Hotel in Osaka for Sapphire Princess cruise to Seattle

[sandydownunder]

Anyone know if the cruise terminal is near the city centre? We are trying to work out a hotel to stay in the night before the cruise. Sailing time is 11:59 pm. Wonder when we'll be allowed on board? Anyone sailed out of Osaka before? Would appreciate some advice on hotels etc. Decided to come the day before. Flights from Australia arrive at 7pm. Thought that was cutting it too fine if there were delays.

[ginza17]

The terminal (see link below) is in an industrial area about 20 minutes from the "city Centre"..... I lived in Osaka for 4 years and know it well. There are hotels around the terminal but you'll want to see the city so I suggest taking a cab to either Umeda or Shimshabashi (Minami).... The first, Umeda is the city centre and financial area. Lots of hotels but lmited shopping, nitelife. Close by is the district called Minami-Shimshabashi. It is where the Dotonburi bridge and area (made famous by Michael Douglas flick Black Rain",,, awesome food, shopping, and nitelife.. Lots of hotels (hilton, sheraton, etc) in this area.. being you are flying into oska the choices I speak of are good choices. Don't let the language be a barrier to asking questions, the Japanese are very patient and helpful to travelers. I personally like the Hilton Umeda. [url="http://www.hilton.com/en/hi/hotels/index.jhtml;jsessionid=BVFVMBVZM5O34CSGBIX2VCQKIYFCXUUC?ctyhocn=OSAHITW"]http://www.hilton.com/en/hi/hotels/index.jhtml;jsessionid=BVFVMBVZM5O34CSGBIX2VCQKIYFCXUUC?ctyhocn=OSAHITW[/url] Travel in Japan is easy. So many trains and cabs. Crime is almost non-existant. If you want any more info feel free to email me at [email]potoole@courts.state.ny.us[/email]

terminal link [url="http://www.city.osaka.jp/port/04_facilities/e_04_05.html"]http://www.city.osaka.jp/port/04_facilities/e_04_05.html[/url]

p.s. don't let the ferris wheel at the port fool you about the port being a busting fun zone.. very industrial, etc

Pete...

[This message was edited by ginza17 on 06-07-04 at 09:14 AM.]

[This message was edited by ginza17 on 06-07-04 at 09:14 AM.]

[GottoCruise]

We are on the July 25, 2004 Pacific Princess cruise leaving from Osaka. We are comming in 2 nights prior - our plane arrives about 6PM - so that will give us 1 full day and the next day to embark - (and maybe leave for more sighseeting after checking in, as the ship doesn't leave until Midnight for us too! )
We are staying at the Hyatt Regency - near Universal City and nearer to Tempozan Port than central Osaka - we got a good (online) rate and were able to upgrade to a Club room (with points) for 1 night and got the other night Free! This will include free full hot breakfast and drinks with good snacks in the eve. Hyatt rooms are also a bit larger than standard in Japan & Hyatt runs a shuttle/linmo from the airport to the hotel for only 1300 yen pp.. From the hotel to Tempozan Port (ship dock) transfer on embarkation day shouldn't be too expensive. I don't want to use the public train and drag our baggage ourselves. I haven't been in many years - but from what I remember, private transfers, taxis, and food are very expensive..
You can also check out the Seagull Hotel - they have a package rate that seems very reasonable -I don't hae any first hand experience with this hotel.
The Hilton is very well located - right across from the train station, if you are there for a few days and want to travel around, it might pay, but was more expensive than the Hyatt when I checked - & the transfers would be more expensive .
We plan to go to Himeji Castle for the 1 full day we will be in Osaka -it's said to be much more impressive than Osaka Castle, and the usual busy busy central city.
Not interested in shopping here, can do better at home.
We have already been to Kyoto and Nara - the most important sites to see from Osaka (IMJO)
We have contacted the Tourist Office and arranged a "Goodwill Guide" who will meet us at our hotel and spend the day with us, N/C, except for paying their entrance fees, transportation costs and food etc.
I didn't find it easy to get around in Japan - even the big cities - the language barrier was difficult with street signs and such not in English, and crowds & crowds. The "Goodwill Guide" should be a big help.
Go to Ports of Call for more info.

Until Pacific Princess
Islands of the Pacific Theater

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Until Golden Princess Western European Capitals

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Until Golden Princess British Isles

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[This message was edited by GottoCruise on 06-07-04 at 12:22 PM.]

[Nancyquilts]

Last year we stayed at a Holiday Inn Express that included breakfast for a little more than $100 u.s. per day. We took the train in from the airport to town, and then took a taxi to the hotel. It was only a few blocks from the underground, but we had to find a stop with an elevator to manage our bags.

[ginza17]

my experience was from one who speaks Japanese and lived in Osaka so it might be slighted that way..sorry

Pete...

[sandydownunder]

Thankyou for all your helpful replies and links. I have a lot of information to help me choose an area to stay and a hotel. This board is wonderful.

Has anyone heard of a ship departing at midnight? 11:59 to be exact. My experience has been 5 pm.

Sandra

[GottoCruise]

I guess Princess is giving everyone a chance to see some of Osaka, -- also, it is a short trip to our next Port.
Also, some on my cruise, that have not planned any Pre-cruise at all, are arriving about 7PM on embarkation day - with transfer to the ship, they will just about make dinner, safety drill and sailing time. They have Princess Air - so Princess must be aware of flight times and planning the late departure to be sure everyone gets on board.

Until Pacific Princess
Islands of the Pacific Theater

[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=ff0000&cdt=2004;07;25;12;00;00&timezone=GMT+0900[/img]

Until Golden Princess Western European Capitals

[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=0000ff&cdt=2005;07;31;12;00;00&timezone=GMT+0000[/img]

Until Golden Princess British Isles

[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=0000ff&cdt=2005;08;10;12;00;00&timezone=GMT+0000[/img]

[JohnLauben]

Sandy ... to date, I have found five (5) direct/non-stop flights from the USA to Osaka. Two (2) of these flights arrive in Osaka around 6:30 PM (at this writing). With a ship of this size, PRINCESS will need to use as many seats as the airlines can spare. Therefore. many passengers (who chose not to stay overnight in Osaka) will be arriving around dinner time. This is probably the major factor in the 11:59 PM (let's call it midnight) departure from Osaka.

I'm sure that boarding will start around the traditional time for a PRINCESS cruise ... noon, thereabouts. There will be quite a few passenger who are staying on from the previous cruise; but, the ship will probably be rather deserted until the late afternoon when the stateside flights begin to arrive. Expect the muster drill to be rather late ... somewhere around 9:30 PM or so. BTW ... the southbound cruises from Whittier (Alaska) also tend to set sail near midnight, and for some of the same reasons. And, cruises from Papeete (Tahiti) sometimes set sail around 4:00 AM, particularly when the first port is Moorea (all of 2 1/2 hours away)!

I'll be on the Kyoto pre-cruise package. I guess that we'll be touring for most of the morning, before heading to the ship (probably mid-afternoon, my guess).