Live(ish) Millennium Japan 19th Aug review

[kluv2cruz]

21 minutes ago, villauk said:

Our balcony door also howls, or should I say that the wind does each evening. Can’t say that I’ve ever noticed it before on an after cabin.

Be sure to ask your steward about that as previous guests and steward may have found a solution. We had to « hip check » our door on my last celebrity cruise.

[hcat]

Sometimes howl is caused by someone else on your hall keeping door open..  We find folded towels make a good baffle .

 

E N J O Y !  

[DaKahuna]

8 hours ago, villauk said:

Our balcony door also howls, or should I say that the wind does each evening. Can’t say that I’ve ever noticed it before on an after cabin.

 

Make sure it's locked not just closed.  We've come across that only to find we forgot to fully lock using the handle. 

[villauk]

33 minutes ago, DaKahuna said:

 

Make sure it's locked not just closed.  We've come across that only to find we forgot to fully lock using the handle. 

 

It’s fully locked as I have checked 👍. Think I’ll do as @kluv2cruz suggested.

[Ex-vogue model]

Really enjoying your review! Can’t believe how old your children are now looking at your photos - how time flies eh? We’re doing the same cruise in 2026 for Alan’s 60th so I’m already taking notes! Have a fabulous time 😊

[villauk]

1 hour ago, Ex-vogue model said:

Really enjoying your review! Can’t believe how old your children are now looking at your photos - how time flies eh? We’re doing the same cruise in 2026 for Alan’s 60th so I’m already taking notes! Have a fabulous time 😊

 

It does go by so quickly. It only seems like yesterday when we were on Millie in Thailand. You’re going to love it! All of us are really enjoying Japan.

[villauk]

The first sea day was quite uneventful in the sense that we had breakfast in the MDR, then explored the ship and took it easy. In the afternoon, we decided to attend the general knowledge quiz. Well, the Sky Lounge was full with groups ready to play. We waited, and we waited, and waited a little more until my DH suggested asking the bartender if it was actually running. We’d checked the App and it was still listed 🤷‍♀️. He came back with a paper copy of the schedule and said it was in the Rendezvous Lounge and the App was incorrect. Off we trotted to see if it was still running. As we entered, we could hear the compare asking question 6 🤦‍♀️. We informed her that there was obviously a mix up as the App said something different and the Sky Lounge was full of people waiting for the quiz. Suffice to say that she had to rectify the issue and 15 minutes later, when all the attendees had arrived, she started the quiz again. It was a little bit of a fiasco, but we got there in the end.

 

Dinner was good and we finished the day at Cafe Al Bacio.

 

 

[villauk]

Kobe

 

Welcome to Kobe! I’d booked a tour with a private volunteer guide to Himeji Castle - it’s a free service recommended by @monkey@cruise. I cannot recommend it highly enough.

 

The day started as always at the MDR for breakfast. We enjoy a quieter experience and I’m not a buffet fan (I know I’ve mentioned that previously once or twice 😂). The free shuttle took us from the port Chinatown in Kobe. I’d originally planned to take the Port Liner (monorail) to the JR station but our guide suggested we delay the tour until 1.30pm because of the heat at 11am. So, thinking on my feet, I said we’d do a short tour of Kobe first and then get to the train to Himeji.

 

The shuttle bus dropped us across the road from Chinatown and we explored the area on foot, including the large shopping street. The weather was extremely hot today - 36 degrees! Honestly, if you don’t need to visit in the summer, then don’t!

 

Chinatown in Kobe

 

 

My instructions were to walk to Sanomiya JR station and take the Special Rapid Service to Himeji. It was easy. We purchased our tickets inside the train station and Ikuko, our guide, had even told me the time and platform for the train. When you arrive in Himeji, you can either take the bus, taxi or walk to the castle entrance. It’s only about a 15 minute walk maximum in a straight line from the train station - you can see the castle in the distance. We stopped for a quick drink on the way and then made our way up the main street. 
 

