“LIVE FROM” 2019 Oceania Insignia World Cruise, Jan. 11-July 11

[roothy123]

3 hours ago, See_More said:

Apr.3.2019. Sorry to hear that due to poaching, Komodo Island National Park will close for one year with hopes of increasing from the current population from 5000.

Wow!  Glad you made it when you did.  I felt that way after we returned from Istanbul and then the cruise ships stopped going there.  Hope those big guys on Komodo are back on track in a year or two, as I'd love to see them. 

[Go-Bucks!]

Kagoshima, Japan

 

Got a very warm welcome from locals who came out to see us. Isn't that little boy just precious?! He was practicing his English with us. Then spent a couple hours at a lovely Japanese garden and Shinto shrine (and those wonderful heated and computerized toilets!), then shopping and mani/pedis at a huge shopping area. I'd post the names of these places but they're in my cabin and I'm not.  😉

 

The volcano right across from our balcony, Mt. Sakurajima, spewed smoke and ash all day.  That ferry takes people over to the volcano.  Great day.

[decafnights]

On 4/2/2019 at 3:23 AM, ilsun said:

Hi all, if anyone is interested in looking at my photographs from this ATW cruise, look at my 

FB page Assaf Shilo & my profile photo is of me on a Harley with angel wings. In future I will not be posting photos on this board.

Assaf, your photos are amazing! I looked on your FB page and saw that you are a photographer. I particularly enjoyed these as we will be in Japan in October.  A basic question- to follow you on FB, do I send a friend request or is there another way to do it? Thanks.

 

And thanks to all of you who are posting. I've been wondering what you do with so many great photos. Do you make albums when you get home or do they sit on your computer?

[Not landlubbers]

10 hours ago, See_More said:

Your world, your way.  Thank you for your comments.  Could not agree more.  Photos provide a glimpse, a tiny aperture into the experience that awaits.  Surprise yourself.  Capture your personal memories and share your passion; pilot boats, food, culture, scenery or in the moment.  If you are continuing around the world on Insignia, please post your photos.  As pop idols Chad and Jeremy said “but that was yesterday, and yesterday’s gone”

See_More out (until Regatta in August)

[Not landlubbers]

Thank you ! Continue to embrace life! Sail on!

[Senior Citizen]

Now that we are home and using high speed internet, I’d like to thank those of you who continue to post pictures of your World Cruise.  I found the ship’s slow, and sometimes unavailable internet, frustrating.  Hope you have tv reception now.

 

Bob:  don’t forget to post in what port the pilot is boarding.  People reading your post at home have no idea where you are—and you won’t either months later when you look back at your posts (if you do).

 

Go-Bucks:  love your photos.  You’ve taken some cute ones of kids during your travels.  I enjoyed “eating” next to you and Connie when we were at a Buddhist site in Kaohsiung, Taiwan.  I ate while you two tasted (and then went down to Starbuck’s for something more familiar).

 

ilsun:  You have a photographer’s eye for taking pictures and I join the others who will miss your posts on this site.  I don’t do Facebook.

[Senior Citizen]

For the poster who wanted more info on the Tokyo port move from Harumi, I found the following (which doesn’t tell you exactly which ports will be used for smaller ships but does address the fact that new cruise terminals are being built):

 

Tokyo is both the largest and most expensive city in the world.

 

Where You're Docked

Small and medium cruise ships that can fit under the Rainbow Bridge dock at Harumi Passenger Ship Terminal on Harumi Island. The nearest metro station is Kachidoki Station on the Toei Oedo Subway Line (20 mins on foot, 5 mins by bus or taxi). Alternatively, you can take Toei bus 5 (¥210, Mar 2019) to Ginza station. The bus terminus, Harumi Futo, is outside the terminal. The fare acceptor provides change for ¥1000 bills. There is also a water bus stop nearby. Harumi Terminal website here http://www.tptc.co.jp/en/c_terminal/harumi

Cruise ship schedule here http://www.kouwan.metro.tokyo.jp/en/sightseeing/cruise/cruise_ship_schedule.html

Large ships destined for Tokyo (not Yokohama) dock at Oi Marine Products Wharf well south of the main waterfront area. Shuttle buses may be provided to Shinagawa JR train station. A new terminal capable of handling larger ships is scheduled to be built by 2019 beside the Maritime Museum in Odaiba in time for the 2020 Olympics. 

