Almost Live: Maasdam - Seattle to Sydney 2019

[erewhon]

Good to know that Maasdam arrived safely in Yokohama.

Thanks for the photos.

[Alphen]

8 hours ago, Btimmer said:

Yes, you correctly understand it.  The shuttle drop off point is at the JR train station.  The tram to the tower is 230Yen each way.  When (and if) we return on this leg, we may go ride the rope way up and walk down the hill.  All of that will be in my blog.

Thank you for the info, will continue to follow your blog(s) with great interest (and envy every now and then 😉) to pick up more.

 

Just a tip I picked up in my research, I think you also research your trips in detail, but in the info I gathered, I understood that there would be an all-day pass on the tram (map included), which allows you to use the tram all day for ¥600 per person.

 

https://www.hakodate.travel/en/focus#17005

 

[Btimmer]

Yes we knew about the 600 yen fare but due to a short port day a simple round trip worked for us.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Glad you have arrived safely in Yokohama.

 

Great pictures.

[Btimmer]

The captain just announced at 7:30pm that due to significant swells outside the harbor we will overnight in Tokyo Bay as the Diamond Princess needs our docking spot.  Tomorrow he will make a decision as to whether we'll leave Tokyo Bay for open water for our 2 day ocean cruise to Kobe.  Two ports (Shimizu and Takamatsu) have been cancelled and Kobe's visit date changed.  He noted that they even considered doing the voyage counterclockwise.

 

Today we visited the Ramen Museum and the Mitsubishi Museum and walked a lot.  There was another very cool stop, but you'll have to read my blog to learn of that.

 

The adventure continues!

[Bellair]

I have been tracking the Typhoon.

many thanks for the updated news. I was wondering if they would venture outside the bay.

here is the latest posted radar map

regards

bellair

Edited August 14, 2019 by Bellair

[Btimmer]

We left the Osanbashi Cruise terminal and sailed out under the Tokyo Bay Bridge and are in position for our anchorage for the night.  Even in the protected bay, it's extremely windy outside.

 

 

The only program tonight was the introduction of the EXC presenters.  They are:

 

Dr. Ronald Orenstein - zoologist

Nigel Atherton - photographer 

Chef Hiroko Shimbo

Terry Greenberg - History & Culture

Yoko Oikawa - Japanese culture & women's issues

 

Terry Greenberg is one of my favorite HAL presenters and he received a resounding welcome from his fan club including me.

 

The topics each will be presenting sound very interesting and likely to be much different than what we had on the last 14 days.  Stay tuned to my daily blog for reports.

 

[Krazy Kruizers]

4 hours ago, Btimmer said:

The captain just announced at 7:30pm that due to significant swells outside the harbor we will overnight in Tokyo Bay as the Diamond Princess needs our docking spot.  Tomorrow he will make a decision as to whether we'll leave Tokyo Bay for open water for our 2 day ocean cruise to Kobe.  Two ports (Shimizu and Takamatsu) have been cancelled and Kobe's visit date changed.  He noted that they even considered doing the voyage counterclockwise.

 

Today we visited the Ramen Museum and the Mitsubishi Museum and walked a lot.  There was another very cool stop, but you'll have to read my blog to learn of that.

 

The adventure continues!

 

Looking forward to that part of your blog -- I don't see it yet.

 

Sorry you will be missing ports.

[GeezLouise1]

2 hours ago, Btimmer said:

 

 

 

The only program tonight was the introduction of the EXC presenters.  They are:

 

Dr. Ronald Orenstein - zoologist

Nigel Atherton - photographer 

Chef Hiroko Shimbo

Terry Greenberg - History & Culture

Yoko Oikawa - Japanese culture & women's issues

 

Terry Greenberg is one of my favorite HAL presenters and he received a resounding welcome from his fan club including me.

 

 

 

Hi Tim,

 

Late to the party,  but playing catch up with your blog and new adventures!  Thanks so much for doing this,  your posts are wonderful.  Delighted you have Terry with you again, he was a highlight on the Indian Ocean itinerary.  Best wishes to Angela,  safe travels, 

 

Kris and Doug (Maasdam Jan./Feb. 2019)

Edited August 14, 2019 by GeezLouise1

[St Pete Cruiser]

I see Maasdam is anchored off Yokohama out past the bridge.  Keep us posted.

[bcummin]

Maybe this is a good sign???

Barbara

[Btimmer]

At noon today, 15 Aug, the Captain announced we will remain at anchor in the bay until 6am tomorrow when we will set sail for Kobe to arrive the morning of 17 Aug.  