Ikuko was waiting for us across the wooden bridge. We had a magnificent tour with her. She was so knowledgeable and passionate about the castle. Honestly, you will not be disappointed. Email address: i-guide@volunteer.japan-localguide-support.com

The tour will take you all around the castle. You pay at the entrance and the guide is free. The tour should have been 2.5hrs, we were there until closing time at 5pm. I know tipping is not customary in Japan, but we wanted to say thank you to Ikuko for the splendid time we had with her, so we did show her our appreciation and said for her to do as she wished with it.

 

getting off the ship.

 
 

off

 

[villauk]

We did exactly the same in reverse to reach the ship. It had been an exhausting day in the heat and unfortunately, it had taken its toll on my body. I had reacted pretty badly on both my lower legs and had an extreme rash of prickly heat. It’s not the first time it’s happened, but I’d say this time has been the worst. I believe it’s the humidity that affects me because it’s happened in Singapore and Miami when the humidity has been high - not in Europe at all in high temperatures. Luckily, I had all the necessary meds with me 👍. I knew I’d need to cover all totally for our full-day trip to Kyoto from Osaka the following day; we’d even discussed cutting short the tour if it got too much. In fact, when we did get back to the ship, I wasn’t the only member of the group to have a rash through the heat and humidity.

 

I’ve never felt like I needed a shower more than after our day in Kobe. It was a relief to cool down at last. After our dinner, which my DH’s said was one of his best meals on Celebrity (braised beef), we went to watch an excellent violinist in the theatre. I struggled to keep my eyes open - I will eventually get over the jet lag. On a side note, for anyone taking this itinerary in the future, the casino isn’t open very often because of the many overnight stops and being too close to shore.

[hcat]

great photos  very sharp.. Are you using an I phone, camera or ?

 

Hope you bounce back and legs heal quickly.  I travel with a bit of EPSON salt..can do a wash cloth soak  if no tub.  It works great for skin issues.

Edited August 23 by hcat

[Scottishclover]

Enjoying your review. Thanks for taking the time. Lots of great advice. We are considering a Japan cruise

  ( unfortunately it would need to be in summer) but even though I am a planner, I think Japan might be a step too far for me. Did you have sole responsibility for planning everything in your group? How onerous was it? 

[Texed]

Thanks for posting.  😊

[monkey@cruise]

It was 35C when I was in Kyoto in late September. I will experience a Caribbean cruise in Japan. Kobe Chinatown banner reminding Chinese mid autumn festival on 17th September. For volunteer guide appreciation, I usually bring Canadian Maple syrup gift.
Drink plenty of fluids and eat foods high in water such as fruits and vegetables, to prevent dehydration. Take Care.

[villauk]

8 hours ago, hcat said:

great photos  very sharp.. Are you using an I phone, camera or ?

 

Hope you bounce back and legs heal quickly.  I travel with a bit of EPSON salt..can do a wash cloth soak  if no tub.  It works great for skin issues.

 

Yes, IPhone camera. We literally have hundreds of photos, but I’m only posting a few to prevent boring everyone 😂.

 

I’ve been apply hydrocortisone cream and taking antihistamines - something I always have in ready supply - and that’s helping immensely. As a family, we are prone to react to various things and we have allergies. I’m just a sensitive type of person I guess 😉.

[villauk]

8 hours ago, Scottishclover said:

Enjoying your review. Thanks for taking the time. Lots of great advice. We are considering a Japan cruise

  ( unfortunately it would need to be in summer) but even though I am a planner, I think Japan might be a step too far for me. Did you have sole responsibility for planning everything in your group? How onerous was it? 

 

Yes, I organise everything: from reserving the initially cruise, to booking the flights, hotels, transfers, excursions, dining, basically the whole vacation. I’m used it after vacationing for the last 18 years as a group of seven. Our kids have grown up cruising; our youngest was 4 on his first cruise 👍.

 

I’d only say that you need to research well and be prepared for anything. It’s obviously more difficult with larger groups because of the logistics. For instance when I mentioned our transfer from Haneda Airport, the train would have probably been quicker but in my mind trying to negotiate the luggage for seven people on the train compared to it being stored underneath the bus was a simple decision. 
 

Do give it a try because it can be be so enriching to sail with family and friends. Next year, our group increases to nine 😲! I’ve already booked the cruise, flights and dining slot. We are travelling from different airports too, so I’ll let you know how that works out 😬. It’s only Europe for that sailing though.

