On your own must sees and do’s in Tokyo

 Well no mistaking it this city is huge and the key attractions are spread out. Google map directions will be your guide and friend if you take the trains and subway but is quite useless if you are walking.

Stay around shinjuku station. I stayed in a double room and it was large clean and comfortable in WPU shijuku. About 350cdn for 3 nights. No views but so convenient.

Here’s what i did and tips

Took the subway to Senshi shrine in Akursas.  The crowds are crazy, the shopping good, and the food good and unusual. 

Took the subway to Oeno park, and the Tokyo national museum. There is lots to do in this park, a zoo, shrine, museums. The museum is 1000 yen for the regular exhibition and it’s more than enough. I had lunch saw the shrine. Give yourself at lest 2 or 3 hours.

Went to see the imperial palace gardens near Tokyo station. Free and beautiful.

Took the subway to Meiji shrine. Lots of walking and then to shinjuku gardens. It’s 250 yen for seniors to get in. Nice walk but many mosquitoes and bugs.

Went to Shibuya crossing and this is where there is tons of shopping. The mega Don Quixote store is 7 floors of chaotic shoppers.

Went to floor 45 of the Tokyo metropolitan building. Free and great views of Tokyo

That’s it for 3 days. Jam packed and lots of walking in the train stations. People are not friendly in Tokyo and they openly show disdain for tourists. Women were the kindest when I was lost. 

Get a welcome Suica card.. free and put 2000 yen on it for three days and the sights above.

Eating in Tokyo is hit or miss. I picked small family owned places away from the train station. The family mart and 7 eleven sandwiches are cheap and delicious.

Hope this helps

Marcia

Shimishu aka Mount Fuji port info you need to know

 Here’s the low down on this port.

The people greet you with enthusiasm. Get off the ship as early as possible. Grab a cab to the Ropeway for 3000 yen (share if you can) one way. At the ropeway buy a combo ticket for 1975 yen for the cable car, shrine and museum. Note there are steep steps up to the various points in the shrine grounds, about 300 in total. Bring a walking stick and take your time as there’s lots to see, go to the top and when you come down go into the museum. The cable car only takes 5 minutes each way. 

After go up to the terrace and this is free and great pictures of Mount Fuji.

Note in the terrace grounds away from the ropeway store, there are other stores that are cheaper for souvenirs.

Back in port, go to the mall as there’s lots to eat. Then walk around the harbour.

This is an amazing port, and you can save time, money and avoid the ropeway crowds by going early. The ship wanted almost 300usd for the same tour. It cost me 50usd by sharing the cab

Hope this helps

Marcia

Akita, Japan a terrific cruise port stop

 The ship offers a  round trip shuttle to the Senshu park area of downtown for $20usd. Well worth it and very organized. There were entertainers at the terminal and some shopping. Note the downtown stores are much cheaper. Senshu park is beautiful but uphill isn’t easy with the steps difficult up to the castle. But well worth the trek to see gardens , shrines , statues and lots of dragon flies.  The koi ponds are full of beautiful fish. 

Spend time in the park, as there are lots of benches and tranquil places. You can also see the Akita dogs for free. 

There was a festival on with craft booths. We had great chicken ramen in a restaurant recommended by a volunteer guide. She walked us to the restaurant. We also had ice cream made in the shape of a flower.

I found the price of food reasonable.

There are also museums and galleries so I would love to come back.

Hope this helps

Marcia

Hakodate Japan cruise port must sees

 like Muroran, this is an  ugly cruise dock. Quantum of the seas was totally disorganized with the free shuttle and thousands were waiting for the shuttle. Save yourself the hassle and take a taxi to Goryako tower and the park. It costs 2000 yen each way, but we split it 3 ways. The tower was terrific, efficiently run and good souvenirs. The views are amazing . It cost 1000 to go up and worth it on a nice day. In the park the magistrate building is worth a visit at 500 yen. The art gallery was closed. It’s across the street and I am sad I missed it as the building has great architecture.

Lots of restaurants nearby and we had a great lunch. Walk a little way down from the tower for the better restaurants.

