Millennium Asian Odyssey B2B2B2B September 12 to November 9, 2014

I am seriously addicted to cruising Celebrity-style and our annual back to back Odyssey is just over a month away. We do not live close to any port so for us, transportation takes up a considerable portion of our cruising budget. As a result we always book back to back cruises to spread the cost of airfare over an extended cruise itinerary.

There have been many changes since we first cruised on Horizon 20 years ago but we continue to like the product well enough to have booked another dozen cruises over the next year.

According to Celebrity Captain's Club, (I've given up keeping track of our voyages) this will be our 150th Celebrity Cruise... not days but cruises. :D

Originally we had planned to cruise to Asia in Century but those plans changed when itineraries were changed from Japan to Europe ending in Century's transfer to a related company.

Our itinerary:

We booked these cruises in March, watched the prices go up only to see some very special prices this week.

My greatest worry in planning this cruise was the need for a Chinese Visa. I agonized for many weeks, contemplated using the Celebrity Visa Central, only to fill out the form myself and drive for three hours to the Chines Visa Service, passport in hand with a stack of supporting documents. I just could not hand our passports to any delivery or mail service for fear of losing them. I also feared having the form returned due to an error on my part and a further delay.

In the end the process was simple, driving to Toronto last Monday and picking them up on Friday. OK.. seven hours total driving time, getting a parking place in downtown Toronto right in front of the door. Paid for two hours because we were there half an hour early, expected a long bureaucratic wait, but we were on our way home within 20 minutes.

Total cost $290.40 ($ Canadian plus gas plus parking fees minus a lot of stress).

What an amazing itinerary. Hope you guys have a great time

With this many cruises taken and planned I was wondering if you get to share in the tips?

With this many cruises taken and planned I was wondering if you get to share in the tips?

Only in the form of advice...;)

You have a fantastic holiday planned, I hope it exceeds your expectations, I am very envious.

I'm curious, do you always get off the ship and fill your port days with activity or does it get to the point when you are visiting repeat ports that you stay on board?

Deb

Hi Arno,

I hope you & Joanne have a wonderful time on Millennium next month !

Wow, what a trip you have planned !!

Is it possible for you to attach a pdf of the shore excursions celebrity offer in Shimizu please ? I have looked on their website and cannot find any information.

Trying to decide whether to visit Mt Fuji from Tokyo or Shimizu, we will have 2 nights there pre-cruise.

Thank you

Super itinerary; we did B2B on Millennium earlier this year from Singapore-Shanghai. I don't envy you having 2 entries into China at Tianjin though, as immigration was an absolute nightmare there. Still, I'm sure you'll both have a great time.:)

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I'm curious, do you always get off the ship and fill your port days with activity or does it get to the point when you are visiting repeat ports that you stay on board?

 

Hi Deb:

We have never been to Asia before so we plan to get off in each port. In Europe we tend to watch the shore from a bar on board in some ports... ;)

In the Caribbean we enjoy the warmth from our balcony.

. I don't envy you having 2 entries into China at Tianjin though, as immigration was an absolute nightmare there.

Thanks for the heads up.

Hi Arno and Joanne

Have a wonderful trip! We did this itinerary last year. Fantastic! When you are planning Japan check out the Ambassador Program. Volunteers escorted us into Tokyo for the day. The highlight of our trip

Loved the Chinese visa experience. The USA should be so strict;)

For so many, that would be a trip of a lifetime! Lots of time planing a trip that long, so many ports. Take care of Millie, we get on for a month when you depart in a Hong Kong, can't wait.

Happy sailing,

Jenna

Hi Arno, hope you both have a wonderful time:)

One day.......maybe......one day.......

Arno,

That does sound like an awesome itinerary. Like you, we also had our China Japan on the Century cancelled. We will be doing a different one with Oceania around the same time in March. But it won't compare to your adventure. Have a great time!

When you are planning Japan check out the Ambassador Program. Volunteers escorted us into Tokyo for the day. The highlight of our trip

Could you give me a contact email?

What an amazing voyage!

Have a fabulous time.

Could you give me a contact email?

tokyofreeguide.com

Two guides met our group of 12 at the port. We paid for their public transportation and their lunch. We went all over Tokyo. A very enjoyable day

tokyofreeguide.com

We went all over Tokyo. A very enjoyable day

Thank you. :D

Arno, Bob and I are sorry we won't be cruising with you and Joanne on the Century next spring. I hope you have a wonderful cruise on the Millie.

Garry

We received a notice from Celebrity yesterday:

We look forward to welcoming you on Celebrity Millennium® on her September 12, 2014 voyage. We want to let you know that, due to the extraordinary popularity of this sailing with our Elite members, during the Captain's Club Lounge social hour we'll be offering you the choice to enjoy your evening cocktails in your lounge or at various bars and lounges throughout the ship. This will allow us to continue to provide you with the highest quality service while allowing you the opportunity to experience each venue's unique ambiance.

 

On your upcoming cruise, you'll receive three (3) Elite Beverage Vouchers for each evening. The days and hours of your Captain's Club Lounge remain the same, so you'll be sure to find fellow Elites in the Sky Lounge enjoying canapés or out enjoying their social hour in the various venues.

 

We look forward to making your cruise an enjoyable one and hope you enjoy exploring the exciting venues we have on board Celebrity Millennium®.

For those with patience, prices have dropped considerably and all four cruises have been on Tuesday specials. The first leg seems to be totally sold out.

As posters offer advice on different threads, I'll quote them here as well.

There is a tour that everyone who is in HK for the first time should take on the first day:

1. Get a taxi from the terminal to a MTR station. Take the MTR to Tung Chung.

2. At Tung Chung take the Ngong Ping 360 cable car to the Big Buddha( You should read the HK Extras web site and go into the cable car website and order your ticket which can be picked up at the station, as it will be a saturday and the lineups will be long if you do to have reservations)

3. Spend some time at the Buddha and Ngong Ping.

4. Catch a bus from there to Mui Wo or silver mine bay( about 1/2 hr.

5. Spend time there if you like then take the ferry back to HK (you will pass some islands and the western harbour.

6. Take the no. 15 bus close to the ferry terminal to the Peak( forget about taking the tram up as it will be crowded and the wait will be long, also the ride will be something!!

7. Have lunch at the Peak complex and walk around for the views of HK ten take the tram back to Central.

Depending on what else you want to see that day, you can do a bit more research and decide.

As posters offer advice on different threads, I'll quote them here as well.

I agree wholeheartedly about the above advice. Just what we did.