Panorama Transpacific 08/22/24 - 09/10/24 - Live-ish 'cause that's how I roll

[CoffeeGoddess]

So, turns out that the spa's system is not the same as the ship one and they did not jump forward 23 hours. When I went to check in they said that my massage was tomorrow because they are still on the 4th. We'll that's gotta be a total mess. They were able to get me in at 2pm so at least there's that.

 

I figured since I was up I might as well go and soak in a hot tub and that's what I did. It also got progressively more foggy until there was even a light misting in the main pool area of the Lido deck.

 

 

While I had the tub to myself it did finally get two people in there. One of them first went into the pool and made a shocked noise when he did. When he got in he was talking about how cold the pool was. Now, I was pretty sure they were heating them like most ships I've been on so thought it couldn't be that cold. He said if I wanted to go try it he'd go with and since I had been in there a bit I thought sure. Reader, I was wrong and the pool was absolutely not heated. The noises I made as I descended that ladder probably amused everyone in the pool area and the two decks above. But by god I said I would do it and I did, going completely under. That hot tub felt all the better after that. The guy was laughing at me but said I had his respect since I actually went through with it.

 

I spent about 2 hours in the hot tub and did go back in the pool for a little bit before heading back to my cabin to change. Lunch was a Guy's burger and then it was time for my massage.  I then spent some time in my cabin when I got back to edit a video on Instagram that I took yesterday of Victor making a Sexy Lemon Drop shot. Now I'm at Alchemy enjoying a drink while figuring out if I want to eat dinner or just call it an early night.

[pe4all]

58 minutes ago, CoffeeGoddess said:

Now, I was pretty sure they were heating them like most ships I've been on so thought it couldn't be that cold.

I haven't seen one heated pool on Carnival - even on our Alaska cruise.  Maybe they only heat the ones in spa areas?

[CoastalCatharine]

12 hours ago, CoffeeGoddess said:

 

No we're at the Diakoku Pier Cruise Terminal.

 

OK, had no idea that existed. Strategically good location for bigger ships. Not so user friendly for customers. Great call on doing the transfer. 

[CoffeeGoddess]

On 9/5/2024 at 1:52 AM, pe4all said:

I haven't seen one heated pool on Carnival - even on our Alaska cruise.  Maybe they only heat the ones in spa areas?

 

See, the NCL ships I've been on have been heated, not much but enough so it wasn't straight out the ocean temp. I guess since it was night when I went in the first couple nights it had time to warm up from the sun.

[CoffeeGoddess]

The ship has run out of oatmilk as of yesterday. I was hoping it was just at the Ocean Plaza bar since I got my morning coffee there yesterday and then got tea from the Java Blue. But no, they only have soy and almond milk now. I can't do soy milk and their almond milk is too sweet as I found out yesterday. Thankfully they can do breve so I can have my morning latte and then black coffee if I want any more during the day.

 

Hopefully can get more in Japan but if not, I will go on.

[CoffeeGoddess]

It is a beautiful, if windy, clear warm sunny day today. There are more people on deck then I have seen since leaving Alaska.

 

 

 

While walking around deck 11 on the Starboard midship side I saw these two orange balls out at sea. It looked like they were keeping equal distance to each other as we went past them and I don't know what they are except obviously some kind of bouy. I'm going to try posting it to the whatisthisthing sub on Reddit a d I'm sure they'll have an answer. 

 

Edited September 6 by CoffeeGoddess

[CoffeeGoddess]

A little earlier this afternoon until around 5pm the ship's wifi went down. It was the same time we were sailing close enough to the coast of a Russian island that you could see it clearly from the Starboard side of the ship. Coincidence? Probably but it's more interesting to think it wasn't.

 

It's the last elegant night so I'm going goth-lite and have a reservation in for dinner in the main dining room. I'm chilling in the Alchemy Bar until then since it was a 90 to 120 minute wait when I put it in. Since we need to do customs and immigration at Otaru in the morning I plan to get an earlier night. They're going to do it on the ship and call us by deck number starting at 1. Then everyone needs to stay off the ship until it's completed so I plan to head to the Steam Locomotive Museum once released. Ever onward, ever forward, yes?

 

 

[pe4all]

8 hours ago, CoffeeGoddess said:

 

See, the NCL ships I've been on have been heated, not much but enough so it wasn't straight out the ocean temp. I guess since it was night when I went in the first couple nights it had time to warm up from the sun.

Or from people peeing in it - lol!

