Trekking the Globe with Bill & Mary Ann on the 2017 World Cruise - 126 Days

[WCB]

Report #37 Sailing Towards Guam February 6, 2017 Monday Overcast & 80 degrees 23 Pictures

 

Sometimes it seems that everything happens on the same day. Today was one of those days.

 

Shortly after breakfast, we paid a visit to the Queen’s Lounge to check out how full it was. The game had begun by 9:30am, so just about every seat was taken. Except for those seats that were $50 for the duration of the game. But remember, you got free drinks, food, and butler service. Roger, the beverage manager, saw us enter the room on deck four, and offered to seat us in the special box seats. We thanked him, but we had no intentions of staying.

 

We did go back to our room, and watched the game until half time. Sure looked like the Falcons were going to have an easy win. Figuring we could watch the game later that would undoubtedly be re-run on TV, we went to the pool.

 

Sure was a hot one out there today. It’s no wonder that most folks stayed inside to watch the game. We have a new little trick. Now we bring a spritz bottle with ice cold water to help cool us down. Dipping a towel in some water also helps, especially if you roll it up and put it under your neck. A few days ago, the deck kids were passing out ice cold washcloths, but that only lasted one day.

 

Some of our buddies came back to the pool during the fourth quarter of the game, and confirmed that it looked good for Atlanta. However, we were so surprised that New England turned things around at the end to win the game. Glad we were not betting on that game. Actually, some of our tablemates did buy squares ($10 each) to bet on the game. A few years ago, Jim and Maureen bought one square and ended up winning $450. Sure hope they had good luck today.

 

We weren’t too hungry, so we had a salad and split a sandwich in our room around 3pm. The food and the service has been excellent.

 

The sun was going down after 6pm, so we made our way outside to watch it. The temperatures were still high, and there was little breeze. But the good news was that there was a much better display of color in the sunset tonight.

 

A few days ago, we received an invitation to a VIP party for the President’s Club members only. It was held at 7:15pm on deck three around the atrium. We wondered how they would isolate this area for our group without having people passing through to get to their rooms. It was easy…..they closed the fire doors at the end of each hallway, and cordoned off the elevator area.

 

When we arrived, we found Henk and Captain Jonathon greeting each and every one of us as we entered the atrium. No handshakes, but hugs were OK. Several of the tented tables they use around the Lido Pool, had been set up around the base of the clock. One table had the wines and glasses, and the others had the appetizers. Smaller high tables had been scattered around the perimeter where we could snack and drink in little groups.

 

Meeting the new Culinary Manager, Florin, he told us that he recognized us from the last two Tales of the South Pacific cruises on this ship, and even a couple of cruises that we did on the Statendam. Guess while he is sitting at his deck working during most of the day, we walk past his window quite often. So that’s how he remembered us. He told us some interesting details about some of the changes that were necessary to make to comply with new regulations. One of those special affairs we had in the past, had to be cancelled. That was the excellent private kitchen tour, followed by really yummy appetizers of filet mignon, caviar, and deep-fried shrimp. That can no longer be held in the kitchen. He explained in more detail about the deck BBQ’s and the Sunday brunch, and the reasons why they had to re-think that. Anyway, Florin told us that this is his first world cruise, and the best part was that he had his wife onboard for the whole trip.

 

Barb, Don McD, Peter, the purser, and Jacques, the sommelier joined us at one of the high tables. We were having such a good time, that two more officers joined us. Nice to get to know these fellows, because they rarely get to leave the navigation deck.

 

Since we had an invite for dinner tonight, we had to leave for the dining room. Knowing that we might be a little late, Leta and Bill knew to expect us about 10 minutes after the hour. As always, we had a wonderful time with them, ending the evening around 10pm.

 

With the port of Guam coming up tomorrow, there was no 8 or 10pm show this evening. Actually, there was a show……the movie Sully was being shown in the Queen’s Lounge. We missed it when it was on TV a couple of nights ago, but staying up past midnight was not in the cards for us. There had been a 7:15pm show with the Tre Bella girls, but we were at the party. So we called it a night, walked the outside deck a few times around (it was still hot out there), then headed off to our room. Deck one is always cool, quiet, and comfortable.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

[Lynda S]

Report # 35 Sailing Towards Guam February 4, 2017 Saturday Overcast and 81 degrees

 

We had gotten side-lined with doing research on our upcoming overland trip in China. While we were in Ft. Lauderdale, our travel agent had sent a Fed Ex package with our final documents for this private excursion. Since it was “overcast” outside, it was a good time to double-check the updated info. If we had questions, this would be the time to communicate with our agent. Turns out, we will have questions, because some of our inner China flights had been rescheduled with different airlines. Never know how the luggage weight restrictions vary from airline to airline. We always strive to travel as light as we can on these side trips. This one may be different because every stop may have different types of weather. Cold and colder, we suspect. Over the years, we have enjoyed safaris while traveling in warmer climates in Africa, India, and Sri Lanka. This time packing may be a challenge. Good thing we have plenty of time to prepare, since we don’t get to China until February 22nd.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

 

Over the years Mary Ann I have picked up quite a number of very useful tips from you in your blogs & now it is finally my turn to return some of that favor!

 

When you are flying within China - no matter who the carrier is, take extra care to make sure that you have no lithium batteries within your checked luggage - the key word here is 'checked' luggage. We were on a land trip last year similar to where you will be and twice I was asked to go back to a back room while they inspected my luggage. I didn't really know what they were looking for those two times as there was a language barrier, but they searched & then let me go. On one of the instances they did not give me back my boarding pass & I didn't realize it until we were going through security so I had to boot it back to the desk and it almost caused us to miss the plane.

 

The clincher & the answer came the third time - we were flying from Chonqing to Xian and my suitcase did not make it. After getting our guide onto it, and 24 hours & no clean clothes later, he discovered that my alarm clock was being questioned as it had both regular batteries (which I knew about, but they are OK) and a lithium battery that I did not know about. They wanted to toss the whole alarm clock before they would send the bag to Xian, but our guide pleaded with them and said please just toss the lithium battery. They did and later that night I finally had clean clothes! Lucky we were in Xian for 3 days.

The guide had told us about the lithium batteries but I really had no idea my clock had both. And I am so old school that not taking an alarm clock was just not a choice for me.

 

Just for info, we were on China eastern throughout China and we found it a really nice airline to travel on.

 

Now I have a question for you - because of your blogs through the years & a few of the others I am COMPLETELY sold on a world cruise on the Amsterdam when we retire in a couple of years - question - what does the wall clock that you bring along hang by on the wall? I REALLY miss a wall clock on all of my cruises and I would like to buy one for just that purpose. Can you let me know approximately what kind of wall clock I should buy? Battery operated I would imagine?

[WCB]

Report #38 Guam February 7, 2017 Tuesday Partly cloudy & 82 degrees Part #1 Of 2 85 Pictures

 

After several days at sea, we were happy to arrive to firm ground at the island of Guam. It is one of the dependencies or overseas territories of the USA. Similar regions are American Samoa, Baker Island, Johnston Atoll, Kingman Reef, Midway Island, Palmyra, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.

 

The capital is Hagatna, and the population is 178,000. Two languages are spoken here….English and the ancient native Chamorro. The total area of this island is 212 square miles, and we happen to be visiting during their dry season which is December through March. During the wet season, they can get as much as 110 inches of rain in a year. Although, it was apparent that it can rain anytime here, since the dock area was under two inches of water. You might want to stay away during the months of October and November, because Guam is located in “Typhoon Alley”. Another impressive fact is that this whole area is situated near the Mariana Trench, the deepest waters in the world.

 

The entire island is filled with WWII history and so are the surrounding waters with sunken ships and aircraft from both American and Japanese forces. These days, turquoise reefs and white sand beaches attract mostly Japanese tourists, escaping the bitter cold of their country this time of year. They also come for the flame trees in bloom, waterfalls, and exciting diving. Card rooms for poker, and duty-free shopping is a big draw as well.

 

Things to see here include towering latte stone pillars, believed to be ancient remnants from the first houses on Guam centuries ago. See Talofolo Falls from a wooden swing bridge, or check out Chamorro Village National Market, where unusual woven items are sold. Actually, our friends went to a smaller version of this native village, and discovered that these woven items were indeed made in Indonesia. At least the vendors were truthful.

 

A special local sauce is called finadene. It is made with hot red peppers, soy sauce, lemon juices, and chopped onions. And their drink that goes with it is “tuba”, a fermented sap of a young coconut tree.

 

Originally, the local authorities were to board the ship right after 8am. However, we understand that time here is more like the “hang loose” time in Hawaii. So the check for immigration was delayed for almost an hour. We had all gotten a letter with a number on it for a time we would be called to go through the check. They always start with number five, but the numbers can run into the 20’s. We had been given # 7, which should have been “S”. Christel did note that we were President’s Club, and gave us permission to go anytime.

