kjets

Tranquility have you seen this trip advisor post? We're meeting friends for breakfast. They are disembarking on the day that we are embarking and we may have to put our luggage into storage for a few hours.

https://www.tripadvisor.co.nz/ShowTopic-g298173-i5001-k9759068-Osanbashi_Luggage_Storage-Yokohama_Kanagawa_Prefecture_Kanto.html

I know I've seen the storage locker info elsewhere too but just can't find it now, darn it!

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Despite the incredible efficiency of most things and people in Japan, it seems that Japanese Immigration never received the memo.

They seem to make every effort to make immigration procedures as slow and aggravating as possible.

When ships are cruising around Japan, ALL passengers are required to go through face to face immigration checks at nearly every port - even when the previous and next port calls are Japanese.

Be sure to take your passport with you whenever you go ashore.

Every cruise we've been on, the ship holds our passport! Do they not hold our passport if cruising out of Yokohama?

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We have done it a few times. The last time I had had a stroke two months prior to our cruise, I was 50yrs old.

I did have some issues but told them when I signed up.

Someone came and interviewed me and I did some walking and a few stairs and they decided I would be ok, and if it got too much to let them know.

I was slower but everyone got to spend longer at each spot so a win win for all.

We used the lift when we could and they were very accommodating.

We were on Dawn Princess and as it was so humid in the ports I was unable to do most port excursions. So we looked at the UST as one of our excursions.

Love love love the tour!

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And at Phu My when you walk the 200mtrs there won't be any taxis waiting out there. It's also a long way to walk if it's humid.

Better to go with the cruise line excursion or book one privately before you get there.

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Thank you so much Bpos. I'll send an email now.

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If you want to stay local (ie Vung Tau etc) try the following.

 

You do not have to do the Military things as they will organise a tour to suit you needs.

 

longtannuidattours.com

I emailed them one month ago and have had no response.

Not a good start!

A friend uses the Rome to Rio app in Japan and says it explains all details really well, even down to what platform. We're going to give it a whirl in November.

I was on her for 5 days in November last year and the only thing that I saw that needed attention was a leaking ceiling at the top of the stairs in the atrium. There was a bucket underneath to catch the drips. The area was roped off and you just walked around it.

It in no way distracted me from enjoying our cruise. But little things like that aren't going to worry me but some people they do.

I did hear from one other cruiser that they had a water leak in their cabin and had to be moved.

I tend to talk to a lot of people on a cruise and I only heard that one complaint.

The food was great and there was plently to do and lots of films to see as we were on the Travelling Film Festival cruise.

They still had the pizza place on deck 8 which would be good to take your child to. Big kids enjoy a meal there too. :D

That leak in at the top of the stairs in the atrium was there in June last year too.

My Mum had an inside cabin (D607) and it took three days for them to fix the air conditioner. It was freezing in her cabin! This affected about 10 cabins.

We thought Dawn was still lovely. The beds were very comfortable, the food was wonderful, and the crew delightful.

As someone else has said, your cruise will be what you make it! Hope you have a wonderful time.

It will be sad to see her to leave the Princess fleet!

When I went to check where a friend has booked a cabin I notice that when I clicked on the deck plan it asked "Sailing between now and April 20, 2017" and "Sailing after April 20, 2017".

I haven't had a really close look but I can't make out any differences. Can anyone else?

We use Ihab at AEW Tours for our transfers. Highly recommend him!

I agree with Spokane Dan. Japan has a totally different language whereas Singapore's street signs, shops, train stations are all in English.

Singapore is a great place to start when never being overseas before. It is the first place I took my husband for an overseas cruise and he has never looked back. We are going from Japan to Sydney at the end of the year and he is really looking forward to it.

Three years ago I wouldn't have believed that we would still be seeing the world and all because he felt so comfortable in Singapore! Thank you, thank you Singapore!

We missed Nha Trang as it was a tender port as the day was just awful. The captain said that it was too dangerous to tender so we moved on to the next port.

