Live from the Diamond, July 10-27, 17-day B2B around Japan and Korea

[SimplyMarvie]

1 hour ago, Californian said:

Thanks for your input.  I like your idea of a cane, so I will packing my folding cane.

 

I'm wondering if I should stop at a bank while I'm in Japan to exchange for some Korean currency.  I don't a friend whom I can get the wun.  LOL 

 

I was thinking of getting some Won when we arrive in Narita, even though the exchange rate is likely to be worse than what I'd get at a bank or an ATM, just to have a bit of spare change on me. We'll see whether I remember to do so in the midst of the jetlag.

[cr8tiv1]

oops...It IS Korean "won".  Thanks @SimplyMarvie. I should pay attention to details more carefully.

[Ken the cruiser]

On 7/15/2023 at 12:41 AM, chubbypiggy said:

@Ken the cruiser  Next time when you are at the Fitness Center, please check if the free Sauna and Steam rooms are still there (by the changing rooms).  I heard some of the Grand class ships (for example, Emerald Princess), they have been removed from the Fitness Center.  TIA.

Just went up to the Spa on Deck 15 Forward, and the free Sauna and Steam rooms are still there.

[EDVM96]

Just now, Ken the cruiser said:

Just went up to the Spa on Deck 15 Forward, and the free Sauna and Steam rooms are still there.

Then, Princess should explain why the Emerald seems to be the only ship in the fleet (so far) that closed the existing sauna & steam. 

[chubbypiggy]

6 minutes ago, Ken the cruiser said:

Just went up to the Spa on Deck 15 Forward, and the free Sauna and Steam rooms are still there.

Thank you !

[vlin07]

Sunrise at Kanmon Straight this morning.

[Ken the cruiser]

6 hours ago, Californian said:

 

Thanks so much for the information.  Did your tour group just stick together at the temple or were you able to wander around on your own and then back at the bus?   Did you feel it was sufficient time at the temple?  

 

Also, how about at Gekje Market?  Was it difficult to find your way back to the bus?  Did you buy anything at the market?  Were you able to use a credit card?  If you ate anything at the market, is there anything you would recommend?

 

Thanks again for taking us along on your journey... 

We started down the steps together, but we were optionally allowed to roam around the temple area on our own. You just had to make sure we were back at the bus at a certain time. We pretty much keep our tour guide in sight or knew where she would be if we wanted to check something out, like climb the stairs to the upper level. And yes, the hour we were given was plenty of time to explore.

 

The outdoor market was fun to walk through, but we didn’t buy anything as we’re not shoppers, just lookers. As far as finding our way back, it was relatively easy as long as you didn’t stray off the beaten path too far. Our guide mentioned CCs were accepted in stores, but probably not by the local street vendors. There were also a variety of places there where you could exchange money, but that would cut into the limited time you have to explore unless you chose to leave the tour and take the shuttle bus back to the ship. As far as eating anything at the market, that’s not are thing either. I met Mr Montezuma quite a few years back and have no desire to feel his wrath again. 😂

[have2vacation]

21 minutes ago, vlin07 said:

Sunrise at Kanmon Straight this morning.

The pictures are amazing 

[Ken the cruiser]

I got up this morning at 5:45 am to enjoy not only cruising through the Kanmon Straits, but also an awesome sunrise! The first one we’ve actually experienced so far this cruise! 😁

 

Initially, when I went out on our balcony, this was the first photo I took. Once I got over being elated just to see blue sky again, I quickly realized I needed to get on the other side of the ship.

 

 
and just in time I might add. 😁

 

 

 

 

 

 
Then I realized the best place to be was up on the bow. So off I went and was lucky enough to find a good spot on the rail right up front, and that’s were I stayed for the duration.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Once we made it under the bridge, that was pretty much it. So I slowly headed back to midship.

 

 

 

 
I have to say, it was definitely worth getting up early for, especially if the skies are clear! 😁

 

Edited July 15, 2023 by Ken the cruiser

[CCBB]

2 hours ago, Ken the cruiser said:

We started down the steps together, but we were optionally allowed to roam around the temple area on our own. You just had to make sure we were back at the bus at a certain time. We pretty much keep our tour guide in sight or knew where she would be if we wanted to check something out, like climb the stairs to the upper level. And yes, the hour we were given was plenty of time to explore.

 

The outdoor market was fun to walk through, but we didn’t buy anything as we’re not shoppers, just lookers. As far as finding our way back, it was relatively easy as long as you didn’t stray off the beaten path too far. Our guide mentioned CCs were accepted in stores, but probably not by the local street vendors. There were also a variety of places there where you could exchange money, but that would cut into the limited time you have to explore unless you chose to leave the tour and take the shuttle bus back to the ship. As far as eating anything at the market, that’s not are thing either. I met Mr Montezuma quite a few years back and have no desire to feel his wrath again. 😂

Hi, thanks for your posts. I am following with interest in preparation for a similar cruise in September.

 

One question please if you could help: you mentioned "unless you chose to leave the tour and take the shuttle bus back to the ship". I know you did not take the shuttle but do you have more information about it?