 

After breakfast, we took our signed forms and headed up to deck five, and the upper dining room, where the check-in took place. Christel waved us right through, where we picked up our passports, then proceeded to the custom agents. It was done quite well, but we understand that earlier in the morning, impatient people were getting testy with each other as the line extended all the way to the casino.

 

Because this check was running late, the tours were an hour late in leaving, so our departure time was extended to 6:30pm. Captain Jonathon state that we were close to Saipan, tomorrow’s port of call, and we could make up the time getting there by 8am tomorrow.

 

We ended up leaving the ship by 9:30am, and took the waiting free shuttle bus for 18 minutes to the Guam Premier Outlets. Familiar stores were Ross, Levi’s Outlet, Forever 21, Calvin Klein, and Tommy Bahama to mention a few. Some of the nicer stores were footwear, such as Famous Footwear, Naturalizer, Nike, Nine West, and Tommy Hilfiger. The most crowded store had to be Ross, Dress for Less. There had to be 50 people in line with shopping carts full of various clothing. Could not help but notice that the vast majority of customers were Japanese. Makes sense, because they can buy quality clothing here compared to buying clothing in Japan. Everything in Japan is expensive. Good thing there were almost 20 registers in Ross to handle the over-flow.

 

The majority of folks that had come over to this mall from the ship came here to find free internet. They did locate it in the mall, but we heard that the more people that came, the slower the service got. We never do this because frankly, we would rather spend our time doing something else. Don’t know if a lot of folks ended up going elsewhere for the service. Someone on the ship mentioned that not all wifi is secured in this outlet mall.

 

Noticing that there were more shops a block away, we went exploring to find several restaurants, more strip mall businesses, and even a warehouse store, similar to Costco. We were able to find corn chips and a few more cans of dips.

 

It was nearing noon, so we headed to Ruby Tuesday for a burger and cold sodas. At home, we do not have this chain, so we chose to by-pass the pizza place, because it was a counter-service restaurant. We split a bacon cheeseburger with fries, and one dessert of lumpia…..deep-friend bananas served with vanilla ice cream. Sure was good.

 

Reading some of the brochures we got at the entrance to the outlet mall, we found the bus schedule for the free shuttle that goes between the Tumon Sands Plaza and the outlets stores. This shuttle took folks to another mall that lines Tumon Bay. Parked right next to this shuttle was a trolley that had a charge to it. This trolley went to the second shopping area with high-end shops. However, if you wanted to ride it, it would cast $4.00 one way. If you wished to take this shuttle both ways and get off at various locations, it would cost $12 per person. One couple we know, only took the round trip on the expense tickets, and was trying to sell them for half price. Don’t know if they had any luck, but we have to give them credit for being creative.

 

We really did not need anything, so we headed back to the ship, taking photos all the way. If it wasn’t so hot outside, perhaps we might have made our way to Tumon Bay and the row of nice hotels on the ocean. Our friends were pretty impressed with what they saw on their taxi tour of this area of the island.

 

We checked the aft deck at 4:30pm to see if the sail away party would be taking place even if we were not leaving yet. Turned out, it had been delayed until 6:30pm. Coming back at 6pm, we stayed until the sun was down. It was even better than last night. For a change, it was pleasant sailing out of the harbor in the dark, mostly because it had cooled down a whole lot. Might be cooler tomorrow if the forecast of rain is correct.

 

At dinner tonight, we all had stories to share of our day in Guam. We all did something different. Only Martha had taken a 3 hour tour, so she filled us in on the history she learned. Others did some shoe shopping, most did emailing for free, and some of us went out to lunch. A good day all-in-all.

 

This evening we tried to catch Barbara’s talk on Saipan on TV, but we could only find shore ex talks on Korea and Japan. This drives us nuts. Wish a channel could be dedicated to each department. Port talks on one, and shore excursions on the other. How hard can that be???

 

Bill & Mary Ann

[WCB]

Report # 39 Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands (Not exactly) February 8, 2017 Wednesday Rain & 79 degrees 1 Picture

 

“Not exactly” means that the port of Saipan in the Northern Mariana Islands was cancelled quite early this morning. We woke up before 7am to turbulent seas, driving winds at 32 knots, and rain pelting our window. The ship was experiencing what we call washboard waves, or as Barb would say…….we are going over the speed bumps. We were only doing 6 knots, and maintaining a distance from Saipan of 6 to 7 nautical miles. Obviously, we were circling the island, perhaps waiting to board the local pilot. That was wishful thinking, because deep down, we knew that this port would be a “no-go”.

 

By 8am, Captain Jonathon came on the speakers to announce the island of Saipan had been cancelled. Apologizing profusely, he said we had no choice, since the seas were too rough to safely gain entrance into the harbor. The decision was not solely his, as the head honchos at the Seattle headquarters make the final call. And as we are not in an area of many other islands, there would be no substitute for today’s port. That would be questioned later on in the day.

 

So, what did we miss by not going to Saipan? Well, it is another island that is a USA territory with a population of about 80,300 people. Smaller than Guam, it measures 184 square miles. The capital is Garapan, and is another popular area for the Japanese tourists. Major resorts and golf facilities have opened up in recent years to draw that lucrative crowd.

 

War history is more associated with this island, because so many battles took place here. Two 3 hour tours ($90 each) were added at the last minute to take folks on easy bus excursions to see the war sites and memorials. The north part of the island has Banzai Cliff, the site where hundreds of Japanese chose to jump to their deaths to avoid capture during the 1944 American invasion. The south has a series of beaches where Sherman tanks landed 73 years ago during the war in the Pacific.

 

On a nearby island, Rota, there are boiling sulphur pools, and a species of birds that use the volcanic heat in the rocks to hatch their eggs. Also of interest, is the Mariana Trench National Monument, where during a certain time of the year, you can spot rare beaked whales as they migrate north or south.

 

The only other activity that had been offered today was a complimentary shuttle to another mall, Galleria Duty Free Mall, about 3 miles from the cruise ship dock. Like yesterday, they promised hosts that could answer questions and perhaps hand out maps and store info. It seemed to work well for many people in Guam, because lots of haircuts and manicures got done onshore. Taxis and vans would have been available as well, and the US dollars would be accepted everywhere. And with so many nice resorts, we are certain that the sun-lovers, like us, could have found a beach to chill out on, and some fine restaurants to dine and enjoy cold drinks. Perhaps this would have been the last chance to swim and enjoy the sun before we headed north into the chilly winter weather. However, even if we had made it to the island, the rain and wind would not have made for a great day on the beach. Oh well, we always figure that things happen for a reason, and the best thing to do is take it with a grain of salt, and make it a good day at sea instead. And besides, look at the port charges we will save on our shipboard accounts……ha-ha.

 

So, while we anticipated a re-do of the Daily Navigator with a revised itinerary for the day’s activities, we headed off to a leisurely breakfast in the dining room of course. Just as we were served our juice and coffee, friends Ellen and Aart arrived and joined us. This was nice, because we had been wanting to ask Ellen about her experiences in Chengdu and the panda reserve that she toured several years ago. We have always remembered how much she liked going there, as it was not a typical overland at that time. She happily recalled how much she liked learning about the pandas and even more so, being able to see Sichuan Province and the city surrounds in Chengdu. As far as the weather was concerned, she had visited in the fall, so cold was not a factor then. Best advice she could give was to plan for very cold, and layer up. And be prepared for rain just in case.

 

We talked about a million other things, and before we knew it, the entire dining room was empty, except for the waiters who were in the process of setting up for lunch. We’ll have to meet again sometime soon, as we all had a good visit. Our waiter, Agung, and his assistants, are so nice to all of us. Never rushing us, they encourage us to relax and enjoy.

 

We caught up on emailing, while catching up on news in our room. We would like that thank jaxonboy for the “heads-up” on our upcoming China overland by sharing your experiences. Also, to Lynda S, thanks for the further details on items that have lithium batteries while traveling on planes in China. That is something we have not thought about as far as what can be placed in your checked luggage. At least we have time for our agent to research this in the next two weeks. By the way, we buy a simple battery-powered wall clock, about $10 at Walmart or similar store. We hang it with a Command hook on the wall in our room above the thermometer. Using a cotton ball soaked with alcohol first insures that the hook will not fail us.