 

• http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/09/26/national/tokyo-to-build-new-wharf-for-big-liners/
• http://www.metro.tokyo.jp/ENGLISH/TOPICS/2015/151225.htm

Larger ships usually dock at Osanbashi Pier in Yokohama approximately 15 miles southwest of Tokyo and easily accessible by train. Information here http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3208.html and https://osanbashi.jp/english/

To new cruise terminals are being built with one at Shinko Pier, directly north of Osanbashi, and also at at Daikoku. Both are scheduled to be open in 2019.  http://www.seatrade-*****/news/news-headlines/yokohama-to-inaugurate-two-new-cruise-terminals-in-2019.html

To get from the cruise terminal in Yokohoma to Tokyo, you can walk to the nearby Nihon Odori station of the Minato Mirai Line. From there, you can ride all the way to Shibuya station (40 minutes) or you can transfer at Yokohama station (4th stop from Nihon Odori) onto a JR Tokaido Line train that takes you to Tokyo station (25 minutes).

 

• Tokyo Port Info - http://www.mlit.go.jp/kankocho/cruise/detail/018/index.html
• Yokohama Port Info - http://www.mlit.go.jp/kankocho/cruise/detail/019/index.html
• Other Japanese Ports with maps and PDF guides - http://www.mlit.go.jp/kankocho/cruise/list/index.html

[grmmybtty]

Welcome home Frances. Thank you for the great info on Tokyo port. Now that you are home, we will have to get in touch to plan SIN-SF for 2020!

[Paulchili]

21 minutes ago, Senior Citizen said:

For the poster who wanted more info on the Tokyo port move from Harumi, I found the following (which doesn’t tell you exactly which ports will be used for smaller ships but does address the fact that new cruise terminals are being built):

Thank you Senior Citizen - very helpful info.

[cbb]

senior citizen--

thanks for the detailed info on the Tokyo ports.  We're going to cut and paste your info into our dump document so that when we find out for sure where we are docking ATW20 we'll have a better idea how to find where we want to go.  Then they will be located on google maps and a hand held GPS. 

 

We geo-tag all our pix so that we know where we were when we took those pictures (that started in Scandinavia when the stave churches all began to confuse us!)

 

I want to see the Ginza so we might do that on Day2 since we leave port at 5pm.  That should give us plenty of time to wander.

Day 1 will be spent cramming as much in as possible.  Have the info on diy walking tours, HOHO, list of things not to miss, etc. 

 

our itinerary is quite active-starting June 3 at Jeju we have 11 days of ports without a sea day!  Whew!!!!!  I keep saying we have to do these marathon cruises while we're still 'young' enough to do this!!!!

[bob brown]

Had a great time in Kagoshima.  Instead of taking one of those “Panoramic”, O-excursion’s, Jim and I did our own thing...

Purchased an all-day unlimited ride city transit pass, good on all the tram’s, and city owned transit buses (not good on some privately owned bus routes).

It even included an 80 minute sightseeing bus, which stopped at all the popular tourist attractions.  It had a recorded tour, in Japanese and English, describing each attraction.  You could hop off and on where ever you wished.  We saw some shipmates using it.  You did have to walk about 20 minutes from the pier to reach the nearest stop, or take anothy bus or taxi there...

 

One of our stops was the Kagoshima-Chou, main railway station.  We took a ride on the Shikansen “bullet train” just to the next station for lunch, and back, just for the experience.😎

 

We stopped at a music store where Jim showed his skills on the practice drum set

(what a multi-talented guy)...

 

Jim also had time to visit some local police...

 

We did a little shopping, and then rode some old tram cars back to the pier.

The all day pass only cost 800 yen...

 

”Mission accomplished”🙂

[cbb]

senior citizen--just an update on the tokyo info you just posted.  I am so proud....I actually had about 1/2 of what you had posted on "where we dock"....but the other info on where the new docks/terminals will be was new info to me.  Thanks!!!

 

[Paulchili]

19 minutes ago, cbb said:

I want to see the Ginza so we might do that on Day2 since we leave port at 5pm.  That should give us plenty of time to wander.

Eons ago (in 1987) I remember that every day the morning opening of the department stores was an elaborate ceremony with the staff in white gloves lined up welcoming the customers with polite bowing. It was quite an experience.

Perhaps you can find out if they still do it and if so, it's an experience unique to Tokyo (Japan?)

In any case, Ginza is well worth exploring.

Edited April 3, 2019 by Paulchili

[cbb]

Thanks Paul!

 

we have ATW19 friends who were just in Tokyo and say we should for sure see:    Ginza 6  &  Mitsukoshi high end dept stores where the food pix are unbelievable and evidently the ceremonial greetings from the young staff is still going on.

 

One gorgeous mango for sale in the market on one of the 15 floors was $160US!!!!   A-mazing!!!!

 

 Can't wait....we chose the ATW20 itinerary because of all the Japanese ports.  We saw just a few of them ATW16 but made me want to return and see more.  The itinerary has 9 Japanese ports!!!

[palakika]

When we were in Hiroshima a number of years ago, the big Dept. Store had a welcoming ceremony.  It was very cool!  The young women greeters all wore uniforms and white gloves.  We loved Japan and can't wait to return on ATW  2020.

