We have booked this cruise...which is realy 3 back to backs.... San Francisco - Tokyo; Tokyo to Hong Kong; Hong Kong to Brisbane.

Our "Circle Pacific Lite" cruise.

This is my 3rd cruise, I'll be going with my mother for Mother's Day. Neither one of us has been to Alaska before it should be a trip to remember.

I found this video which has a nice Luminosa overview. Looking forward to it!

Saturday, Oct 3rd – Otaru (Sapporo), Japan (7am – 5pm)

o   Katsunai Pier

o   Sightseeing – ChatGPT - Use TaxiGo App or Uber

o   15 min TaxiGo App or Uber

o   Estimated: Y$2,500-3,500 per taxi / CAD $22- 31

o   7:45am – 9:40am – Otaru Tenguyama Ropeway

o   Ticket: Y$2,000 return per person

o   Ropeway opens at 9am. (4) go to ticket counter & (4) go to boarding line.

o   Ropeway takes you to the summit in about 5 mins. Sit on the right side going up.

o   10 min TaxiGo App or Uber

o   Estimated: Y$2,000 per taxi / C$18

o   10:15am-10:40am – Otaru Canal Cruise (Signature Experience)

o   Ticket: Y$1,800 / C$15.71 each – buy at least 15mins prior to departure

o   Runs every 30

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o   10:40am – 11:20am – Historic Canal Warehouses

o   Walk toward the canal waterfront

o   Follow the promenade north for classic warehouse views

o   Cross one bridge for the best photo angle

o   Built in 1912

o   Best iconic view of Otaru – been seen from Chuo Bridge or Asakusa Bridge

o   Minimal Walk

o   11:20am – 12:45pm – Lunch

o   Otaru Masazuchi Main Store or Otaru Masazuchi Zen-An (sister restaurant)

o   Reserve in advance – Ask cruise concierge to call or reserve online

·        Table for 8, 11:30am seating. Request private room if available

o   Estimated: Y$5,000-7,000 / C$44-62 each

o   70-year old sushi institution famous for seasonal local seafood

o   Or Sushidokoro Saika

o   Reserve in Advance – Ask cruise concierge to call or reserve online

·        Table for 8, 11:30am seating. Request private room if available

o   Estimated: Y$5,000-7,000 / C$44-62 each

o   Walk downhill

o   12:45pm – 1:45pm – Sakaimachi Strolling

o   LeTAO Main Store – buy takeaway double fromage cheesecake mini version

o   Drop by: Kitaichi Glass (famous glass-blowing workshop) & Kitaichi Hall (Café), Rokkatei & Kita-no-aisukurimu-ya-san (Hokkaido sweets & ice cream), Music Box Museum, Glass Studio (small glass craft shops everywhere)

o   LeTao Pathos (famous Hokkaido cheesecake + light meals)

o   Walk back toward the Canal

o   Optional micro-stops: Kitaichi Glass, Steam clock area, Photo bridges

o   2:45pm-3:50pm

o   Coffee / Sit near the canal

o   Walk (20min)

o   4:10pm - Return to Ship

Sunday, Oct 4th – Aomori, Japan (10am – 7pm) -

Is the below reasonable for a private taxi for the day? Could we make similar arrangements directly at the port upon arriving?

Sunday, Oct 11th – Osaka (Kyoto), Japan (7am-7pm)

o   Osaka Amazing Pass – 1 Day – Confirm availability in the Spring on www.osaka-amazing-pass.com

o   Y3,500/$30.47CAD per person

o   Includes free entry to Osaka Castle Main Tower, Umeda Sky Building Observatory, Dotonbori River Cruise & Unlimited Osaka Metro & buses

o   Sightseeing – ChatGPT - Use TaxiGo App or Uber

o   20-25 min - TaxiGo App or Uber

o   8:25am - 10:30am – Osaka Castle Park

o   Drop at Otemon Gate or Sakuramon Gate (shortest, flattest walk)

