tango223

On 11/24/2023 at 6:20 PM, tullbja said:

We did Denali in July, and enjoyed it. Rain on train ride up, but then weather cleared, and we were able to see Denali (we're now part of the 30% club)  Lodging was fairly primitive, as advertised, but we made friends that we then spent time with on the cruise south. 

Did the road closure at mile 43 impact your trip in the park?  

7 hours ago, dd57 said:

We did Pristine Alaska pre cruise in 2019, choosing it over the Denali one because we had never been to Fairbanks.  We arrived a day early in Fairbanks, staying in the same hotel Viking used so we didn't have to move, and spent the day at the very interesting museum there.  The included tours in Fairbanks were really interesting.  The train ride down to Denali NP was scenic with onboard narration.  At the park there was a great lecture on predator/prey relationships and nature walk.  This didn't go far into the park (which we had done on a previous trip), so I would think would be similar now.  Talkeetna for me was a highlight with a trip on the river and a discussion with a pilot who flew climbers to Denali and a climber who had gone several times.  The visit with sled dogs in training was also good.

 

We had been to Alaska several times before, spending 6 days in Denali and Talkeetna.  If you think you won't get back anytime soon, then I would normally recommend the Denali extension which spends more time in that area, but with the current inability to go further into the park,  I think it is a tossup.

I'm not sure what you mean by the current inability to go further into the park.  

2 hours ago, duquephart said:

 

Denali ext. is very nice. Just don't plan on seeing Denali.

What did you see that made it nice.  Scenery, animals etc?

We are thinking about booking the Alaska cruise and wanted to get an opinion about the Denali Extension or the Pristine Alaska.  We are thinking of booking the direction from Seward to Vancouver so it would be a pre-cruise extension.    

2 hours ago, sabreline said:

OK....so what PREFECTURE is the Tokyo Hilton in and why is the city not listed in the drip down list? Thanks

I would like to know what the norm for tipping in Japan.  Tour Guides, Taxi drivers, Private car services, Private guides, restaurants/bars.

Thank you in advance for the help

3 hours ago, RetiredandTravel said:

 

 

Our Tokyo-Tokyo cruise also included a free 3 day pre cruise package, we arrived a day early and made our own arrival transfer arrangements to the hotel.  Regent provided transfer to the ship and we paid for Regent bus transfers to the airport (~$100 each).  I'd still double check that you aren't paying for the transfer to the hotel.  Enjoy your trip.

 

 

We are also arriving early on our own 2 days prior but staying at the Tokyo Hilton which is the hotel for the "free" 3 days.  We did not opt to pay the almost $2000 for the two days but only $900 for booking it on our own, we have to pay for our own transfers to the hotel.  Can I ask you which service are you using? Our hotel recommends the Limousine Bus but we are leaning towards getting a car service (from Narita).  Our transfer to the airport from the ship upon debarkation is included and not charged. 

You can check it at guest services so you don't have to walk around with it until your room is ready. This was our experience in our past Regent cruises (pre-Covid).

50 minutes ago, RetiredandTravel said:

We arranged our own flights to Tokyo.  We had to set our own transfers from the airport to the hotel.  The car service from Narita to the hotel was about $225, many use the train or bus we like the convenience with luggage.  Regent provided the transfer from the hotel to the ship and we purchased Regent bus transfers ($100 each) from the ship to the airport at the end.  We were in a Concierge suite and could not add the free night to the free 3 night pre cruise package.

 

 

 

 

We did an air deviation to come into Tokyo early but had Regent booked the flights for us. We were told that we had to provide our own arrangements from the airport to the hotel (which we booked the same as the Regent 3 day land), but we were told that all the other transfers were included.  I'm wondering why you had to purchase the transfer at the end of your cruise.

I googled the question and the answer was Yes for US. Citizens.......but I had a question whether it applies to cruising to S. Korea from Japan for US Citizen. Will an ETA (Electronic Travel Authority) Visa be required ?  I don't see a notice from the cruise company for any visas necessary.

Thank you in advance for help with this question.

5 hours ago, Bobbiegentry said:

Please forgive my ignorance. 

What is “the fast track”?

I have the hotel information for the fast track...but it asks for postal code, prefecture,

I have the following information

Tokyo Hilton

6-6-2 Nishi-Shinjuku  

Shinjuku-ku 13 160-0023 JP

Is the 160-0023 the postal code?  Prefecture is TOKYO TO?  Any help is much appreciated.

On 10/20/2022 at 12:03 PM, cruiseaholic78 said:

I would suggest the Limousine bus, they are available both from Haneda and Narita, it is a luxury bus with plenty of room for luggage and they stop at most of the Tokyo hotels including the Hilton (Shinjuku one, great, we are there in December again). 

This will definitely save you some cruise $'s especially if you book your own hotel.

If you can choose Haneda is a lot nearer than Narita.

We found the underground quite friendly to use to plan our trips just get a good map and people are always friendly and willing to help.

Happy planning

Rosalyn

Thank you for the suggestion !