 

Lunch time came too soon, but on days like this, gray and rainy, we like to meet Barb in the dining room for a light meal. And more private conversation. We did it again………closed down the room, just the three of us. Nothing like friends and great food to keep us all happy. The only down news came from Captain Jonathon when he announced during his PM talk that he did not expect conditions to get better for the next couple of days. In fact, it may get rougher. We are truly heading into winter in the North Pacific Ocean…..colder and wetter. Oh yes, he also added that one of the passengers had suggested that an appropriate substitute for missing Saipan might be Iwo Jima. Looking at our world map on our wall, we calculated that it sure did look like it was on the way to Osaka. But not all navigation at sea is a straight line, as the Captain said, it was over 500 miles out of the way, and not possible. Too bad.

 

The rain and wind picked up later in the afternoon, as we found out when we went for a long walk. There were about 6 of us that did not mind getting a bit wet, as we made our way quickly under the dripping tender boats. Water was puddling on the teak decking, so we had to be careful not to slip. To discourage the walkers, the tape had been drawn across the doors on one side of deck three. On the dryer side, a few people had found it was comfortable enough to spend the day on the lounge chairs reading or chatting with friends. Eventually, the weather improved by sundown, and the seas calmed down a bit as well.

 

It was a good time to catch a movie in our room, or get some reading done. Around 4:30pm, we made our way to the Ocean Bar to listen to the band, The Neptunes. Sometimes they play music we like, but other days, it is like merry-go-round tunes. And music from the distant past. Not sure who they are appealing to as far as age groups. All we can say, is that it is well before our time.

 

There was not a whole lot to choose from at dinner tonight. Unless you really like veal cheeks, a spicy chicken dish, or duck spaghetti. Still waiting for the meatballs and spaghetti, which we probably missed when we went to the Pinnacle Grill. There were cards on every table with a message about missing the port in Saipan today, due to unsafe entry conditions. We had a choice of a glass of sparkling wine (not exactly champagne), or soft drinks served with dessert. We have always taken a can of Coke Zero each to be enjoyed during the following day. It has never been a problem until tonight. The new-ish wine steward said we could not have a can each, only one single glass of soda from the fountain. Whaaat? There is no soda fountain anywhere on this ship, and splitting a can between two people is petty. Just about then, Philip, came to our table, and ordered the steward to bring four of us a full can of soda. He said it was not a problem, and apologized for the attitude of the wine steward. Perhaps this is another change since last year’s world cruise. Any other time we have missed a port, the sparkling wine was poured freely after dinner (at least at our table), and we were given two soda cans or two beers each. Believe us, none of us are that old that we don’t remember from year to year what was given. Is it really worth it to insult your base customers? We think not……

 

Another funny thing happened when we got back to our room tonight. After searching the TV for a rerun of the Saipan lecture by Barbara H, we found it on channel 26 or 27. We have been trying for two days to catch it. But….. didn’t we just have the port cancelled today? Oh well, guess we can see what we missed by watching the talk.

 

In the first newsletter, Heart and Soul was the name of the performance to be given by the singers and dancers this evening. That must have been cancelled. In its place was a performer, Spencer Robson, an impersonator of famous singers. The show was promised to be light-hearted, thrilling, with great songs and laughter.

 

Hope tomorrow, another day at sea, will be a nicer one. One thing for sure…….it has cooled off a lot.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

[Pacificlander]

A quick No. California weather update. We've had rain everyday month of February so far. Another large storm due tomorrow. They're predicting 4-6 inches of rain in the Santa Rosa area! Lots of flooding and mudslides. I know it's good for the drought but sheesh! It's feast or famine here. Looking forward to some sunshine in the Caribbean in 11 days!

 

Sent from my ASUS MeMO Pad 7 using Forums mobile app

[Wehwalt]

To supplement what Jaxonboy said about Xi'an, there are city walls you can walk on, all the way around the city (well, the old city anyway). It would take six or eight hours, though. I walked perhaps a mile and a half on the southern end. You could also bike, as he pointed out.

 

If you have any control over your itinerary in Xi'an, I urge you to get to the TC army as soon as it opens. Because soon after that, the Chinese tour groups will start coming in. En masse. All day. Pit 1 is the one that has them all in array like you see in the pictures. People will be trying to sell you little boxfuls of replicas all over, if you like them, bargain them to 5RMB.

 

Any free time in Beijing you don't know what to do with, recommend the Panjiayuan antique market, it is the largest in Asia. Hillary Clinton shopped there once. It's impressive, and of course mostly replica, but still fun.

 

Any Chinese hotel for Western tourists will give you a card with its name/address in Chinese characters as well as popular tourist and travel destinations written the same way. This is essential if you have to, or may need to, take a taxi. Most do not understand anything rendered in western print.

Edited February 9, 2017 by Wehwalt

[Micmac]

I am so sorry you missed Saipan. I have spent a lot of time there on business and think that the beaches are incredible and the most phenomenal sunsets I have ever seen!!! (Guam has the businesses, Saipan has the scenic vistas). I actually logged in just to see what you did on the island!

 

I am surprised that there were no shore excursions there other than the Galeria since they are set up for large groups of tourists (mostly Russian, Japanese, Chinese). Not that it matters since it was cancelled!

[The-Inside-Cabin]

If you could post a pic of the room service breakfast hang tag menu on your blog I would appreciate it. Also wondering if the World Cruise hang tag is now the same as any other cruise.

 

Do they still offer the daily noodle cart for lunch in the lido?

 

Standard coffee was free in the explorations cafe on the world last year, but was not free otherwise. Wonder if that changed.

[WCB]

Report #40 Sailing Towards Osaka, Japan February 9, 2017 Thursday Partly cloudy & 77 degrees 10 Pictures

 

Today was the second day at sea as we head in a northwesterly course towards Japan. We should be in Osaka, our first port in Japan, on Sunday. Since we are doing this stretch for four days instead of three, the Captain has slowed down our speed to around 13 or 14 knots. The further north we go, the cooler it has gotten. Today, with temperatures in the 70’s, will probably be about the last day it will be comfortably warm.

 

Once again, we had the pleasure of dining with friends Aart and Ellen in the dining room. Today’s subject was Africa, where we shared information about various options for safaris while on the 2018 world cruise. Although it seems like a long way away, if you don’t decide on a plan, and make a deposit, you may be out of luck.

 

Two hours later, we were out on the promenade deck, getting in on the last 10 minutes of the On Deck For a Cause 5K walk. It is a non-competitive walk that raises money for six international cancer organizations. Following the walk, whether you do 5K or 5 laps, you can participate in a lemonade party in the atrium, as well as get a t-shirt for your efforts.

 

Today’s lecture given by Barbara H was on Kagoshima, Japan. We are still searching for her televised talk on Osaka, which we will stop at first. We find it maddening that every time we turn on the correct channel, we seem to miss the informative talk, because the tour talks or DVD sales are on instead. Sure would be a good idea to dedicate one channel to each of these talks, or else, you can be stuck in your room for hours waiting to see one specific program.

 

Japanese Yen is for sale now at the front desk. We remember that from our last visit here that only Yen was accepted, no US dollars. Of course, credit cards are widely accepted there we are certain.

 

Lunch time in the dining room had some good choices, so we deliberately had kept breakfast light. Of course, we are with Barb, who had just come back from playing trivia. They have consistently come in 2nd and 3rd with the most correct answers. She has some fun with us by trying to stump us with a few choice questions of the day. Sometimes we surprise her when we know the right answer.

 

We could have gone to the Seaview Pool, but at 2pm, we figured it was a good time to catch a movie in our room. Also a good time to start notes on upcoming ports in Japan and Korea. Today turned out to be a day full of movie options. In the Wajang, you could see “Hands of Stone” at 5pm, 7:30pm, and 10pm. Instead of a live show, they had the movie “The Magnificent Seven” in the Queens Lounge, shown twice at showtime. We assume it is the newer re-make of the old version, which was a classic with famous actors.

 

We ducked outside around 6:30pm to chat with friends Shirley and Jack, and also wait for the sunset. There were way too many dark rain clouds for a good sunset, but we did see some color briefly. The Captain mentioned during his talk this afternoon that we can expect to encounter some deep swells and not-so-nice weather by tomorrow afternoon. We will be hitting a different current, which will produce winter-like weather with seas to match.

 

Dinner found Martha MIA. She was dining with another friend upstairs this evening. It was pretty quiet at our table, as we all had a relaxing day. For our entrees, we both had the mustard-glazed rack of pork with a spicy BBQ sauce. Sure was good with buttermilk mashed potatoes on the side. As if we don’t have enough, our head waiter Endrian, always serves us a variety of steamed veggies like green beans, cauliflower, broccoli, asparagus, and carrots. He is determined to keep us healthy. And it seems to be working……….

 

We might be digging out our winter clothing from under the bed in the next few days………..