Hope this helps

Marcia

Visit to Muroran/Sapporo cruise port was a bust

 What an ugly port is Muroran Japan. The cruise line calls it Sapporo, but Sapporo is actually an hour away by train. And all the seats to Sapporo sold out as there are over 4000 passengers on the ship. It was chaos at the train station. Save yourself the hassle and get the really basic map and walk 4 blocks to a small free cultural center where you can learn calligraphy, flower arranging and join a tea ceremony. There are a few crafts for sale. I bought a bowl and small painting for 1000 yen. It’s fun. Then cross the street to the big mall with a Daisa store. It was fun wandering thru the grocery part. You can get food for take out very cheap.  

The ships shuttle which took 1/2 hour to the train station was easy and cost 15usd for multiple trips.

But this is an industrial town with lovely people and an ugly town. I felt like I was in a sci-fi movie. 

Hope this helps

Marcia

Review of Quantum of the Seas aka queues of the seas

 I am on a 15 day pacific crossing from Seattle to Japan. Overall, it was just Ok. Nothing bad but nothing terrific either.

Ship paid transfer from Seatac airport to port. They check you in for the ship and give you a wristband so you will go right thru at the port. Make sure you have your Sea pass printed out as you will show it about 4 times prior to boarding the ship. However it’s a long wait to board the bus, as they give out colour cards and fully board the passengers and luggage on a bus before boarding the next bus. Note there were 3 buses but even though we had just enough people waiting for two buses they make you wait in the cold for an about a half hour. I have never seen the ground crew be less efficient and less welcoming.

It takes about a half hour to get to the port. As long as you have the cruise tags on your luggage they load it directly on to the ship once the luggage is unloaded. Then the embarkation is speedy, you just show your sea pass and get on the ship. Your sea card will be on the door of your cabin.

Note rooms are ready at 1 pm. My cabin is called a super solo balcony. The cabin is small but the balcony almost the same size. The bed is a 3/4 with a topper. Quite comfortable. Note the bathroom is regular size with a larger shower, but water pressure is not great. You will need to ask for extra hangers, pillows, bathrobe and ice from your room steward. Use the app to order and this means you will get it quicker and meet your steward.

This is a very crowded ship. It seems there are no quiet places. Note the ship passengers profile is about 50/50 Asian and Caucasian. This means the free eating venues will be packed all day with Asians and they will not leave the tables so others can eat. This means constant announcements to vacate your table after eating which go unheeded.  Also they don’t put out whole fruit, or the smoked salmon, in the buffet. You have to ask an officer to get you a piece of fruit. They say many passengers take too much fruit.  I have to ask the officer daily for an apple. So disappointed. I wrote to the hotel director and now they deliver an apple/orange a day.

As on all ships the  room stewards and waiters are top notch. 

Entertainment staff middle of the road, not bad just have attitudes towards the passengers. It’s their ship not the guests so comply or they will berate you. I saw this more than once so far, and was taken aback, but just stayed out of the melee.  There was only on shore excursion talk on Japan. This is the only ship where there are no general port talks or enrichment talks on Japan. I am vey disappointed. Just enrichment talks on airplanes, don knots, the history of Rcl and a psychological discussion of murders. So yucky.

It’s all ages but not that many children.

Entertainment is typical cruise ship style with in specialty show where you need reservations. It was just ok and extremely loud. Not to my taste but many liked it. Mostly they show old movies in the theatre.

Dining room has set reservations and they move you around even if you don’t want to move. This is just strange.

Many of the entertainment shows are just to sell you, art more cruises etc.

I don’t hate the ship, just ok with it as I hate crowds and queues, and this ship should be called queues of the seas.

A highlight of this cruise were the Japanese ports. In muroran you pay for a shuttle to the train station return. 15 usd. The town is not great but the people are nice and cheaper shopping. In Hakodate, the disembarkation was chaos for a free shuttle to nowhere good. Grab a cab to Hakodate tower and gardens 2100 yen each way. In Akita the 20usd shuttle is a great deal as it leaves you off at the park, a must see and free. The downtown is walkable with shops.

In shimishu, for Mount Fuji, get a cab to the ropeway and viewing terrace. 3000 yen each way. The ropeway, and shrine and museum combined ticket is 1975 yen. The terrace is free. Best view of Mount Fuji. This is a must do.

You get in an inconvenient terminal and there is a free shuttle to a train station and then you are on your own to get to Tokyo.its a nightmare. 

RCL doesn’t do logistics well… and on a ship this size, shame on them

Hope this helps

Marcia