[CoffeeGoddess]

I'm pursuing Google Maps around the Otaru port and checked out the website for the international tourist office right by the port. They had a list of links as I scrlled down one of the pages and one of them was "cruise ships" so of course I clicked that. This was the first thing that popped up so I had to screen shot it to share.

 

 

 

It's pretty neat that we're the largest ship to port there. Maybe it was mentioned in announcements on board but I really don't remember if it was.

[pe4all]

7 hours ago, CoffeeGoddess said:

It is a beautiful, if windy, clear warm sunny day today. There are more people on deck then I have seen since leaving Alaska.

 

 

 

While walking around deck 11 on the Starboard midship side I saw these two orange balls out at sea. It looked like they were keeping equal distance to each other as we went past them and I don't know what they are except obviously some kind of bouy. I'm going to try posting it to the whatisthisthing sub on Reddit a d I'm sure they'll have an answer. 

 

These are probably bouys attached to fishing nets.

[x lindsay x]

I've been really enjoying your review. The color palette of your clothing is very similar to mine. 🖤

 

Your discussion of the early morning immigration stop has made me remember my first cruise in 2004 where we stopped in St. Thomas and had US Immigration on the ship and we had to wake up early and go deck by deck to be processed before we could be let off the ship for the day. I do not miss those days. 

 

I think those bouys could be attached to a crab pot like on Deadliest Catch.

[jimbo5544]

1 hour ago, x lindsay x said:

I've been really enjoying your review. The color palette of your clothing is very similar to mine. 🖤

 

Your discussion of the early morning immigration stop has made me remember my first cruise in 2004 where we stopped in St. Thomas and had US Immigration on the ship and we had to wake up early and go deck by deck to be processed before we could be let off the ship for the day. I do not miss those days. 

 

I think those bouys could be attached to a crab pot like on Deadliest Catch.

We had to surrender passports in similar style on our Antartica cruise last year, I think before we got to the Falklands (cannot really remember) had to go to during room at a set time, we got them back in similar fashion 2 days later.

[CoffeeGoddess]

 

We're waiting for them to start calling decks now that all the excursion people have been cleared.

[CoffeeGoddess]

It is 7pm here and I am dead tired. I walked a lot in the sun but thankfully there was a nice breeze so it didn't get sweltering.  The Steam Locomotive Museum was really well done with a lot of information and actual cars an engines. It did take about a half hour to walk there but it's right off the canal so walking back I took my time and pictures.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The main portion of the historic area started when I got closer to the area that was in front of the peir. I had paid for the dual admittance fee for both the train museum and the history one that was in the historical warehouse district so went there next.

 

 

 

 

It had a lot of interesting exhibits in it about the Aniu and the history of Otaru. It also had a large collection of mounted insects. The small nature section really packed in a lot.

[CoffeeGoddess]

Here's the Funtimes for today and I am going to bed. I'll post some more about Otaru later but as I said, I am dead tired.

 

 

 

[CoffeeGoddess]

It's morning here in Aomori and I'm a little wrecked from yesterday. The outside of my calves are very sore from walking on not great brick walks all day. I also did a couple of those ankle dips where you go on the side of your foot but catch yourself before you actually sprain it. So I shall not be going into town today. There is a museum right at the port where we docked which I am going to visit and hopefully get a magnet from. Otherwise today I shall soak in the hot tub and pool and probably do my final load of laundry.

[CoffeeGoddess]

The Museum was small but packed with a lot of things including a recreation of a typical Japanese house in the 1800's. I really enjoyed it and it was free. They did have a small layout of gifts as you walked in and I picked up several small items which they packagedin an origamibag made from newspaper.  They were also doing a little tea ceremony as well.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The only thing missing was a magnet for my collection but I'll live. Went back to the ship a bit sweaty since it was hot out and the Museum had fans and not much more for air conditioning. I did get a load of clothes in the washer and went up to the pool while that was going. The waters not as cold as the last time and felt really good. Coming back from putting the clothes in the dryer I smelled deliciousness and checked the buffet.  My prayers had been answered because it was an Indian one! Rice with tender lamb, chicken curry, kebab, and baked paneer were all good. Maybe they'll do another one tonight as well.

 

[CoffeeGoddess]

I finished up my laundry and thought I'd throw a few things I knew I was not going use anymore into my luggage.  Which turned into a full on packing session because ADHD.

 

 

Finally I got to a point where I could go do something else and went to check the pool. It was getting crowded so I didn't feel like getting in but still wanted to do something.  And, low, I lifted mine eyes unto the heavens and saw the objects of desires.  WATER SLIDES!

