Northern Aurora

@TVA: The situation I mentioned has no relevance to your situation. We were on the Edge for a B2B2B series as the ship repositioned from the Mediterranean to Australia. Since we went through the Suez it was an unusual set of cruises and over a thousand passengers did multiple legs. When we boarded in Citiveechia our visas were checked for the first leg but not for following legs so a number of passengers slipped through. And let me state again that there was little sympathy from the onboard concierges for those passengers trying to upload photos for their visas needed at future port calls. I am posting from the Celebrity Millennium as we near the end of a B2B set of cruises in Japan. We are in Aomori, Japan today. Both cruises overnighted in Osaka, and that was one of the few ports which did not check our passports. In the bulk of Japanese ports you will be asked to show your passport in the cruise terminal, but do not confuse that process with a full immigration process. We did B2B cruises in Japan in 2018 and I do not remember this frequent passport check, but the world was a different place then. Yesterday we underwent a full immigration and customs inspection in Hakodate as the ship returned from Busan. For those with no status nor on a Celebrity shore excursion I can only wonder at the amount of time folks stood in line. We were escorted to the front as we are in a Suite and are also Zenith level loyalty members. I have no idea if Celebrity will allow your mother to board with only a visa for Japan. If there was some sort of medical emergency and they needed to take your mother to a hospital in Korea Celebrity would have a serious problem. Not having that visa is a liability for them. And please don’t wait for an email response to your question. You need to be on the phone. And write down the name of the person you talk to. Good luck.

While we also have enjoyed a number of the drinks (with alcohol) already mentioned, a favorite mocktail is the minted lemonade. No alcohol, but a bitter sweet flavor with bruised mint and great on a warm weather itinerary.

We are presently on Millennium. We are not smokers, but according to the Celebrity Today designated smoking areas are on deck 4 forward port side, deck 10 port side and deck 11 Mast Bar port side.

You really need to call celebrity yourself or have your travel agent contact them. Last fall we spent 40 nights on the Edge from Rome to Sydney. A number of visas were required (Jordan, India, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Australia). A surprising number of passengers were on board without the required visas, and the attitude on the ship was not sympathetic. Celebrity’s position was that the passengers are responsible for obtaining their proper paperwork.

I am presently on the Celebrity Millennium. When we landed at Haneda we used a taxi to reach the hotel. The drive was about 45 minutes. Retreat concierges are telling folks that there will be one coach shuttle to the Haneda airport. One of the concierges says it leaves the pier at 7:45 am while the other (more reliable one) says it leaves at 8:10 am.

I am posting from the Millennium on the second leg of a B2B. While the second leg used Osanbashi for embarkation we used the terminal on the island when we boarded in late March in Yokohama. So while Celebrity generally uses Osanbashi occasionally they do not. Pay attention to your e-docs.

Celebrity uses Pier 91 in Seattle. @Ferry_Watcher works there and can provide advice.

We love reindeer sausage. It will be easy to find.

We have used the Seattle light rail many times through the years, and have always felt comfortable.

If you are willing to rent a vehicle for the day and the weather is nice definitely consider Hatcher Pass and the Independence Mine State Historical Site. Also research Matanuska Glacier to determine if that might be of interest.

I am glad that there was no sentimental value. But I suspect that a housekeeping staff member had no idea that it was some sort of marker for a kiddo.

We also use the dry cleaning frequently. Never had a problem.

We have done two land trips and one cruise to Iceland, and still have more to see. In addition the ideas already mentioned consider the Settlement Exhibition. Due to the sagas historians think they know which of the original families built this house. And we also like the area around Vik and have stayed at the Icelandair hotel at Vik for several nights.

We have been on over 70 Celebrity cruises, so it was very interesting to read your perspective as a first timer on X. And I also suspect that your magnet was not stolen by a passenger but was removed by a housekeeping staff person. While some folks feel the need to decorate their doors I have never seen a magnet in a hallway. If you had dropped by Guest Relations (lost and found) they probably had it.

I also remember the bags of popcorn in Celebrity theaters, but have not seen that in many years. Also wonder if the practice was stopped due to the mess left on floors,

In September be prepared for rain. Dress in layers with a waterproof (not water resistant) outer layer. Layers are also the key in Alaska. Folks on Alaska itineraries tend to dress more casually than on a number of other itineraries.

