Japan is truly timeless, a place where ancient traditions are fused with modern life as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Discover all that Japan has to offer and see what our team thought about it!
Aida, our Executive Vice President, and Amelia, one of our Travel Designers, recently went on a cruise with Princess Cruises and sailed through Japan. We asked them to describe not only their experience on the ship but also what it was like traveling in Japan.
They journeyed on the Diamond Princess which was a 7-night cruise through Japan.
Here is what they had to say:
What was it like getting on board?
Aida:
We arrived at Haneda airport, which is only 40 minutes from downtown Tokyo. When we first arrived, I noticed that Japan is the cleanest country I have ever seen! We then flew from Osaka to Kyoto to meet the Diamond Princess to sail roundtrip.
Amelia:
Once we arrived at the cruise terminal, we realized that there was nowhere to get food. We did not eat beforehand as we were expecting to get food at the terminal. It is something to keep in mind for future trips. But other than that, check-in went quickly and smoothly.
What was it like on the Diamond Princess?
Aida:
The ship is for the Japanese market. Most of the people on this ship were Japanese. So the toilets were changed in the suites to Japanese toilets. They also made announcements in both languages. Using both languages did not take away from other cruisers but only adds to the uniqueness of this ship. There were Tai Chi lessons offered every morning by the pool. As well as Japanese baths.
One thing on board that stood out, and I highly recommend it to anyone taking this cruise, is the ‘Chef’s Table experience. The experience is an additional $95 but is worth the added cost. With this experience, you get a tour of the galley and we had champagne and appetizers with the head Chef.
Amelia:
The ‘Chef's Table was the one thing that stood out for me as well. After the appetizers, we had dinner served in the Savoy dining room. We sat at a beautifully decorated table and we were served several courses. Every course came with wine, including a dessert wine with our dessert. After the dinner was over, the Chef came and took photos with each guest at the table. We then received a copy of the Princess cookbook which was a lovely takeaway. The "Chef’s Table" was a culinary experience that I would recommend to everyone.
Another unique aspect was that there were movies showing on the big screen on the pool deck. They played throughout the day as well as at night. At night it was nice to sit under the stars with blankets and popcorn to watch a movie!
Describe the Port of Calls. Where did you go?
Amelia:
Hiroshima was my favorite port. Next to that would be Miyazaki. In Hiroshima, our day started with a ferry ride to a nearby island, Itsukushima. On the ferry boat, we passed by the Itsukushima Shrine, and its famous “floating” torii gate. In the morning, the torii gate is surrounded by water; however, changes from high tide to low tide every six hours. The first part of our day was spent dressing in kimonos and having a tea ceremony, prepared by a Tea Master. Typically, this ceremony takes all day; however, ours was 30-40 minutes. We then went upstairs to learn Japanese calligraphy. We were in our kimonos, sitting on pillows on our knees and at a low tabletop. We had a paintbrush and ink and an instructor that would come around and help us out. There were ten words that we could choose from to practice writing in calligraphy; “Love, Harmony, Dream, Spirit… etc.” all words were one symbol. We then learned how to write our names. What was interesting was that Japanese writing doesn’t go by letters, but instead by sound. We got to keep our calligraphy art, which was a great keepsake. Once our morning was completed, we walked over to the Itsukushima shrine. By this time, it was low tide, so we could walk right up to the Torii gate and touch it!
Aida:
In Miyazaki, we visited the Udo Shrine, which was also just as magical. The beautiful blue coastline against the orange shrine, bridges, and fences was lovely. After the scenic walk through the shrine, you go down some steps into an open cave where the main shrine is located with a few shops. There is also a large rope in the shape of a circle on a rock down the coastline. You can buy five pebbles, and you are supposed to throw the stones to land in the circle. Many of the pebbles ricochet off of the rock, however, if you land a pebble in the circle, you make a wish, and it is supposed to be good luck. I landed two! On the way back, we bought soft-serve ice cream with mango syrup and cherries with mango ice cubes at the bottom. It was SO yummy.
The itinerary on the Diamond Princess is always changing, so it is a great cruise option for people who want to explore Japan and do a back-to-back cruise. Contact us today for this one-of-a-kind experience!
– Aida and Amelia
