monkey@cruise

Though airplane etiquette is only recline your seat when necessary. But during long haul flights, lots of passengers will recline the seat all the way back to rest, that will encroaching your personal space and your comfort on the tray.

I did travel on Business, Premium Economy and Economy on different carriers between Central Canada and Hong Kong. Mostly I used points for my flights, so I have exposed to different environment. There are small tips to survive long haul on Economy. - Avoid North American carriers, I met some Chicago cruisers in Singapore and Hong Kong, mostly they flew on JAL (Japan Air Lines) - Eva Air is one of the top notch on Business Class, their flights from North America to Asia are late night departure, Jason Wu design unisex pajamas amenity. - P/E seats are < 2 inches wider than Economy, if your adjacent economy seat is empty, raise the armrest to make your own P/E seat. - Wear loose clothing with layers. - Wear slip on shoe. - Wear compression socks. - Try to travel at night, also Weekday flights usually had lesser passenger load and fares are less. - Don't sit near the bathroom. - Aisle seat for easy stretching legs when needed. - black-out eye mask. - Airbus 350 or Boeing 787 are high tech aircrafts, better flight environment. The biggest challenge for you will be overcome the 13 hours time zone jetlag and climate. Singapore temperature is 35C or 95F with 95% humidity. Hong Kong temperature is also warm mid-twenties C or 77F, also high humidity in 80%.

Kyoto is an inland city. Most cruise ships dock at Tempozan Cruise Terminal in Osaka, 30 miles south of Kyoto.

If you calculate that your travel costs will be lower if you buy individual tickets for each journey, then it's not worth buying a Pass. The Kansai Pass does not cover trains that are operated by Japan Railways (JR).. In Kyoto station, most trains are JR lines. City metro and buses are not, bus fare is 230 yen, metro fare is by distance, as far I know, Nijō Castle, Nanzen-ji Temple and Imperial Palace located near a metro station.

From Yokohama Port Authority: Osanbashi Cruise Terminal in Yokohama.

You may find other cruise passengers taking the metro to Shinjuku or Sibuya. You can store your luggage at the hotel if early arrival. Nearby: Tokyo station is a mini underground city and your lunch ground. Visit Imperial Garden if open to public.

The information is base on travelling during regular hours between 7am - 6pm: Shinkansen is 15 min travel time from Shin-Osaka station to Kyoto station, unreserved seat ticket is ¥3650, runs every 10 - 15min. JR Tokaido Line Rapid (not regular) is 30 min travel time from Osaka station to Kyoto station, fare is ¥580, runs every 15 min, regular had more stops takes 45 min. Tempozan cruise terminal to Osaka station is 11 km; to Shin-Osaka station is 16km. Sometimes Shinkansen is not the quickest travel option.

The street level elevator access to Nihon-Odori Station locates between Citadnines Harbour Front Yokohama hotel lobby entrance and Yokohama Port Post Office bldg. on Honmachi Dori. Avoid transferring at busy hub station like Shibuya, Shinjuku and Shinagawa. Shibuya is a valley, the Minatomirai Line platform is on B5F, where metro Ginza Line at 3F. Naka-Megura station had 2 levels only, easier to navigate. From Hibiya station take EXIT A13 (stairs only), 1000 feet walk to Imperial Hotel. If you don't have IC card and don't know the metro fare cost: Tickets are sold at ticket vending machines found at every Tokyo Metro station. Tickets are available in denominations of 180 yen, 210 yen, 260 yen, 300 yen, and 330 yen. Purchase a 180 yen ticket to get through the gate first. You can pay the extra fare at a fare adjustment machine located near the fare gates at your destination station. When you place your ticket into the machine, it will display the fare difference you owe. After inserting the difference, take your ticket and pass through the fare gate.

Very easy: In Nihon-Odori station, board the Minatomirai Line heading to Wakoshi (和光市駅) or Shibuya or Kawagoeshi on platform 2. The line will change to Tokyu Toyoko Line after Yokohama station. Naka-Megura station is one stop before Shibuya station. From Nihon-odri to Hibiya fare is 750 yen, travel time 55 min. Travel time will be shorter if you catch the limited express ones. https://www.mm21railway.co.jp/global/english/station/nihonodori/stationmap.html You need to buy an Interline Ticket: https://www.mm21railway.co.jp/global/english/howto/ Select "Ticket for other companies' railway lines" Select the line to transfer to from Yokohama (Tokyu Toyoko Line)

The ship will dock at Busan Port International Passenger Terminal Cruise Terminal. Compliment shuttle will drop off at the main building (2500 feet away). Busan metro is nearby, Busan City Tour Bus (BUTI) Station is near the The Korean Teachers' Credit Union (KTCU) Building.