So many people were out of pocket for their private tours.

Since then we have always taken out travel insurance where cancelled tours, which are out of our control, are rebateable.

We are also trying to work out what to do in Nha Trang.

Been looking at a day tour with Emporer Cruises. Has anyone had any contact with them?

Oh Amelia I so hope you are on the mend! The medical centre is really not the place to be girl friend!

Been praying for you.

Hope 2017 gets way better for you and Ken than the end of 2016!

MWA

I am so sorry that your dining experience is not up to standard and I would be letting the Maitre D know what is happening, with no emotion just very nicely and to the point.

How is Moses? Had him in my prayers.

I love reading what you write Amelia. I feel like I am right beside you listening to you. Miss you!

Happy Retirement :D

Hi everybody,

The food improved last night, a formal night. It must be that it takes a few days to get it together, i was happy and even apologized for making a stink (yes I did report that but I was a little off putting:)!

 

The menus are very different than just a few months ago, I missed met springrolls!

 

It's hectic here as there are more than 500 kids on board but they all seem well behaved and my teacher face only came out once, and that was for some unruly adults.

 

I guess I'll start a live, no sense in blogging on a bad food thread. I do miss all my friends here and have been super busy buying and selling our homes.

 

Stay tuned...

Oh Amelia I am absolutely staying tuned for a live blog ...

500 children! OMGosh! Is the Regal as big as Sapphire or smaller like Dawn? I sure hope big like Sapphire! More places to hide :D

So glad the meals have improved - I can't believe that they could serve uncooked chicken! :eek: Imagine how sick you would have been! Oh it's horrible just thinking about it!

Smooth seas, comfortable beds, happy days and safe travel.

PS: Say hi to Ken, Chris and Pat for us

This may be a dumb question, but what are mocktails?

We are interested in the soft drink plus more package and noticed it included mocktails, shakes and malts.

The soft drink and more package is great for us as we get such a variety of drinks from morning till night. Wake up to a hot chocolate, juice at breakfast and throughout the morning, soft drink midday ish, mocktails in the afternoon and evening, and end the day with another hot chocolate! perfect!

We leave Monday and aren't able to make any changes at this stage! Oh well maybe next time!

Wow I didn't even know that Princess had an excursion mark down!

Ours found a button for the waistband of DH's shorts after the ship's laundry did its thing and ate it. But, in general, we generally ask for less service, not more (i.e. no ice, no decorative pillows and covers and no tucked sheets.

Oh PescadoAmarillo thank you for mentioning no tucked sheets! I hadn't even thought to ask! Always looking at more ways to help out our steward as they do such a wonderful job.

Love that you learn so much from this site.

OP thank you for asking this question!

Went and had a look at the 21 days over Christmas/New Year 2017/2018 on Sapphire but it wouldn't let me choose a stateroom! Is this because it is too far out do you think?

If it were me I would plan an extra day in Siem Reap.

IE: Fly in on the 4th Dec.

 

You will probably buy a 3 day pass anyway, they don't sell 2 day passes.

It is very crowded and becomes hot during the day.

If you are all "templed out" on that 3rd day it is still a very interesting area.

 

Overall you will feel less rushed and able to linger longer at some sites.

Accommodation, eating and drinking is not expensive in Siem Reap.

Totally agree! And remember that it mostly rains in the afternoons so there are not a lot of people at the temples then!

To stay in Singapore is very expensive and I would spend more days in Siem Reap so as not to spend lots of $$ on Singapore hotels, as well as gives you a slower pace to have a good look and relax.

Anyone got any info since my last post please?

We had him on Sapphire Princess Dec 2014 and Jan 2015! We thought that he was terrific!

DH and I stood watching the patrol with their dogs sniffing bags. Some people were freaking out with the dog coming their way, and they were frantically tossing food into the garbage cans. To us, that was worth at least $50 for an excursion just to watch that! Cruise lines should have that as a booked excursion "See how dogs confiscate food." It would be a sell out!:D

Hahahahaha - I'm in!