[Go-Bucks!]

On 4/3/2019 at 6:40 AM, Senior Citizen said:

Go-Bucks:  I enjoyed “eating” next to you and Connie when we were at a Buddhist site in Kaohsiung, Taiwan.  I ate while you two tasted (and then went down to Starbuck’s for something more familiar).

 

Yes, I remember that lunch and our nice conversation! As much as I absolutely love Japan, eating here has been a real challenge...I would lose lots of weight if I lived here.  😉

Starbucks was a real lifesaver that day (to others too!).

[ilsun]

17 hours ago, decafnights said:

Assaf, your photos are amazing! I looked on your FB page and saw that you are a photographer. I particularly enjoyed these as we will be in Japan in October.  A basic question- to follow you on FB, do I send a friend request or is there another way to do it? Thanks.

 

And thanks to all of you who are posting. I've been wondering what you do with so many great photos. Do you make albums when you get home or do they sit on your computer?

Please send me a friend request.

Usually the images are on my computer plus 3 backups.

[bob brown]

Alongside Sasebo,Japan.

[Senior Citizen]

3 hours ago, Go-Bucks! said:

 

Yes, I remember that lunch and our nice conversation! As much as I absolutely love Japan, eating here has been a real challenge...I would lose lots of weight if I lived here.  😉

Starbucks was a real lifesaver that day (to others too!).

 

I didn’t know what all the things were that we were eating but as long as it’s vegetarian, I’m ok with it.  I’m not so adventurous with “mystery meat.”  That said, last year we went on a food tour in Beijing.  We were given donkey burgers at one place.  Nobody’s favorite of the night.  

 

And at a famous Beijing night food market, we took pictures of the offerings (but didn’t dare try any of it).  I’ll post some photos.  The final photo is what greeted us when we boarded the ship in Tianjin (last April).

 

 

 

 

[CintiPam]

9 hours ago, cbb said:

Thanks Paul!

 

we have ATW19 friends who were just in Tokyo and say we should for sure see:    Ginza 6  &  Mitsukoshi high end dept stores where the food pix are unbelievable and evidently the ceremonial greetings from the young staff is still going on.

 

Mitsubishi indeed is worth a trip (visited in 2016.) I am NOT a shopper but an amazing experience.

[cruiznagainandagain]

We will be joining you in Singapore to Rome.  Have not been to some of these ports before.  Have been to Singapore and of course the Greek Isl., and the Mediterranean ports, but are absolutely excited to be on for these two legs of your world trip.  We are Suzie and Joel From Oregon.  We have been reading all your fantastic news on this cruise so far.  Thanks so much for posting.  

[Go-Bucks!]

10 hours ago, Senior Citizen said:

 

I didn’t know what all the things were that we were eating but as long as it’s vegetarian, I’m ok with it.  I’m not so adventurous with “mystery meat.”  That said, last year we went on a food tour in Beijing.  We were given donkey burgers at one place.  Nobody’s favorite of the night.  

 

And at a famous Beijing night food market, we took pictures of the offerings (but didn’t dare try any of it).  I’ll post some photos.  The final photo is what greeted us when we boarded the ship in Tianjin (last April).

 

 

 

 

 

What a shock....ALL of those photos are shockers!!  We're headed to China now (will arrive on 4/7) and I have a feeling that I'll need my protein bars again....your food pictures looked absolutely disgusting.  Definitely easy to diet over here.  Even dinner tonight was a Pan Asian Buffet....I got a salad and some chopped fruit for dessert as nothing else looked appetizing.  Lunch in town today, on the other hand, was great...we were told about a good restaurant in Sasebo for tempura, my favorite.  We got the best shrimp and vegetable tempura, but they did have a fish tank containing fish, lobsters and a live octopus in a bag (for lunch/dinner, I'm assuming).

[The Beach]

My two favorite things in Sasebo, no - three things, were: 1. watching all the people at the bus parking lot under the awning playing Shogi, 2. the Traditional Drum concert as we were leaving and 3. that I had a Mos burger and watermelon soda. The first is what they described as Japanese Chess, the second, the drums, apparently unannouceed (a surprize to everyone out on deck including one of the staff) The drum concert was worth the port visit. The third was the Japanese version of McDonalds, only much better - the Mos Burger. That plus I got an unusual photo of the ship, because of the light and, the clouds and vapor trails. A nice way to leave Japan.

[Paulchili]

3 minutes ago, The Beach said:

The third was the Japanese version of McDonalds, only much better - the Mos Burger.

What exactly is a Mos burger. If it's better, then it must be Wagyu beef 

[Classiccruiser777]

7 hours ago, Paulchili said:

What exactly is a Mos burger. If it's better, then it must be Wagyu beef 

 

How's it compare to In-N-Out?