 

 

 

 

I did the red one with the tube first and it kept trying to turn around. The blue one was super fast and I wound up with water up my nose when I hit the water at the end. Still all kinds of good times.

 

I was finished at about 4 so swung by Alchemy to see if they were opening at 4 per the app and Victor was there ready to go. I did go change first because it's cold down here. Now I'm enjoying my first alcoholic beverage of the day, as Victor pointed out when he rang me up.

 

 

Edited September 8 by CoffeeGoddess

[rrraydon]

On 8/28/2024 at 9:50 PM, CoffeeGoddess said:

They had a few small tanks in the center and three larger open ones that were touch tanks. They also have a hatchery tour as part of the admission but I didn't want to wait for it.

 

 

 

 

 

Next to the building was their store and a nice little beach area with some large boulders and a bunch of dead salmon in various stages of decay.

 

 

 

 

On my walk back I took a picture of an interesting flower and thought how I'd like to know what it was. Then smacked my head and remembered I'd'installed both the Seek app and it's companion iNaturalist which would do that for me.

 

 

On my walk back along the marina I used it to do 8 more identifications as I ran across interesting plants and flowers. Hopefully I can get service in Icy Straight during my hike tomorrow so I can use it then. You can also use pics you already took with it but it's easier to use the camera feature since you sometimes need to move it around and zoom in or out for it to make a full identification.

They are beautiful, I have one in my flower garden.

[rrraydon]

You have a great writing style, I'm enjoying your review very much. I do hope you'll continue to post during your land based vaca! 😁

[CoffeeGoddess]

This is it, the final sea day before we debark our home for the past 18 nights. The CD had one final disembarkment presentation this morning and also called up all the room stewards since it's their appreciation day.

 

 

 

 

 

It's going to be similar to the Otaru port but instead of calling decks they are calling group numbers who will then proceed to the theater on deck 4. While we aren't going through immigration, we do still need to do customs and fill out another form. Also, the port is only allowing 100 people off at a time. So they'll run us through the Liquid Lounge as a staging area and count us off in a 100 as they let us go through.

 

He said that this is more of an industrial port for cargo and other ships which is why there are so many restrictions.  He also noted that while walking out of the port area is not illegal, there really isn't much there to be able to walk to nor does the bridge allow pedestrians so getting a taxi or a shuttle is the best bet.

 

I got my tags a few days ago since I purchased a transfer and am in Group 6 which is tentatively scheduled for 8:25 to 8:45 and my transfer is scheduled to leave at 10am. So it definitely gives a bit of a cushion. They did provide the debark info sheet last night, along with our last Funtimes for today.

 

 

 

 

 

I've finished packaging my checked luggage so will have that out by 8pm. I did take some time in the pool this afternoon because it is hot and humid outside. I have my suit drying on my balcony now while I'm enjoying a drink in the Havana Bar.

 

 

I walked through the casino just a while ago and all the slots were offline. There was a large huddle of crew discussing what was happening so obviously it was not something that was planned. The table game displays were not affected so they were continuing on.

 

In other news, there did not appear to have been any provisions acquired in the two ports so things contine to run out. Andy did make a joke about the bananas which have gone the way of the dodo along with the oatmilk, fizzy water, and the Naked Juices. I'm glad I grabbed one of the green ones several days ago to put in my fridge until I wanted it because it hit the spot this morning.

 

Edited September 9 by CoffeeGoddess

[pe4all]

Really enjoyed your review - safe travels home.  On the "banana" note - I have found that by the last day or 2 of all our cruises yes - they have no bananas! Or if they do, they are brown and icky.  That should be my worst problem in life - lol!

[CoffeeGoddess]

Farewell and adieu you fair Spanish ladies . . .

 

 

Yes, the luggage is out and it is time for one last sleep in the cabin bed.

 

Victor decided to get me and everyone else he could lit on the last night of the cruise so did shots.

 

 

And then took selfies before we left for the night. Such a fun time and great crew all around.

 

 

I envy the people who are able to take the ship back after dry dock. My PTO however has run dry with this one. Tomorrow is Yokohama and my start of 4 days on land.

[x lindsay x]

Hope you'll be sharing your land portion of the trip. Thanks for sharing your travels with us!

[ARcruisin2]

On 9/7/2024 at 11:30 PM, CoffeeGoddess said:

The Museum was small but packed with a lot of things including a recreation of a typical Japanese house in the 1800's. I really enjoyed it and it was free. They did have a small layout of gifts as you walked in and I picked up several small items which they packagedin an origamibag made from newspaper.  They were also doing a little tea ceremony as well.

 

the museum looks very interesting 🙂