And I went with the Mediterranean Turkey Club Sandwich 

 

 

 I allowed the sommelier talk me into a white wine and he served me a nice Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand.  I usually do not drink white wines but made an exception since this is the second time he’s mentioned Sauvignon Blanc this cruise. 

 

 

For dessert my wife went with the Ricotta Cheesecake 

 

 

And I had two scoops of coffee gelato, creamy and smooth as always.