 

Bill & Mary Ann

[WCB]

Report # 41 Sailing Towards Osaka, Japan February 10, 2017 Friday Cloudy & 73 degrees 19 Pictures

 

Who knew that the seas could turn so turbulent as we headed basically north towards Japan. Even though Captain Jonathon had warned us that the winds could reach 40 to 50 knots across the decks, we did not expect the gale force of 7 on the Beaufort scale. As the day went on, the promenade deck doors were taped off, with a warning that it could be dangerous and slippery outside. Has that ever stopped us? Well, no, but we knew to be most careful when we went outside later to get some great photos of the wave action. The chill in the breeze sent us inside after staying outside for ½ hour or so. Instead of laying on towels, the die-hard guests that take to the teak lounges were wrapped in blankets instead. The best spot on the lower promenade deck was at the back, out of the driving winds and the resulting spray from the tops of the waves.

 

At breakfast this morning, we asked Presty how many folks were leaving in Osaka, the end of another segment. He stated that 44 would be leaving, while 60 were getting on. He added that the largest turnover will be in Hong Kong, the half way point of the world cruise. Then, when we reach some of the last ports in the Mediterranean, many of the European guests will be heading home, leaving us a smaller number heading transatlantic.

 

Since our time is like 18 hours head of Pacific time, we have been trying to watch some TV talk shows at 11am in our room. That works out just about right to make it to the dining room for lunch. Today, we went, as usual, around 12:15pm, and waited for Barb, who gets out of trivia at 12:15pm. She had a surprise treat for us, since she came in with Aart and Ellen. So we re-located to a table for five, and had another marathon lunch. It seemed to all of us that the rocking and rolling was getting worse. You almost had to time yourself to successfully make it up and out of your chair without stumbling. One good thing is that none of us get seasick. We sort of noticed that there were far fewer folks out and about today. Bet they are staying in their rooms instead.

 

It was a good time to watch a movie before dinner. Even if it was a cartoon movie, it was good. Dinnertime followed afterwards, and it was “gala”. Not sure too many people were into dressing up tonight, as it was not a theme evening. Most definitely, there were many empty tables when we walked into the lower dining room. However, we always forget that we are a “fixed” table in the open-seating 5 to 9pm dining. The majority of folks had already been here and left by the time we enter.

 

The best thing on the menu, in our opinion, was the prime rib with mashed potatoes, carrots and beans. Although Martin’s and Jim’s lamb shank looked pretty tempting. Maybe, next time. We also had repeat guests with the 3rd officer, Frank, and his fiancée, Christina, join us. Nice to know they enjoyed their last visit with all of us, and wanted to come back. Also, there was another Captain’s Dinner tonight, and Frank and Christina were available to come here.

 

Shortly after we placed our order, the wine steward served white and red wine to all that were interested. We always take perhaps ¼ of a glass full for the toast. Anyway, the ship took a sudden jerk, and over my wine went…..over the salt and pepper shaker and the bread basket. Good thing it wasn’t dumped into someone’s lap. Why just mine went over and the other ten glasses did not is a mystery. So for the rest of the evening, we held on to the wine and water glasses just in case. Frank pretty much indicated that these seas will continue, and the temps will be falling further tomorrow. We asked if rain was in the forecast, and he hesitated and said he was not allowed to mention that. He did say that he heard it was snowing in Osaka. Now we are glad we brought our down jackets, gloves, and scarves.

 

The clocks went back another hour tonight. Can say we don’t mind that at all.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

PS John R……thanks for the info about Guam, especially about the ship that was docked across from us. Never would have guessed that it was a provisions and mail ship.

[WCB]

Report #42 Sailing Towards Osaka, Japan February 11, 2017 Saturday Partly cloudy & 71 degrees 16 Pictures

 

There was no way that the temperature was going to be 71 degrees today. Try 48 degrees with rain and sleet at 10am. Winds reached 9 on the Beaufort scale, which dropped the temperatures even more. It is hard to realize that just three days ago, we were sweating in steamy Guam, now we are literally freezing as we near southern Japan. We are prepared with warm clothing, although many people we know are not. The shops onboard have plenty of jackets and sweatshirts for sale, so they should do well.

 

We heard later today that there were 60 mph winds last night. That along with crashing waves against the ship, kept lots of passengers awake….including the Captain. Because of the extreme conditions, the Captain was on the bridge most of the night getting us through the worst of the seas. During his PM talk, Captain Jonathon promised that the conditions would improve, as he had steered the ship away from the worst of the waves and wind. That would take us slightly off course, but he assured us that the docking time in Osaka would be the same……about 8am.

 

Here is a bit of info about Japan. Tokyo is the capital, but we will not be stopping there on this trip. Too bad. The population is 127,100,000 living in an area of 145,875 square miles. And of course, the language is Japanese.

 

If you think of Zen gardens, sumo wrestlers, bullet trains, geishas, and Shinto shrines, you think of Japan. They also have space-age cities, or beach-fringed tropical islands, and forest trails on snow-capped mountains. With this weather, we may see snow tomorrow….something we usually never encounter on a world cruise.

 

If you want to see Japanese quirkiness, you’ll find that it is a nation that sells underpants and neckties in vending machines. No kidding. One wonderful aspect of visiting Japan in the spring is seeing the cherry trees in full bloom. Unfortunately, we are too early for that spectacle.

 

The best time to visit is March to May to avoid the winter snow and the summer rain. Our first trip to this part of the world were in the spring and again in the fall. Both were memorable visits with comfortable weather.

 

Things to see begin with the capital of Tokyo with an unbelievable crush of humanity. We have never been to a shopping complex that was wall-to-wall people…..a sea of black hair. That was all we could see as we got mixed in with the crowd.

 

Historic Kyoto with ancient mausoleums in Nikko National Park, and the old capital of Japan, Nara, is fun to explore. Wild deer roam the parks there, and you can actually buy “deer cookies” to hand feed them.

 

Things to do are slurping noodles, as it is not considered impolite to do so. You can hike through the cedars on Yakushima Island, or learn many lessons with a visit to Hiroshima and Nagasaki. We have seen both and found the visit comparable to the visit to Pearl Harbor in Hawaii.

 

What is there to eat? Raw fish, sashimi, wafer-thin slices with soy, wasabi, and preserved daikon radish. Their favorite drink is shochu, the national spirit of Japan, or sake, Japanese rice wine sometimes served hot to infuse the senses.

 

Trademarks include Mt. Fuji, ninjas, sumo, sushi, geishas in kimonos, bowling, and Cosplay (whatever that may be). Also trademarks are cherry blossoms, earthquakes, and the legacy of WWII.

 

A random fact is saying NO is considered confrontational in Japan. Most Japanese say “tabun” meaning maybe instead. Sounds better, doesn’t it.

 

Some tours were offered tomorrow. We have been on several of them and would highly recommend seeing Osaka Castle and Temple for $80. Nearby cities of Kyoto and Nara both have interesting things to see such as the Nijo Castle with the nightingale floors. Why are they called that? Wooden floors were made the squeak so if there were invaders, you would hear them walking on the floors outside the inner rooms. Clever. Anyway, both of these tours run around $200 and do include lunch. A trip to Fushimi and Uji shares info on sake brewing and the chance to photograph the Uji-Bashi Bridge, a most famous sight. A new tour was added for those who cannot walk too far. It’s more of a sight-seeing tour from the bus with little walking for 2 hours for $100. If the temperatures are in the 30’s tomorrow, that might not be a bad idea.

 

Today was a re-run from yesterday. Lunch with Barb, a couples of brisk walks, computer work, and watching a few movies. We had hoped to catch Barbara H’s talk on Osaka on TV, but it was not on. We went up to her desk later , and asked why. It was obvious that she had been questioned by many others before us, because she recommended that we put a complaint in at the front desk. In the past, she always had her own channel, and re-running her talks was not an issue. Now, with her talks mixed with two other shows, it is hard to find her lecture that would give us practical info on the port and surrounding areas. A must for going off on your own, as we plan on doing.

 

Only six of us were at dinner tonight, but what a treat we had when we found ribeye steaks on the menu. Five of us ordered one, mostly as a test, to see how good they might be. We were not disappointed. It was difficult finishing such large steaks, but we all did a pretty good job of it.

 

We are all going to be glad that we will have two full days in Osaka, and not sailing in rough seas for a while.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

[SFO Peter]

Is there another Nikko near Kyoto? The one I know is closer to Tokyo. A good trip from Osaka is to take the slower train to Kyoto. This train puts you right downtown Kyoto near the river and very close to the Geisha district. And check out the Fish Market!