 

It has gotten very windy in the harbor and the swells out side the bay were 8-9 meters.  In the picture below all the ship are facing into the wind.

 

 

That's all for now.  I'll try to get my blog updated for the past two days today while we have a sea day in the bay.

Edited August 15, 2019 by Btimmer

[Btimmer]

 

At 5:45pm, the Diamond Princess is heading for its anchorage for the evening in the Bay as viewed from the Pinnacle Grill.

 

Earlier today we shifted positions and re-anchored when the anchor lost its hold.  Captain Arno is keeping us appropriately informed when things change

Edited August 15, 2019 by Btimmer

[Btimmer]

Here's some food pictures to break up the storm news.  Alaskan King Crab and scallops in the Pinnacle Grill tonight.

 

 

iceberg wedge salad 

 

 

Cooked veggies

 

 

Fruit plate for dessert 

 

Edited August 15, 2019 by Btimmer

[bcummin]

Thank you, Tim, for the good updates.

Hope that your cold is getting better and that the typhoon weakens to do minimal damage anywhere.

Enjoy your new stateroom.

Barbara

[St Pete Cruiser]

Better to be anchored in the harbor than riding it out at sea.  Keep us posted.

[Bellair]

7 hours ago, Btimmer said:

Here's some food pictures to break up the storm news.  Alaskan King Crab and scallops in the Pinnacle Grill tonight.

 

 

iceberg wedge salad 

 

 

Cooked veggies

 

 

Fruit plate for dessert 

 

Very nice indeed...Well, until we board, here is what we are having in our ‘Grill Room’.....

Edited August 15, 2019 by Bellair
Added

[Bellair]

I see that the ship is heading out thru the heads right now.

hold onto the rails when walking!!

[Krazy Kruizers]

8 minutes ago, Bellair said:

Very nice indeed...Well, until we board, here is what we are having in our ‘Grill Room’.....

 

Baked beans on toast points??

 

Not for me.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Hopefully you will soon be sailing towards Kobe.

 

Pinnacle food looks great.  We love eating there.

[5starsFinally]

On 7/19/2019 at 12:06 PM, Galley Slave said:

Have you heard any complaints or concerns about the condition of the ship-- especially plumbing, heating or AC problems?  We are considering a couple of cruises, want to be sure ship is in good working order.

Thanks for the info, have a great trip!  Hope the sun comes out more than it has here in Seattle.  The Times said 69% of the daylight hours in July had cloud cover.

I just finished a 35 day cruise on the Maasdam and would not book another cruise on that ship.  Many of us could not get our rooms cooler, and many public rooms were too warm.  They cannot fix the system and have been trying since September 2018.  The plans for selling the ship mean that it has 2 more years at the most.

[Galley Slave]

33 minutes ago, 4starHollandcruiser said:

I just finished a 35 day cruise on the Maasdam and would not book another cruise on that ship.  Many of us could not get our rooms cooler, and many public rooms were too warm.  They cannot fix the system and have been trying since September 2018.  The plans for selling the ship mean that it has 2 more years at the most.

Thanks for the honest input.  We were considering the circumnavigation of Australia, so that is very helpful information.  Would not want to go to a climate that is hot and humid without good A/C.

[bcummin]

On the other hand, we sailed last Dec, Jan, Feb (56 days) in an ocean-view cabin on ms Maasdam in the Southern Hemisphere and had no temperature problems in our room.

Our drippy tub faucet was eventually replaced with a nice new fixture.  

We loved sailing on this ship, especially with the In-Depth program and around Australia.

Four of our friends will be enjoying the next circumnavigation of Australia on the Maasdam.

 

Barbara

Port Angeles, WA

Edited August 16, 2019 by bcummin

[Bellair]

29 minutes ago, bcummin said:

On the other hand, we sailed last Dec, Jan, Feb (56 days) in an ocean-view cabin on ms Maasdam in the Southern Hemisphere and had no temperature problems in our room.

Our drippy tub faucet was eventually replaced with a nice new fixture.  

We loved sailing on this ship, especially with the In-Depth program and around Australia.

Four of our friends will be enjoying the next circumnavigation of Australia on the Maasdam.

 

Barbara

Port Angeles, WA

No problems on our 26 day cruise from NZ to San Fran in May. Our cabin was great.

 

Edited August 16, 2019 by Bellair
added

[erewhon]

Catching up with your blog and this thread, thanks for your postings and photos.

 

Bellair, what is the white "blob" with the baked beans?