Goggle maps seem to be highly inaccurate in Alaska. Your taxi ride from the Anchorage airport to the Captain Cook will be around twenty minutes. uber is now legal in Alaska. There was an issue with our wage and hours laws which had to be modified so Uber could legally operate. Taxis will also be available outside of baggage claim.

We are also Zenith Captains Club members and use the free laundry perk continually. We are presently on a ship and sent out laundry yesterday. Items included a pair of my jeans, a pair of my 6 ft. husbands pants, two long sleeved shirts, several sets of underwear and socks. Easily could have fit more items in the bag.

You will want to be onboard two hours before embarkation when first boarding. Remember that you will need to watch the safety video and report to your muster station. All passengers need to do this before the ship will depart Seward. The Seward cruise terminal is a warehouse type of structure. It will be rather empty of passengers until the ship chartered Alaska Railroad train from Anchorage arrives about 5pm. That transfer is very popular. If you arrive before the rail transfer there will be no lines. And the checkin procedure Celebrity developed after Covid is incredibly smooth — virtually no lines no matter where you embark. If you arrive before the train you will essentially walk on board, deliver your carry on bags to your stateroom and start to explore the ship.

Anytime dining certainly is available on Celebrity and Silverseas. While there may be some cruise line which still only offers traditional fixed seating I do not know which one that would be.

Every one, and I really mean literally everyone, sitting in the Retreat Lounge, heard the complaint. She is very upset. Just hope she can accept the situation. These concierges have such difficult jobs. And they cannot move her as the suites are full. And from what we have heard the ship is sailing at capacity. But I am not sure that an inside cabin would make her happy either. The height of a bathroom sink is what it is.

@DaKahuna: On this B2B the dedicated butlers have not returned. But the “head butler” is doing a nicer job than the “head butler” we had for 40 nights on the Edge last fall. Much nicer job. We find Japan itineraries so different than itineraries in places where local folks are indifferent to cruise ship visits. Folks in Japan (including shops and restaurants) clearly appreciate the business. And the friendliness and hospitality of the Japanese people is truly amazing. We were in Japan in 2018 and my husband has been to Japan several times on business. Fellow passengers who have not been to this wonderful country are amazed. This B2B we have been treated to fireworks, local performances from high school bands and as we left Osaka tonight a local Taiko band (not the group which has performed in the theater) performed on pier. Even local folks waving flags when we either depart or arrive. Again on this leg we have at least one Japanese tour company on board. Two tables for their hosts/coordinators on deck 3. There is no dedicated section on the Oceanview for Japanese cuisine, but there is some on board. Just have to search. A number of Japanese beers are stocked. Even though we have some needy folks in the Retreat Lounge on this leg, the ship has a pleasant feel to it.

If you have much experience with Luminae (we hit Zenith level in 2016) than you know that technically neither Luminae nor Blu (Aqua class) take reservations. But we tell the maitre ‘d our preferred dining time, and they try to accommodate it.

@Carried_Away: What you described in your post sounds perfect. We do take very lightweight gloves and hats. A hooded sweatshirt substitutes for a hat. And since we already own them we pack fleece vests.

So many questions. I will try my best but my I-pad keyboard has suddenly decided to act up. I have not observed the Blu menu in Luminae. They are routinely bringing the MDR to folks. Hotel Director Andea Muegge has worked for Celebrity for over a decade. She is originally from a town near Hamburg, Germany. Possibly the most hands on of the HDs. I am not aware of any other HDs with the same first name. At least one of the Retreat Concierges will be onboard until October. They have been preparing very nice summaries of attractions for each port for the Retreat guests. We rarely do anything shorter than a B2B, and I always find it interesting as to how the “tone” of each leg can be so different. Several of the current Retreat Guests need a great amount of handholding, and one person is very angry regarding her suite; suites are full so they cannot move her. And they also cannot change the height of the bathroom sink in her suite. One of the Captains Club hosts told me last cruise that we had 600 or so North Americans on board with a similar number of folks from the UK. A significant number from Australia and New Zealand too. And I am guessing that we have around 600 or so Japanese citizens too. A number of Japanese families with young children in strollers. The ship has been tastefully decorated with Sake casks in the Ocean View and Cellarmasters. Some vases of cherry blossoms (silk). A scattering of “hello kitty” figurines. Japanese beer is readily available, and the miso soup in the buffet is delicious. We overnighted again in Osaka last night, and the same Taiko drummers performed last night at 7 and 9 pm. They performed last cruise in Osaka too. Really well received.