Edited February 12, 2017 by SFO PETER
better wording

[WCB]

Report #43 Osaka, Japan February 12, 2017 Sunday Chance of snow & 34 degrees Part #1 Of 3 77 Pictures

 

We knew it would be cold in this part of the world, but we sure did not expect snow. With a recorded temperature of 1 degree Celsius, there was no doubt that it could snow today. So when the ship was nearing the port of Osaka, we bundled up and went to the lower promenade deck to watch our entry.

 

The local firefighting boat escorted us with their hoses spraying as a welcome sign. Once docked, a Japanese brass band played on the dockside for all of us who braved the cold weather. It sure must have been cold for them there, but they never missed a beat. Even a TV cameraman was set up with his equipment filming all of us as we clapped for the musicians. Once the ship was secured, we quickly went inside to enjoy a nice, hot breakfast with lots of hot coffee.

 

There was a mandatory immigration inspection for everyone onboard in the terminal. It was supposed to begin right away, but for some reason unknown to us, it was delayed for an hour. We believe the all day tours would go off first, followed by the guests with number 5 through 21 or so. Since we had “S”, we could go off any time, as long as we cleared by 9:30am. No one would be allowed back on the ship until each and every one of us had been seen by the officials.

 

We hung out until 9:30am, still waiting for numbers to be called. Only a few were by that time. Taking everything we would need for the day, we wore our down jackets, water proof shoes, and the most important things….our declarations form, the immigration forms, and our passports.

 

The line in the terminal zig-zagged like Disneyland, although with several agents working, it went rather quickly. Everything is done electronically here, as you would expect. We had to put our index fingers on a scanner for two possible reasons. One was to record our body temperature, and the other may have been for recording fingerprints. Since we had filled out the forms correctly, we passed the inspection, but not until our photos were taken. Finally, we were free to go.

 

But first, we needed to gather as much info as we could find in the center across from the ship. They were a treasure trove full of just what we needed. And more. Besides maps, brochures, and instructions, they were selling a one day pass to the Subway, new tram and buses. Because today was Sunday, the pass cost 600 Yen or $5.36. It would be good all day on any of the city’s lines. What a deal.

 

Making our way out of the dock area, we located the Subway station, which was in the Tempozan area. Also here is the Tempozan Ferris Wheel, measuring 369 feet high with a diameter of 328 feet. Each basket or cabin holds up to eight people, and there are 60 cabins. For one complete revolution, it takes 15 minutes. The ride cost 800 Yen, or $7.14. Another good deal. We were here in Osaka, by the way, twice back in 2002. The first time was on the inaugural cruise of the Star Princess, then again in October, while on the Volendam’s Asia/Pacific Explorer cruise. Cannot believe it has been 15 years since we were here.

 

Another huge attraction here is the Osaka Aquarium, perhaps the largest aquarium in the world. It has 27 tanks in 16 main exhibits with marine life from several habitats. The volume of water used in these tanks is 10,941 tons. The largest fish there is a whale shark.

 

Tempozan Marketplace is a shopping mall with stores and restaurants. Enough to keep one busy all day, and still be close to the ship. Very nearby, is Universal Studios Japan, similar to their other theme parks around the world.

 

Deciding to see Osaka, we got on the train and headed first to Osaka Castle. Just in case we need to recall the directions to get there, we got on the Subway train at Osakado C-11, and got off at C19. It was a very short walk to enter the complex. Founded in 1496 by a high-ranking monk, the residence eventually became Osaka Castle. That is until it burned down in 1580. It was rebuilt in 1583, only to fall once again during a war in 1615. It was re-constructed once again in 1620, taking over 10 years to complete. That lasted until 1665, until the main tower was struck by lightning, and destroyed by fire again. Re-built, it was used by the army until 1931. Although it suffered a lot of damage during WWII, it was once again restored and became a historic park.

 

We had a good walk to reach the outer gardens, the outer moats, and the inner moat. The outer gardens were massive, planted with bonsai-pruned pine trees and a plum grove. Scattered here and there are shrines dedicated to the monk that began this settlement. One such place showed the stump of a pine tree where he hung his clothes centuries ago. It is all that is left of the former dynasty, now a place of reverence. All the park grounds were full of locals riding bikes and running for exercise. Occasionally, we spotted older folks doing ta’i chi.

 

Following the crowd of Sunday local families and tourists, we went through the Sakura Gate and into the grounds of the castle. It is quite a spacious area that is filled with lunch wagons with local “fast food”. Sure was a great place to get some unusual pictures.

 

The castle itself is best photographed from the outside. We have been inside this structure twice, so we did not choose to pay another 600 Yen to explore the museum this time. We had more fun watching the locals with their little kids, who were walking around with their snacks and ice cream cones. Or another big snack there is called “takoyaki”, little round dough-like balls that were cooked in electric iron pans similar to cupcake tins. We think they are octopus dumplings, although they could have shrimp or other tidbits inside. Different sauces could be drizzled over them. That food truck had the longest line of all.

 

We happened to come across a fellow who was juggling long sharp knives with an apple. He had gathered quite a crowd, when he cut to the chase with a whole lot of antics, and took bites from the apple in between the flying blades. Another neat activity was a warrior-clad young man, who was posing for photos with people dressed in borrowed kimonos. On our way out, people had lined up with their little dogs to take pictures with this warrior holding their pets.

 

It took another ½ hour to make our way back to the Subway. From here, we decided to find our way to ****ennoji Temple. It was necessary to transfer to a different line, but we figured it out. Their transit system is so much like the one in Singapore, we found it a pleasure to ride it. The agents at the ticket exits were most helpful, especially when we were not sure which flight of stairs to take. Sometimes you have to go down one level, then go up two levels around a corner. This was easier, as we returned at C-19, and got off at C-18. There we located the purple line going on T-23 to T-26. The temple was a longer walk this time. So with some help from some local ladies, we finally found the main gate to enter. Two attempts along the way, found us walking into a cemetery with a funeral in process. The difference here is that all of the limos were white.

 

We remembered being at this temple 15 years ago, although at that time of year, it was much more crowded. ****ennoji Temple was built around 593AD. It was the first Buddhist temple in Japan. Like everything else here, it was rebuilt many times over the centuries. There is one gate on this property that has survived since 1294. Now that is old. We figured that this temple and the surrounding grounds are still considered sacred. Many locals were lighting incense sticks, and paying homage to the temple shrines. The oldest part of the temple must have been the holiest, because if you wanted to go inside, you had to remove your shoes. No photos were allowed. The unassuming temple had small rock gardens surrounding the perimeter. It had been raked to resemble waves in water, and was closed to foot traffic.

 

The entire time we were there, a bell was tolling eerily from a very old smaller temple. We had looked later for information on this historic spot, but could find nothing more. One very nice building housed huge brass bowls, where many people were lighting incense, and obviously praying. Today being Sunday, probably gave them the chance to do this. Tomorrow it would be back to work.

 

Except for some malls, there was nowhere to find a place for lunch. Most everything in the temple area was closed for the day. So we back-tracked the same way we had arrived here. The trains were more full by then, and we found there was standing room only. However, on the “C” line, one fellow insisted that we both sit down. Feeling it was more polite to accept the nice gesture, we did just that. It made up for the elderly man that pushed one of us off of the designated line on the floor after going through the ticket machine in the first station. Knowing that the trains hire “pushers” to jam the commuter trains, we took no offense. You can compare it to the “bike lanes” in Amsterdam, where you will get run over by the serious bikers if you trespass into their lane. They are well-marked on the ground, if you are paying attention to that and not looking everywhere else like tourists.

 

We got back to the Osakako station around 3pm, and walked the rest of the way with friends Rich and Peg. Sharing our exploits of the day, it began to sprinkle with a mix of rain and sleet. Seems like we all timed that just right. It was just a passing cloud, so not bad, just cold and colder.

 

Our room was nice and warm, so we ordered two chicken Caesar salads, and made a run to the Lido for a plateful of pizza to enjoy in the room. We have been “pizza deprived” recently, so it was first and foremost on our minds today. Everything “fish” is on the menus locally, but pizza is probably hard to find easily. There are numerous KFC, McDonalds, and Subway restaurants, but no pizza.

 

Working on photos and gathering correct info on our self-guided tour today kept us occupied until the sun went down. Before dinner, we went to deck nine to see the lightshow on the ferris wheel. On the quarter hour, the laser lights put on a series of multi-colored designs that included messages like welcome to Osaka (in English and Japanese), little kitty figures, and many aquarium inhabitants. It was spectacular and mesmerizing, despite the cold. Equally as impressive, was the Aquarium and surrounding grounds lit up like a winter Christmas scene…..all done with white and blue lights. Everywhere you looked in this bay area had high rise buildings lit up as well.