11 hours ago, BruceMuzz said:

Narita Express train takes you from Narita Airport to Shinjuku Station for about $25 per person in 70 minutes. Shinjuku Station is 2 blocks from Tokyo Hilton.

Free WI-FI onboard.

 

Tokyo Monorail takes you from Haneda Airport to Hamamatsucho for about $3 per person in about 20 minutes. Hamamatsucho to Tokyo Hilton by taxi is about 15 minutes and costs about US$20.

Free WI-FI onboard the monorail.

 

Private car transfer from Narita is about US$150. Takes about 90 minutes.

Private car transfer from Haneda is about US$100. Takes about 40 minutes.

Thank you for your quick reply.  We would rather not be stressed out with having traveled 19+ hours and with our luggage so we would opt for a private transfer. We appreciate the cost information on that from both airports. 

1 hour ago, forgap said:

We have booked the Intercontinental for our pre cruise stay in Istanbul using points.  Our last night is on Regent’s dime (well actually our dime as we paid for it in the cruise fare).  We upgraded to club level for an extra cost and we will keep our room for the Regent night, too.  Easy to do on your own.  

Did you call the hotel to make sure you keep the same room?  We are doing the 2 nights on our own and then Regent has the included 3 night land portion (same hotel). We wanted to keep our same rooms for all 5 nights.  Wondering if that was hard to do.

We just got cleared on the waitlist for our precruise hotel and we were surprised on how expensive it is vs than doing it ourselves.  I do know we would have to pay for a transfer which shouldn't be too difficult to arrange , pay for the air deviation fee of $175/person, the hotel/breakfast itself.... but when I add all those together doing it myself is a lot less costly (around$400).   Am I missing something?

We are booked on a cruise in Mar 2023.  We are leaning towards canceling our additional pre-cruise hotel through the cruiseline and doing it on our own & saving some $$.  I have a question on private car transfer from either Narita/Haneda to Tokyo Hilton. I do see various companies on the viator website but wondering if someone has any experience with a particular company.

Also if someone has a recommendation on companies that would do private tours as well.

Thank you in advance.

25 minutes ago, 1982CruzStart said:

if Regent cancels the cruise then in the past they have refunded the deviation fee or if you transfer the booking to another cruise when they have cancelled they will transfer the deviation fee against the new booking. If you cancel, as Wendy said, the deviation fee is non-refundable. 

Thank you 1982 CruzStart and Wendy for your quick reply.  We wanted to know if Japan happens to not open up to cruises in the Spring of 2023 and they have to cancel but we would already have our deviation request in.  Appreciate the information !!!

Question on the process.  If I request for an air deviation for a trip in Mar 2023 and they give me the route I requested, what happens if the cruise is cancelled (Japan)? Do I get the $175 refunded or just is it credited to when I rebook to another cruise?  I'm assuming that the amount paid for the cruise would be converted to a FCC.

We just learned that Regent is using the Tokyo Hilton for their hotel pre-cruise and pre-free land option. It is waitlisted but we have booked the hotel using the Hilton Honors deal.  We just have to contact the hotel prior to our arrival to make sure we get the same room so we don't have to move when the 3 day Pre-Tokyo Regent portion starts.

Thank you all for all your helpful hints.  I'm not sure which hotel yet.  I've asked for a quote from Regent to compare, but pretty sure it will be less expensive to book directly.  The bus seems like the less expensive way to get to the hotel.  

5 hours ago, RetiredandTravel said:

You can't add the included one night hotel in The Concierge Suite package to the free three night pre cruise package.  We purchased the additional night directly from Hilton (1/2 the price Regent quoted) and emailed the hotel to make sure the two reservations were connected so we didn't have to change rooms.  There is a decent gym for a hotel in the Tokyo Hilton.

We are looking to add 2 nights in front of our free three nights too.  What category of rooms (eg. Executive levels include breakfast) did you book so that you can connect the reservations and not have to change rooms?  Also does the hotel provide a shuttle from the airport?

2 hours ago, shadowlover said:

I found out years ago from steve (my insurance guy) that you only need to insure your deposit and then you add to it as you go.  When you pay your final deposit you need to remember to update your policy. This way you get pre existing coverage without having to shell out a huge insurance payment.  With viking the final payment is so early that you will likely have to update the policy way before the 120 days.  If you're not concerned with pre existing conditions of anyone in your family then you can buy insurance anytime.  

Interesting concept to start with just the deposit….but Viking wants final payment 18 months prior to sailing which is much more than 4 months. 
 

I’m leaning towards getting insurance 120 days prior at this point. 
 

TY for your reply

We are booked on a Viking cruise which is over a year 1/2 away.  We were offered Travel insurance from Viking which included cancel for any reason & pre-existing conditions if booked within 15 days.  
 

The price is pretty good considering the above coverage. The cruise is in 2024 & if we book the insurance, we’d have to pay now. Is it a good deal?

I heard that all US citizens (tourist) will now need a visa to enter Japan.  Is that a temporary requirement? Our cruise in not until Mar of 2023.