o   Castle Park & exterior grounds are free to explore

o   20 min - TaxiGo App or Uber

o   10:50am - 1:30pm - Dotonbori, Namba & Shinsaibashi

o   Walk along Dotonbori Canal, Glico Man sign, neon landmarks

o   Dotonbori River Cruise

·        Boarding: Tombori River Cruise pier

·        Duration: 20 min

·        Boats departs every 30-60 minutes

·        Pier is directly on the sightseeing route

·        Ticket: Y1,800/$15.67CAD per person if purchased separately

o   20 min - TaxiGo App or Uber

o   1:55pm - 3:30pm – Umeda Sky Building – Floating Garden Observatory

o   15 min - TaxiGo App or Uber

o   3:30pm-3:45pm - Return to Osakako Station

o   10 min walk

o   From Osakako Station, walk 5-10-mins walk to the terminal

Tuesday, Oct 13th – Fukuoka (Hakata), Japan (8am-5pm)

o   15 min - TaxiGo App or Uber to Hakata Station

o   25 min Train

o   Take JR Sasaguri Line toward Keisen

o   Get off at Kido-Nanzoin-mae Station

o   Walk 3-5min to Nanzoin entrance

o   9:30am - 10:30am - Nanzoin Temple

o   30 min – Return train to Hakata Station

o   Same JR line back

o   11am - 12:15pm – Hakata Old Town Walk

o   Tochoji Temple - Japan’s largest seated wooden Buddha (5min walk from Hakata Station)

o   Kushida Shrine - Founded in 757 CE! (10min walk from Hakata Station)

o   5 min walk

o   12:20pm - 1:30pm - Canal City Hakata (Lunch stop)

o   10 min walk + Subway

o   From Canal City to Tenjin Station, take subway Kuko Line to Ohori Park Station (2 stops)

o   1:45pm - 3:15pm – Ohori Park & Fukuoka Castle Ruins

o   Short walk north to

o   Maizuru Park / Fukuoka Castle Ruins 

·        Lunch optional here: Several cafés around for picnic

o   30 min by Subway

o   From Ohori Park to Hakata Station, take Kuko Line back to Hakata Station

o   From Hakata Station to Port, either take Bus (25min) or Taxi (15 min)

o   4:15pm – 4:30pm – All aboard at 5pm

Wednesday, Oct 14th – Seogwipo (Jeju), South Korea (8am-5pm)

o   8am - 8:30am – Uber available or KakaoApp

o   8:30am - 9:45am - Cheonjeyeon Falls,

25-30 min Coastal City Walk

o   10:15am - 11:30am - Jeongbang Falls one of the few waterfalls in Asia that flows directly into the ocean

o   15 min walk

o   11:45am - 1pm - Seogwipo Maeil Olle Market (Lunch Stop)

o   15 min Bus

o   Local green bus toward Oedolgae & get off at Oedolgae Park

o   1:15pm - 2:45pm - Oedolgae Rock & Coastal Olle Trail

o   15 min walk

o   Walk from Oedolgae area

o   3pm - 3:45pm – Saeseom Island (optional but lovely)

o   Quiet island loop. Views back toward Seogwipo.

o   30 min – Uber available or KakaoApp

o   3:45pm - 4:15pm – To Cruise Port

Friday, Oct 16th – Keelung (Taipei), Taiwan (8am-10pm)

o   10-12 min walk to Keelung TRA Station

o   8:40am – 9:25am – Train to Taipei Main Station

o   TRA Local or Express Train towards Taipei/Shulin (35-40min – very frequent)

o   15 min Train

o   MRT Red Line toward Xiangshan

o   Exit at Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall

o   Exit 5

o   9:40am - 11am – Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall

o   15 min Train

o   MRT Green Line

o   Exit at Ximen Station

o   Exit 6

o   11:15am - 12:30pm – Ximending (Lunch + Old Taipei)

o   15 min Train

o   MRT Red Line towards Shuanglian Station

o   Exit 1

o   Walk toward Dihua Street

o   12:45pm - 2:15pm – Dadaocheng & Dihua Street

o   Historic Taipei

o   1hr30 Train + Bus

o   MRT Red Line towards Zhongxiao Fuxing

o   Exit 2

o   Board Bus 1062 to Jiufen Old Street

o   3:45pm - 6pm – Jiufen Old Street (Golden Hour)

o   1hr30 Bus, Train & Walk

o   Bus 1062 to Ruifang Station

o   TRA Train to Keelung Station

o   5-6 mins walk

o   7:30pm - 9:30pm – Miaokou Night Market (Dinner near ship)

o   5-6 min Walk

o   9:30pm - 10pm – Easy stroll and return to ship

o   Harbor walk

o   Sit-down café

Sunday, Oct 18th – Hong Kong (7am-10pm)

o   7am - 7:45am – Disembark & Transfer to Central Station & Victoria Tram

o   Walk from Terminal to Kai Tak MTR Station

o   Take Tuen Ma Line toward Tuen Mun. Ride 2 stops to Diamond Hill.