 

Only six of us showed up for dinner. We knew Barb and Martha would be there for the liver, bacon, and onions entrée. Not us, as we ordered the alternate chicken dinner, which was quite good. One of us had the Mohr Im Hemd, or the chocolate muffin filled with nuts and covered with more chocolate. Mint chip ice cream and lime jello worked for one of us. Figured with all of the walking we did today, it was worth double desserts.

 

Martha had taken the longest tour today which headed out to Nara. She said her tour group left one hour late, and got stuck in a traffic jam or accident for over an hour on their way out of town. That’s one advantage of taking the Subway and connecting lines to these cities. If there are accidents blocking traffic, the trains usually get through on time. As a result, she had little time to get ready for dinner at 8pm.

 

Tomorrow, we will explore some other areas we missed today. Head waiters Endrien and Andri suggested the Tenjinbashisuji district (say that ten times), and even gave us the Subway trains to take. All aboard will be 10:30pm, so we have plenty of time to see a lot more.

 

By the way, today is the end of another segment, Honolulu to Osaka. We saw some luggage out in the hall, so 44 folks will leave us tomorrow.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

[easyboy]

I am impressed on how you navigate Osaka by yourselves.

[NordicPrince]

One word: WOW !!!

[WCB]

Report #44 Osaka, Japan February 13, 2017 Monday Partly cloudy & 42 degrees Part #1 Of 2 85 Pictures

 

Today was our second one in the lovely city of Osaka. The nice part about these overnight stays is that you don’t feel like you have to do everything in one day. With no worry about missing the ship, you have more freedom to explore at a slower pace. We did cover a lot of area yesterday, and hoped to do the same today. The good thing is that we have done the customs check already, and today we did not have to repeat the process.

 

At 7am, we checked the temperature outside, and it was only 3 degrees Celsius. Oh yeah, much better than yesterday when it was 1 degree, or 34 F. So we bundled up once again, and headed off to the information center across from the ship. We had intended on purchasing the day pass once again for the Subway, but were told that they were sold out. Didn’t see that coming. The young info gal apologized profusely, but did offer info on how to buy one at the station. How hard can that be? You put money in the machine, and a card comes out.

 

Knowing that she might know where to find a Hard Rock Café, we asked her for directions. Earlier this morning, we had researched the HRC website and found there was a restaurant in Osaka. Yes, she did know where it was, and circled the stop we needed to go off at the Subway. As for the building it was located in, she pointed to the correct side of the street we should find it. Online, we noted that the café was in the Ito Building. As long as we got close enough, surely someone could give us directions.

 

But first, we needed to buy those day passes at the Osakako Station at C11, the same place we started yesterday. Finding the wall of self-service machines up on the platform level, we stood in line behind another couple from the ship. Watching what they did, we got the general idea. Lucky for all of us, there was a button to push for English. Eventually, we figured it out, putting in the Yen, then following instructions to get the card. Today the price was 800 Yen, because Monday through Friday, it costs 200 more than on the weekend. That is still a good deal, because 800 Yen is about $7.14 USD. For that one price each, we could navigate the city all day. And we did.

 

Last night, we had heard about the district with a street full of shops and food markets that resembled the older markets like in Hong Kong. Part Stanley Market, or the Ladies Market, mixed with food and restaurants. We had directions for Tenjinbashisuji and the Tenma area. We got there by taking the Subway to C17, then transferring to the brown line at K15. Going north, we got off at K11 and the place called Tenjinbashisuji. About a half block up the road out of the station, we found the covered street that went on for miles it seemed. This was the special marketplace that we had heard about. Not exactly cheap, this lane was lined with shops that had just about anything you could imagine. Practical stores were pharmacies, 7-11, housewares, toys, and a gazillion clothing places. Services such as barbers and beauty shops abounded, mixed with a few massage shops.

 

Restaurants outnumbered everything else such as KFC, McDonald’s, and everything Japanese of course. There were a few flower stalls, and every plant was quite expensive. The most beautiful of them were the orchids, which did not look real. We had expected to see more food markets, but most places sold fast food instead. We found only one produce stand, and only two tiny grocery stores.

 

A big business here involves gambling. It is called Pachinko, and closely resembles casinos with slot machines. They are numerous and filled with mostly men. The door entrances are usually flanked with bouquets of colorful flowers or balloons.

 

What we could not find were any shops selling Osaka souvenirs. Not one. Searching for a small token such as a keyring or shotglass proved unsuccessful.

 

As for clothing, there was a wide range of shops to choose from. One little store seemed out of place, but caught our eye. They had unusual items from Nepal, with a sweatshirt that looked strangely familiar. Checking inside the store, we found a collection of sweatshirts that were a close match to one I bought at a specialty store in a mall close to our house. Even though they were from the same place in Nepal, the price here was double of what we paid at home. And supposedly, they were half off. Funny that we have come halfway around the world, and found such exotic clothing from all places…..Nepal.

 

By the time we got towards the end of this massive street mall, we decided to turn back. Time was getting away from us, so it was lucky that we noticed an entrance to the Subway up a side lane. We had walked so far, we ended up at another stop. We went down like moles to find the K12 station at Ogimachi. All we needed to do was find the southbound train, and go back to the green line at C17. It was only a few stops away at K15.

 

We only had one leg to get off at Hommachi Station at C16. We knew that was where the Hard Rock Café was located. Once again, we asked the station guard where to find the café located in the Ito Building. He knew right away the direction to go. He motioned us to the stairway and the way to the building. Noticing that we were in the second level of the basement, we found a set of elevators that took us up to the street level. Right outside the doors, we found the HRC on the corner.

 

Hoping to find their menu the same, we thought we might not eat there. But first, we visited their shop and located their city t-shirt. It was priced comparable to everywhere else they sell these collectibles. The same went for lunch, although their choices were different. We were seated in a nice booth, and given the lunch menu. The chicken sandwich with French fries looked the best. It even came with the re-fillable soda included in the price. At 1000 Yen, it was a really good deal. Buying a Coke Zero would have been 480 Yen more. Both entrees came to less than $20 USD. The chicken was all white meat, dipped in a crispy batter, and deep fried. Needless to say, the sandwiches were excellent. Yes, different, but really good.

 

The manager came over to see how we were doing. He spoke perfect English, and told us he was from Nagasaki originally. He was very interested where we came from, so we told him we were on a world cruise. He wanted to know all about it, so we gave him the short version. He adding that he wished to do the same thing someday.

 

It was already close to 3pm, so we thought we better head back. We got back on the train at C16, and took it to C11 and the Osakako station. We still wanted to take some time and roam around the port area at the Marketplace and the Osaka Aquarium.

 

It was so warm inside the Marketplace Mall, that we did not last long. Walking each level of shops and restaurants, we looked into Legoland Discovery Center. It is a playland for kids from 3 to 10 years old. Of course, there is a store next to the playland. We found the entrance to ride the ferris wheel, which was very busy despite the fact that it was a Monday. Didn’t feel the need to go on it this time, since we rode it 15 years ago.

 

Back at the ship, we worked on photos until 4:30pm. Knowing the sun would go down around 5:30pm, we stayed close to the port area by walking to nearby Tempozan Park. Built on several levels, the highest point here is 14.86 feet. The joke is that it is called the lowest mountain in all of Japan. On the water side, we found the fire boat, a coast guard vessel, and a ferry that took folks to the other side. There was no way it was 42 degrees today, as we needed to use our hoods while walking. It had to still be in the thirty’s. And with the cloudy skies, it would surely get colder.

 

The decorative lights were just beginning to come on in the Marketplace. Got some great pictures of the Aquarium and the ferris wheel. We walked all the way to the end, past the Aquarium where we found where the sailing ship, the Santa Maria. It is a replica of the original boat Columbus sailed. You can do a 45 minute harbor tour on this boat for 1600 Yen.

 

Dinner for us was in the Pinnacle Grill restaurant this evening at 8pm. There were few folks in there, so we got excellent service. The food was cooked perfectly, and we were basically done by 9:30pm. We both ordered Caesar salads, one order of crab cakes, and one plate of tomatoes with balsamic vinegar. The entrées we chose tonight were the savory lamb chops, done medium. A small baked potato was served with sour cream, butter, and bacon bits with chives. Desserts were cherry Garcia ice cream with a side of biscotti cookies, special delivery.

 

It was nice to get back to our warmer room tonight, especially a bit earlier than normal. While working on this report, the ship left the dock by 11pm. We are now heading towards Kagoshima, a new stop for us and many others as well.

 

The good news is that we have one day at sea to rest up for another marathon day in Japan.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

[Maureenxx]

Enjoying your reports so much. I'll be cruising to the area this summer and your information on what to see and do and how to get round will come in handy. Don't suppose I'll ever be on a WC; that must be really exciting. Again, thanks for the reports and know that so many enjoy reading them.