[villauk]

8 hours ago, Texed said:

Thanks for posting.  😊

 

Hi Ed,

 

Hope you and Jacquie are well.

[villauk]

6 hours ago, monkey@cruise said:

It was 35C when I was in Kyoto in late September. I will experience a Caribbean cruise in Japan. Kobe Chinatown banner reminding Chinese mid autumn festival on 17th September. For volunteer guide appreciation, I usually bring Canadian Maple syrup gift.
Drink plenty of fluids and eat foods high in water such as fruits and vegetables, to prevent dehydration. Take Care.

 

We have been eating fruits as much as possible and drinking water constantly 👍. We’re sweating most of it out 😂.

 

Your recommendation for the Himeji guide was invaluable. Additionally, the tip about bringing socks was spot on - we were provided with bags to put our shoes in as we entered the inside of the castle. I forgot to mention that in my post about our Himeji day. The steps are also quite steep the further you travel up inside the castle. There are bannisters either side to grip and they were definitely utilised by everyone, even the younger members. Be careful on the floors as they can be slippery in places and watch your head on the low beams!

[monkey@cruise]

50 minutes ago, villauk said:

 

We have been eating fruits as much as possible and drinking water constantly 👍. We’re sweating most of it out 😂.

 

Your recommendation for the Himeji guide was invaluable. Additionally, the tip about bringing socks was spot on - we were provided with bags to put our shoes in as we entered the inside of the castle. I forgot to mention that in my post about our Himeji day. The steps are also quite steep the further you travel up inside the castle. There are bannisters either side to grip and they were definitely utilised by everyone, even the younger members. Be careful on the floors as they can be slippery in places and watch your head on the low beams!

Steep steps and low beams are part of castle interior defense, making enemy penetration exceedingly difficult. Did you notice the enclosures along some passageways are for soldiers to hide inside?

 

 

Inferno temperature in Japan, I need to rejig my onshore travel plan and Kyoto stay, I didn't organize any private tour, so nothing to commit, make my game plan flexible.

[monkey@cruise]

Seems Celebrity Millennium is moving to Hiroshima Port Ujina Passenger terminal effective 19-August?? No longer using Itsukaichi wharf. Will be 1 mile distance to Hiroshimako, high speed ferry terminal  to Miyajima

[villauk]

22 minutes ago, monkey@cruise said:

Seems Celebrity Millennium is moving to Hiroshima Port Ujina Passenger terminal effective 19-August?? No longer using Itsukaichi wharf. Will be 1 mile distance to Hiroshimako, high speed ferry terminal  to Miyajima

 

We haven’t docked yet and we were planning to get the JR train from Itsukaichi to Miyajima, then the ferry. Do we now have to go to Hiroshimako for the ferry?

[monkey@cruise]

5 minutes ago, villauk said:

 

We haven’t docked yet and we were planning to get the JR train from Itsukaichi to Miyajima, then the ferry. Do we now have to go to Hiroshimako for the ferry?

Seems the cruise docks at Ujina Foreign Trade Wharf instead of  Itsukaich. 

 

 

Don't know if any free shuttle drop off at Hiroshimako  Ferry terminal, there is high speed ferry leaving to Miyajima at 2:25pm, 33 min travel, fare 2100 yen/pp last return is 5pm. This place is a pain to DIY.

[monkey@cruise]

If you see the tall Silver Paradise Monument, then you dock at Ujina Foreign Trade Wharf.

[monkey@cruise]

From Ujina Foreign Trade Wharf. to Hiroshimako  Ferry terminal to  Miyajima, 

 

https://setonaikaikisen.co.jp/language/en/highspeedship/

 

 

[Texed]

10 hours ago, villauk said:

Hi Ed,

Hope you and Jacquie are well.

 

We are doing great.  We hope all is well on your end also.  😊

[villauk]

10 hours ago, monkey@cruise said:

From Ujina Foreign Trade Wharf. to Hiroshimako  Ferry terminal to  Miyajima, 

 

https://setonaikaikisen.co.jp/language/en/highspeedship/

 

 

Thank you so much.

The port shuttle dropped us off at Hiroshima Port Ujina from where we took the high speed ferry to Miyajima 👍. I’ll explain more when I get to that day in the review.