Cruise Terminal to Nagasaki Peace Park: From cruise terminal walk 1000 feet to O-Urakaigandori tram Station (stop id: 48) Take Green Line #5: (towards stop id:47 medical center direction). Get off at Shinchi Chinatown Station (stop id:31), go to opposite side tram platform. Take Blue Line #1: (towards stop id:30 Dejima direction). Get off at Peace park (stop id:19), cross New Urakami Road (Nat'l Rte 206) to the Peace Park. Tram: Use the pedestrian crosswalks to enter/exit tram platform. Use the platform directional signage to determine the correct tram. Enter the tram through the rear door and exit through the front door. Pay the driver when exiting. One ride costs a flat 140 yen regardless of how far you travel. A 1-day pass for unlimited use of trams on one calendar day is available for 600 yen. Only at the Shinchi-Chinatown and Shiminkaikan tram stops, it is sometimes necessary to transfer between different lines. To do so without paying extra for the second ride, it is necessary to pay the fare with an IC card (such as Suica, Icoca or Nimoca) within 30 minutes of alighting and boarding. Paper transfer tickets were abolished in April 2021. So it's cost effective to purchase the tram day pass, travelling to peace park, site of the Dutch Trading Post (Dejima); Nagasaki Chinatown, and Glover Garden.

Yokohama Port Authority had the final say on pier assignment. (in Japanese, can google translate to English) https://www.city.yokohama.lg.jp/kanko-bunka/minato/kyakusen/nyuko/2024.html

Osanbashi or Daikoku Pier (if Diamond Princess embark/disembark at Osanbashi).

My Japan flight always leave late at night from Haneda. Usually after disembark, took the bus to Haneda and store my luggage ( lockers or counter services), then take the train to explore Tokyo, back Haneda about 6pm, large food courts in T2 and T3, have a quick meal, retrieve my luggage to check in.

You fly out from Narita or Haneda ? Keikyu bus only operates between Yokohama and Haneda . https://www.keikyu-bus.co.jp/en/airport/h-yamashita/ Here is the timetable from Yokohama Chinatown, frequency is every 30 min , schedule not as good from YCAT terminal.

If your flight depart late, taxi from Daikoku terminal to Yokohama City Air Terminal (YCAT) in sky bldg, under 2700 yen. Direct airport buses to Narita or Handel. No need to spend $200 on taxi fare.

Celebrity Millennium docks at Kobe port terminal, Kamomeria is for small cruise ships. If the City Loop buses are crowded will be a challenge for big part group.

For DIY, purchase the https://visitkochijapan.com/en/usefuls/MY-YU bus pass with 50% off ( foreign passport holders) the pass include city zone tram ride. Kochi is still a cash city, credit cards are seldom accepted.

I was on Celebrity last October and city of Kochi offered free shuttle from cruise terminal to downtown Harimayabashi bus terminal, 1 mile from Kochi castle, either walk or ride the tram (200 yen). Kochi castle is on a hilltop, must shoe remove to climb the top tower. Do the castle if no mobility issue.

You are welcome, CC forums are designated for knowledge sharing. I am in Singapore now, will embark Millennium on 4th March to Japan. Taylor Swift concerts here, tribute to her everywhere, fans are in downtown and stadium area.

You can access offline: https://www.vjw.digital.go.jp/manual/offline/visitjapanweb_manual_offline_en.pdf AIrvine’s will distribute paper forms on flight before landing in Japan. Fill out the paper forms as a backup. Simple solution.

You mean the shinkansen (bullet train) from Osaka to Kyoto? it's a 15 min ride, why pay more and restrict your travel schedule. You can reserve ticket in advance but you must know how to retrieve your tickets from a green vending machine or from ticket office. How to purchase shinkansen tickets https://shinkansen-ticket.com/pages/how-to-purchase-shinkansen-tickets Purchase a non-reserved seat ticket from a vending machine in Shin-Osaka station (10 miles from Osaka cruise terminal). You can board any train stopping at Kyoto, but you only ride in carriage #1 to #3. Non-reserved seat does not specify the train or seat number. Reserved seat specifies the date of travel, train, and seat number.

If ride the JR Yokosuka Line from Yokohama station to Narita Airport, fare is 1980 yen, 2 hours travel time. Or JR Ueno Tokyo Line from Yokohama station to Shimbashi station, transfer Toei Asakusa Line Airport Express to Narita Airport fare: 1900 yen, travel time 70 min. Note: no luggage racks on these commuter trains but traffic jam free!.

Make sure you reserve the luggage space on shinkansen. Will see Mt. Fuji when sitting on the left side travelling from Hiroshima to Shinagawa. Only allow to eat and drink on Shinkansen trains. https://global.jr-central.co.jp/en/info/oversized-baggage/ No luggage racks in commuter train carriages. I usually ride at either end of the train, with more open space and less traffic, act like a Japanese local.

It's an easy one, after 9am rush hours, trains won't be crowded. Shinagawa station to Shin-Koyasu station: JR Keihin-Tōhoku Line - Local (bound to: Isogo/Ofuna) Platform 5, runs every 10 min, fare: ¥310 ,21 min, 6 stops (JK20 - JK14) Walk from Shin-Koyasu station to taxi stand: Station to elevated walkway: the elevator locates where the white trench coat woman standing. Elevator for Elevated walkway to ground floor taxi stand. Taxi stand: Most Japanese taxi drivers don't speak English. Daikoku Pier Cruise Terminal address in Japanese: just show it to the driver without lost in translation 大黒ふ頭客船ターミナル 神奈川県横浜市鶴見区大黒ふ頭13. https://www.yokohamajapan.com/cruise/terminal/daikoku/ Michael