[Wehwalt]

I've read that the best place to buy souvenirs of a specific city is the train station. It didn't work out that way the only time I tried it (Kushiro) but I offer it for what it's worth.

[The Other Tom]

Thanks for posting your blog. I'm really enjoying the pics, especially the ferris wheel at night :)

By the way, you had a pic of the Japanese with covered faces. They do this when they have a cold to prevent the spread of germs. Nice touch.

I remember the first time I saw that a friend that was with me thought we were being robbed !

[WCB]

Report # 45 SailingTowards Kagoshima, Japan February 14,2017 Tuesday Partly cloudy & 48 degrees

 

We must begin the morning with a very Happy Valentine’s Dayto all! Red was all we saw when weentered the lower dining room for breakfast. Huge red lanterns and yard after yard of red satin fabric was drapedover the railings. It appears to be aday of hearts, flowers, and perhaps candy…..chocolate…..lots of it.

 

Turns out, we were correct. Shortly after getting back to our room, we had a delivery of two longstemmed red roses along with one three pack of Seattle’s Best Chocolate Bars. Usually, we each got a three pack, but it isprobably better we did not. Way too manycalories. Also dropped off was a lovelycard and a box of See’s truffles, compliments of our travel agent. A very nice gesture. Messages from home were also great…….thanks.

 

The weather has remained about the same as we head towardsour next stop in Japan….Kagoshima, a new port for us. Even though the predicted temperature was inthe forties, we are certain that with the wind chill factor, it was much lowerthan that. We still went outside to getin several walks during the day, but found it necessary to wear the heavyjackets….sometimes with the hood up. Besides one lady that was sitting in a teak lounge knitting, we wereamong a half dozen folks that went outside there today. We don’t expect much of a change fortomorrow.

 

Anyway, the city of Kagoshima is located on the southernmostof the four main islands of Japan. Originally a castle town in the 14th century, Kagoshima was ruled by the Shimadzuclan for 29 generations. Early contactwith the outside world was through Kagoshima. The first to arrive were the Chinese, followed by the westernworld. Christianity come to this areawhen St. Francis Xavier landed in 1549.

 

Kagoshima has an unusual vista with an active volcano in itsbackdrop. Sakura-jima is only a few milesaway. Still sending up steam and minoreruptions, Sakura-jima has an elevation of 3365 feet and is 31 miles around thecrater. In 1914, it was only an islandin the bay. But now it connects to theOsumi Peninsula due to massive lava flows.

 

Geothermal heat provides hot springs, the second largest inthe country. If we recall correctly,there are bigger hot springs in the Northern island, where you can find thesnow monkeys. We had done some researchon this special breed of macaques that like to bath in the hot springs, andwere going to try to see them on a side trip. However, since we were not going to Tokyo, getting there was a challengein the time we had available. Also, thepark where they are located is also a popular ski resort, and we would havebeen dealing with extreme conditions to see the troupe. So we changed our plans, and decided on theChina overland instead.

 

So we plan on staying in the city, and perhaps finding ourway to Shinto shrines, museums, and the ever-present shopping. The good news is that we read in tomorrow’sDaily Navigator there will be a shuttle to downtown.

 

There are five tours offered through shore excursionstomorrow. They range from 4 ½ to 7hours. Short hour tours will go to LakeIkeda, a crater lake facing Mt.Kaimon at 3000 feet. It is sometimes called little Mt. Fuji. Ibusuki Hot Springs are there to take heatedsand baths. Yes, sand baths where youare buried up to your neck with warm, soothing sand (swimsuit and robe-covered). That is followed with a hot Japanese bath,which is a good thing.

 

One excursion goes to Chiran Samuri Houses and a Peace Museum. It is an area where the back round of kamikazepilots of WWII trained to crash their planes into Allied Forces.

 

Another trip goes to Sakurajima Island and a garden tour. The longest tour is the best of Kagoshimawith a lunch. An interesting stop will be made at a “shochu” brewery, where thelocal clear liquor is made.

 

The last tour offered came a few days ago, when theyadvertised an easy activity with a sight-seeing tour of Castle ruins anddowntown with one bathroom stop. It was2 hours for 100. It is a good option forthose with walking problems, or using scooters and walkers.

 

As many times as we tried, we could not find Barbara H’stalk on Kagoshima. The programing hasher mixed with DVD sales and shore excursion info. We paid a visit to Henk (a suggestion fromBarbara herself) and asked why she could not have her own channel. Not making any promises, he said he wouldcheck into it, although, he said there were not enough channels to do that. Later in the afternoon, we found one of hertalks, but it was on Nagasaki for February 16th. Today’s lecture was on Incheon, Korea. It is nice to do these talks ahead of time,but we would like to be able to watch the current port lecture right up to theday before we get there. Or does that make too much sense?

 

We had lunch with Barb again today, sharing our exploitsfrom two days in Osaka. She wassurprised that there was a Hard Rock Café in the city, and said she would havegone there if she had known about it. Too bad we did not see her in the morning, since we had just researchedit then. Maybe next time, if the shipever comes back here.

 

For a change, we got to watch the performance of the dancersand singers at 5pm today. They seem tobe the same kids that were on the Tales of the South Pacific last fall. One of the singers has a voice that carriesfrom the Queen’s Lounge all the way to the Ocean Bar on deck five. It was well attended with the early-seatingguests and some of us late-goers. Due toeating late on Osaka’s first evening, we missed the local performance of IkuraCircus. We were told that parts of itwere OK. We also missed Mariusz, theelectric cello player. His show was heldat 9:30pm, but our dinner ended too late to make it on time.

 

By the way, there were new passengers taken onboardyesterday, and only they had to attend the mandatory emergency muster drill. Works for us. And besides, with the all onboard by 10:30pm, most folks would not be onthe ship anyway.

 

We had a warning that the internet connection on the shipmay be disrupted due to regional limitations in Japan. However, we found the connection trouble-freeand almost fast. Since WIFI was freeeverywhere in the city, we guessed that most everyone was not using the ship’sinternet. That made it better for us.

 

We received some invitations for the upcoming visit from theVIP’s in Seattle. One is an invite to aspecial President’s Club Dinner in the King’s Room with these VIP’s and theCaptain, Hotel Director, and their wives. That will take place on February 21st. The other invitation was a general one for aMariner’s cocktail reception in the Queen’s Lounge. But it will be on February 24th,and we will not be here.

 

This evening was “gala” for Valentine’s Day. And we had company, Peter W, the Purser, who joined us. We have had the pleasure of knowing him for many years, and he is aspecial friend of Barb’s. We all had afine time during the meal, which included nice caviar, lobster, and veal chopsfor entrees. One dessert was too prettyto eat……a chocolate cup with fresh strawberries, blueberries, and whippedcream. Our friend Leslie had stopped bywith two bags of Valentine’s chocolates (Dove, no less). They were shared with everyone at the table aswell as our kind waiters. Serving ten ofus takes time, so Peter was quite happy that our dinner ran past 10pm. That way he escaped dancing duties at theball in the Queen’s Lounge. Besidesthat, we heard that there was going to be a chocolate fountain with dipped strawberriesserved there. Oh boy, what a mess thatcould be.

 

The seas and winds have gotten rougher late thisafternoon. Sure hope we have a good dayin Kagoshima tomorrow.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

[OceanPatter]

Bill and Mary Ann, it probably has been said countless times, but thank you so much for your comprehensive posts. They are invaluable, informative, and such a delight to read. You do all of us a favor by writing so extensively about your cruises. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

[cabinluvn]

I, for one, am living vicariously through you. My husband will not cruise that many days. I have, little by little, increased the sailing days...next one 22 days to Antarctica

 

 

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[NordicPrince]

Bill and Mary Ann, it probably has been said countless times, but thank you so much for your comprehensive posts. They are invaluable, informative, and such a delight to read. You do all of us a favor by writing so extensively about your cruises. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

ditto

[WCB]

Report #46 Kagoshima, Japan February 15, 2917 Wednesday Mostly sunny & 55 degrees Part #1 of 3 85 Pictures

 

The Amsterdam sailed into the huge sheltered harbor of Kagoshima early this morning. As we got near the pier, a very large volcano appeared before our eyes. Actually, it is an active volcano by the name of Mt. Sakurajima. Standing at 3665 feet in elevation, this volcano erupted with a massive explosion back in 1914. The smoke from the top constantly billows high into the sky, and casts a permanent cloud over the nearby mountains and bay. The locals have learned to live with it, and sometimes have to wear masks for protection. There are specialized street sweeping vehicles that vacuum up the ash when it gets bad. We are in luck today, since the gentle winds seem to be taking the ash out to sea.

