Pushka

I didn't think it was the getting off the ship in Hiroshima that was going to be the delay but rather the exit interview processing on return. You'd think by now this process would be well sorted.

Sad times. Increase the drinks package cost but likewise the wine charge cost until they are no longer covered.

So the premium covers it? It used to cover it easily pre covid.

We had a helicopter evacuation on the Sihouette. Ship had to slow down almost to stationary. It was an incredibly difficult procedure and they had several fly arounds to try achieve it which they did. It's also extremely dangerous for the ship if something should go wrong with the helicopter and its impact on the ship. They did, after an hour or so manage the procedure.

Ah. Thankyou. I don't think he even has an account but might make one for him now and check. His name does appear on my excursion list but will check the drinks thing. I usually do all the planning etc. Yep. That was it. He did have an account that I eventually found and his name is there.

In Retreat so we know premium drinks are included, but when I follow your instructions above, only my name and not husbands, is listed on the premium drinks and wifi. As he's always been on the booking I expect it's just another Celebrity IT thing?

It's always wacky. I have to clear cookies every three or four days to get Celebrity website to work. It just can't handle cookies correctly.

It's for Concierge class.

Your info about Hiroshima is really helpful. I wonder if the cruise line dislikes it when the local port provides the bus and giving people options other then their excursions. And no charge for the shuttle.

I tried using Yokohama City Air Terminal in their search function and it doesn't seem to recognise this place. We will be needing this but have plenty of time to get to Haneda for late flight. Any tips please?

There are many many cruises that don't sail the full circumnavigation but simply do capital city to capital city. I've been on several of those and they are very popular here. Cruises that circumnavigate then hit an overseas country also do so because then they qualify for being a duty free cruise for Australian duty free regulations. And on only Aussie cruises the currency onboard is AUD. Ships usually spend from October to April cruising Australian sectors and sometimes venturing over to NZ or Bali. Im on a Japan cruise next year and it seems the exit and rentry requirements that Japan has in place are time consuming. Rather frustrating given that it's a cabotage requirement for Japan.

Can I just check about the procedures in Hiroshima? Does this mean you arrive into Hiroshima earlier in the day and proceed to port tours as normal, then face exit immigration on return to the ship? Or do you not arrive into Hiroshima until lunchtime and can't do any touring until after 2.30pm plus, and then tour Hisroshima but then what time do you need to be back onboard? I'm trying to sort our day there. That red wine - Grant Burge - is my home territory. We live around 40 minutes from the Barossa Valley. Except. I really don't like Shiraz! And grits. I've heard of them on TV. But what are they? 😂

But not Australia.

Next Year Golden Week falls on our third last day, in Aomori. It's the only day I've booked a ship tour as a result. Unfortunately it is also the first port after we have been to Busan so it also means an Immigration check. Then the next port is Hakodate then a sea day. Then Yokohama.

My understanding is that cruise ships must visit a port out of Japan. I've read of one Celebrity cruise going to Vladivostok but that's onbviously no longer used.