 

Thank you!

[Ken the cruiser]

4 minutes ago, CCBB said:

Hi, thanks for your posts. I am following with interest in preparation for a similar cruise in September.

 

One question please if you could help: you mentioned "unless you chose to leave the tour and take the shuttle bus back to the ship". I know you did not take the shuttle but do you have more information about it?

 

Thank you!

All I know is that if you were on a Princess tour, like the one we were on, you could opt to take the shuttle back rather than the tour bus at no charge as long as you showed them your excursion sticker. For example, our tour bus left to go back to the ship at 3:20 pm whereas the last shuttle at that same pickup spot in front of the Stanford Hotel left at 5 pm I believe, and there was one leaving there every 20 minutes.
 

Now, if you just took the shuttle from the ship to that same downtown drop off point in front of the Stanford Hotel, the roundtrip cost I believe was around $20 charged to your onboard account, and there were quite a few folks that were doing that.

 

Now if there is someone following this thread that has more accurate info on the shuttle, please feel free to share what you have experienced.

[Ken the cruiser]

Current ship location and internet speed information at around 11 am on our way for arrival in Osaka tomorrow morning. 
 

 

 

[have2vacation]

Does anyone have experience with bringing thyroid medicine to Japan? Does it require the forms and an approval letter?

[cr8tiv1]

I did not have any problems bringing in medications for up to 2 weeks when I was there in March.

 

https://www.mhlw.go.jp/english/policy/health-medical/pharmaceuticals/01.html 

[vlin07]

Yes, the shuttle is $20 round trip. But we found Uber and Kakao apps are quite convenient and cheap to hail a taxi.  We went to mipo coast train station to ride capsule train and a shopping outlet. We used both apps multiple times. Cars always came in less than 5 minutes. 
Here are some pics of capsule trains.
 

[Ken the cruiser]

21 minutes ago, have2vacation said:

Does anyone have experience with bringing thyroid medicine to Japan? Does it require the forms and an approval letter?

I brought my synthroid in without any issues. It was in my zipped inside jacket pocket that I was wearing, and it was no big deal.

[Ken the cruiser]

Here’s an interesting lesson learned. Our granddaughter needed to make a call to the college admissions department where she’s going to start school in the fall. The phone call was complimentary if she went down to Guest Services to make it. You only accrue a ship-to-shore phone charge if you’re calling from your stateroom. Just thought that was interesting. 

[CCBB]

Does anyone know if it is walking distance from the Busan cruise terminal to the Busan metro subway station? Thanks.

 

[vlin07]

4 minutes ago, CCBB said:

Does anyone know if it is walking distance from the Busan cruise terminal to the Busan metro subway station? Thanks.

 

about 20-25 minutes

[SimplyMarvie]

1 hour ago, CCBB said:

Does anyone know if it is walking distance from the Busan cruise terminal to the Busan metro subway station? Thanks.

 

It depends on where you dock, but for our cruise (we'll be on Diamond 7/27) it wouldn't be. There is a bus stop within a short distance that can take you into the city, though.

[Ken the cruiser]

3 hours ago, vlin07 said:

Yes, the shuttle is $20 round trip. But we found Uber and Kakao apps are quite convenient and cheap to hail a taxi.  We went to mipo coast train station to ride capsule train and a shopping outlet. We used both apps multiple times. Cars always came in less than 5 minutes. 
Here are some pics of capsule trains.
 

Welcome to CC and thanks for your contributions to the thread. If I might make a suggestion regarding the posting of multiple pictures to make them individually stand out better. After posting a picture, add a line below it which includes at least one space, so it thinks there is something there, before adding your next picture. That way each picture stands out versus looking all bunched together.

[vlin07]

52 minutes ago, Ken the cruiser said:

Welcome to CC and thanks for your contributions to the thread. If I might make a suggestion regarding the posting of multiple pictures to make them individually stand out better. After posting a picture, add a line below it which includes at least one space, so it thinks there is something there, before adding your next picture. That way each picture stands out versus looking all bunched together.

Thanks for the suggestion, Ken!

 

Vincent the newbie

[Ken the cruiser]

Tonight after dinner, which is a formal night, we’re first heading to the theater to watch the production show Bravo

 

 
Afterwards we’re off to the Explorers Lounger to watch our favorite game show regardless of which cruise line’s ship we’re on, Liars Club! 😂

 

 

Edited July 16, 2023 by Ken the cruiser

[Ken the cruiser]

Day 8 - July 17 - Osaka, Japan

 

 

 
This was just a pretty rainbow and cloud formation we saw while on our balcony after dinner waiting to go to the show. 😁

 

[Ken the cruiser]

Tomorrow morning we’re going on a 4.5 hour tour to a castle and Shrine in Osaka.

 

 
The weather is forecasted to be a little toasty with highs around 89, but at least the sky looks like it’s going to be clear! 
 

 

Looks like we’ll be arriving around 6 am. Hopefully the ship will be cleared shortly afterwards, as we have to clear Japan Customs before heading out on the excursion.