 

Looks like we were in for a nice day, although there was a chill in the air early in the morning. Best to take the heavy jackets just in case. Today there were shuttle buses available to take us from the isolated pier area to the center of downtown in the Tenmonkan area. Not as large as Osaka, Kagoshima is the largest city in southern Kyushu, having a population of 600,000 residents.

 

The terminal building was more of an information center. Good thing this was offered, because we had a heck of a time trying to gather practical information on how to get access to the sights in the city. Since we usually depend on the ship’s lectures, we are finding that what we hear is not always enough to make us feel comfortable exploring on our own. At least both ports so far in Japan have had excellent maps and printed info for getting around town. The locals behind the desk today were quite willing to answer our many questions. With maps ready to mark, the girls suggested places we could easily walk to from the bus drop off point. Of course we asked where we could find pizza. The youngest gal of the group had an answer for us immediately. An older man quickly added that we were in Japan, and we must try sushi. Allergic to many types of fish, that would not work well for one of us. It’s simply easier to say, yes, we might try that too.

 

Armed with a handful of pamphlets and maps, we tossed around the idea whether or not we needed to buy the transit passes here. We could have taken the subway system, most buses, and trolleys for the entire day for 1000 yen each. That also would have had the ferry to the volcano included as well. Since the guides said we could walk to the sights within 10 to 15 minutes in every direction, we chose to walk instead.

 

There was no line for the bus, so we boarded right away, and were headed into the city after 10am. All of the bus tours had left, so the pier was empty. The ride took about 30 minutes, and we got dropped off right in downtown. There were three local guides waiting for us to debark the bus, and answer questions. They pointed to the direction we needed to go. Crossing at the main street, we came across someone sitting against a light pole, covered with a strange-looking plastic bag. Getting closer, we noticed it was a woman with her possessions in a few bags around her. She was the only down and out person we saw today.

 

Following the flower lined streets, we ran into friends Jim and Jessica, who had just left a small grocery store. They said we had to see the $22 cantaloupes, and $2 apples, each wrapped like a gift. We located the meat and poultry section, and found that a small thin steak that cost $9. There were many shelves filled with sweet items. And lots of chocolate, because they celebrate Valentine’s Day too.

 

We located the ” Tenmonkan” Arcade, which looked like it went on forever. Much more modern than the one in Osaka, it was a place you could get lost. There are side streets off the main drag, each one looking much the same as the last one. Most of the stores were higher end than what we saw in Osaka. And much nicer restaurants. Hoping to find more Pachinko places, we were disappointed that we found none. Maybe we were at the wrong end.

 

We found another information shop with restrooms. They had even more detailed maps with great information. In English too. Somehow, we wandered into the center of the historic part of town at Chuo Park. Here we walked through the park, taking many photos of the monuments, museums, fountains, and bronze statues. Looking towards the side of a mountain, we were drawn to a very tall Terukuni Shrine. It looks more like a portal that Japan is famous for.

 

Tiered on the roadside, were a series of ponds that were full of extra-large koi carp. Semi-tame, they swam over to us looking for food. At least 40 years ago, we had created a koi pond in our first backyard surrounded with rose bushes and lawn. It actually earned us an award for Garden of the Month, which we were thrilled about. In time, however, the running water attracted raccoons, who eventually got every fish we owned. So much for the pond, since after we moved, we never dug another one. We had a swimming pool put in instead.

 

At the base of the mountain and the Shiroyama Observatory, we climbed many stairs to the Tanshoen Garden and two monuments and statues. Flying overhead, were a couple of golden eagles, intent on hunting down some pigeons that were taking shelter in the trees. We were surprised at the absence of birds here, as we only saw a few small ones here and there.

 

Continuing on, we back-tracked to the main Arcade to the wide street where many hotels were located. Very near the Kagoshima Washington Hotel Plaza, we found the pizza restaurant. The name was Affro de Buono, and was situated in the lobby of the hotel. Quite a small café, they had a wood-fired pizza oven, and as we soon discovered, served a delicious margarita pizza and two Cokes. Our cute young waitress did her best to answer our questions, especially when we asked how large the pizzas were. She indicated perhaps 10 inches in diameter, so we said fine. If it was not as large as we expected, we could always order another one. It took about 20 minutes to come, but it was more a personal size pizza. If we had more time, we would have ordered the second one, but we did not.

 

One more stop interested us and that was the Catholic Church, St. Francis Xavier. The small park in front of the new church had the only remaining front entrance still standing. Along with a statue of St. Xavier, it is all that is left after the war. By the way, he was responsible for introducing Catholicism to Japan, although eventually, they were driven to practice the religion in secret.

 

On our way back towards the bus stop, we went into their Dollar store or Yen store. It was called the 100 Yen Store. Wanting to use some of the coins we had collected, one of us purchased three hair ties and one small bag of chocolate cookies with chocolate chips. Can never get enough chocolate right? The sale came to the equivalent of under $4 USD. With Nagasaki coming up tomorrow, we should be able to spend the rest of the coins there. Of course, there is always the donation box at the front desk, saving you the problem of taking pounds of change home with you.

 

A line had formed at the bus stop, but moved quickly. The driver was equipped to load any type of walker or wheelchair for the folks that needed them. Looking down the side streets, we noticed that we had been close to the Waterfront area, where the Kagoshima City Aquarium was located. Also there was a waterfront park, the Boardwalk, and Dolphin Port with shops, restaurants, and cafes. The ferry to Sakurajima Geopark was right there as well. Maybe next time……

 

Back at the pier, we had to laugh, because a whole lot of elderly local folks had gathered by the ship to watch us leave. This port area, an obvious landfill, was designed as a park with a running track and place for kids to play, rides bikes, or fly kites. Restrooms facilities were close by, and plenty of seating was available. It is quite possible that this is also a staging area for summer fireworks. Across the pier area, there was the Central Wholesale Fish Market, where auctions occur for the deep water catch and everything else marine you can imagine. However, these auctions take place too early in the morning for us to see them. Again, maybe next time……

 

Even though we had been required to carry our passports with us today, no one ever inspected them. Tomorrow’s port in Nagasaki will be different, as that will be our last stop in Japan. We understand that a departure stamp will be checked before the ship leaves.

 

One thing that we did notice was that there was an alcohol collection table near the xray machine on A deck. They were collecting all types of alcohol that had been purchased today. This is the first time we have seen this so thoroughly enforced on a Grand Cruise.

 

Gene, the CD, announced that a police brass band would be playing for all on the pier while we sailed away around 5pm. Grabbing the good camera, we headed to deck nine instead of three, to get the best overall view. Most every one of the elderly folks, little kids, and their parents waved orange flags from the pier as they bid us farewell. In our opinion, it is refreshing how well we were received and more so, how polite and respectful the Japanese folks treated us. Perhaps what goes around, comes around……something we heard many times from our folks as we grew up.

 

Just as Captain Jonathon blew the horn, one of the large eagles flew out of some shoreline pines. We got some great photos of it before he soared towards the hills.

 

Sailing out of the massive Kagoshima Bay kept us at the aft pool until after sunset at 6pm. Having overheard that people spotted dolphins early this morning, we kept our eye out for any signs of pods. A good indication of feeding dolphins is seeing birds over them. We only saw a few scattered lone sea gulls, and no dolphins….darn. There was a nice sunset however. With so much volcanic matter hanging in the air, an orange haze gave the sunset a lot of color on the horizon.

 

Another volcano across from Sakurajima was Mt. Kaimon at 3032 feet. There are some hot springs resorts and natural steam sand baths in that area. Ubusuki, as it is called, is touted as the sunshine and health zone, even in the winter. Mt. Kaimon is sometimes referred to as “Mt. Fuji of Satsuma”. The deep crater Lake Ikeda near there has eels that grow to six feet long.

 

It was dark by the time we left the back deck and almost dinnertime for us. We noticed that the lower dining room was about vacant at 8pm, because most everyone had eaten early, and were off to bed, we suspected. You can usually guess that is the case when you see the breakfast menus hanging on the doors in the hallways, along with the “do not disturb” signs in the keyslots.

 

All of us showed up to the table, sharing our excursions of the day. Scoop seemed quieter than usual, and appears to have lost his voice. Something going around with the crew and guests alike, which we certainly hope is not contagious. Maureen and Jim never left the ship, resting up for a full day tour in Nagasaki tomorrow. Doubt any of us will attend the show with Tom Brisco, a stand-up comedian. Maybe next time he is on…..or not.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

[Johaz]

I'm really enjoying your reports on the various stops as I'll be visiting many of the same places later this year, also on the Amsterdam. My one question is how you're getting your local currency -- ATM, ship or some other way!

 

Enjoy the rest of your fabulous cruise.

 

 

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