o   Transfer to Kwun Tong Line toward Whampoa. Ride 3 stops to Yau Ma Tei.

o   Transfer to Tsuen Wan Line toward Central Station. Exit at Central Station.

o   Use Exit J2.

o   From Central Station Exit J2, walk to Exchange Square Bus Terminal

o   Board Bus 15 toward The Peak

o   Ride 35min

o   Get off at The Peak Bus Terminus

o   8am - 9:30am – Victoria Peak (Iconic Morning Views)

o   Peak Tram Up – Peak Tram Lower Terminus (10 min)

o   Peak Tram Down – Return by tram to Central (10min)

o   9:30am - 10:15am – Return to Central Station

o   Board Bus 15 back to Central Station

o   Get off at Exchange Square

o   10:15am - 12:30pm – Central Heritage Walking Loop (Downhill & Flat)

o   All stops are walkable and efficient

·        Statue Square

·        St. John’s Cathedral

·        Former Legislative Council Building

·        PMQ (Police Married Quarters)

o   12:30pm - 1:15pm – Transit to Lantau Island

o   Walk back to Central Station

o   Take Tung Chung Line toward Tung Chung

o   Ride 35min

o   Exit at Tung Chung Station

o   Follow signs to Ngong Ping 360 Cable Car

o   1:15pm - 4:15pm – Ngong Ping 360 Cable Car & Big Buddha

o   Ngong Ping 360 cable car - 25 mins spectacular scenic journey 

o   Tian Tan Big Buddha

o   Po Lin Monastery

o   Ngong Ping Village (late lunch/snacks)

o   4:15pm - 5:15pm – Return to Central Station

o   Cable Car to Tung Chung

o   MTR Tung Chung Line to Central Station

o   5:30pm – 6:15pm – Central Station to Star Ferry (Tsim Sha Tsui Ferry Pier)

o   Walk from Central Station to Central Pier 7

o   Board Star Ferry to Tsim Sha Tsui (Ferry time is 8min)

o   Central Star Ferry Pier

o   6:30pm – 7:45pm – Dinner & Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade Walk

o   8pm - 8:15pm – Symphony of Stars

o   8:15pm - 8:30pm – Uber to Cruise Terminal

We are Kris & Dan, full-time (ish) travelers from Lincoln NE.

We have booked this as our passage back to the US after 10 weeks in Australia/NZ--7 in a row of which will be on the Splendor. 

We fly to Oahu in January for a week for Dan to see the Sony Open golf tourney before flying to Sydney (plus we were more interested in splitting up that long flight)

We have friends, Sean & Renee, who are also joining us in Sydney & for the 1st 3 weeks of the Splendor (NZ legs). 

I did the Splendor last year & I am super excited to share the area with Dan & our friends.

We currently are booked in Brisbane for 10 days before this cruise, the may look into Gold Coast and/or Sunshine Coast for part of that.

Can't wait!

John and Anna 

Venturing to some places that Cruise Ships rarely go ( Norfolk Island)

Who’s going.

Our cruise is a little way off yet, but definately looking forward to getting back into cruising after a 10 year break.

I hope everyone can introduce themselves and share some hints and tips. 

Let the countdown begin!

Travelling on the Luminosa ex Brisbane Jan 11 2026.Who else is travelling on this one?

First time cruiser here

Hans and Brett - Florida

Day 1 Sun Feb 8 Brisbane
Day 2 Mon Feb 9 Cruising
Day 3 Tue Feb 10 Airlie Beach
Day 4 Wed Feb 11 Cairns
Day 5 Thu Feb 12 Willis Islets
Day 6 Fri Feb 13 Cruising
Day 7 Sat Feb 14 Brisbane

Other than that, I'm excited.

I've just booked after being lucky enough to win a competition for free flights from London to Australia!

Keen to meet you all.