Japan on Celebrity Millennium - Review, infos and loads of pics

Hi again,

First, thank you for the beautiful package of information and pictures. Second, thank you for giving me the appropriate links for the Shanghai Visa requirements. I do have one more question, if you can help. I do believe that my cruise on the Celebrity Millennium from October 13 - 27 does qualify for the Visa exemption for the 144 hour rule. However, I read something about having some documentation to show that we are exempt. Do you know if that is true and where would I get such documentation for the exemption. Does Celebrity provide you with it, does Japan provide you with it when you land there, does South Korea provide you with it being they are the last stop before Shanghai. I am so confused. I called the Chinese Embassy in NY and they referred me to an international phone number for Shanghai Immigration but they couldn't guaranty anyone would speak English. This is the most frustrating thing and it's a shame that Celebrity doesn't take better care of their passengers on something so important. If you have any further information, I would really like your input and help. Thank you again.

Hi again,

 

First, thank you for the beautiful package of information and pictures. Second, thank you for giving me the appropriate links for the Shanghai Visa requirements. I do have one more question, if you can help. I do believe that my cruise on the Celebrity Millennium from October 13 - 27 does qualify for the Visa exemption for the 144 hour rule. However, I read something about having some documentation to show that we are exempt. Do you know if that is true and where would I get such documentation for the exemption. Does Celebrity provide you with it, does Japan provide you with it when you land there, does South Korea provide you with it being they are the last stop before Shanghai. I am so confused. I called the Chinese Embassy in NY and they referred me to an international phone number for Shanghai Immigration but they couldn't guaranty anyone would speak English. This is the most frustrating thing and it's a shame that Celebrity doesn't take better care of their passengers on something so important. If you have any further information, I would really like your input and help. Thank you again.

Hi,

Thank you!

First of all: I just looked at you cruise again. As long as you leave Shanghai within the 144 hours on a direct flight or a flight with no stop in Korea or China you qualify for the exemption without a doubt.

That being said, you do not require any documentation as in any form or confirmation or specific document.

All you need is a copy of the flight ticket/confirmation of your flight as prove that you are actually leaving within the timeline. When checking in at Yokohama, that is what Celebrity needs to see. Also, in case you are staying overnight in Shanghai, a copy of your hotel reservation. That‘s all!

A day or so before the end of the cruise you will receive a small form to fill in. At Baoshan/Shanghai immigration officials will check the form and the mentioned copies. After that they will glue a transit sticker into your passport and you are good to go.

Oliver

Hi again,

 

First, thank you for the beautiful package of information and pictures. Second, thank you for giving me the appropriate links for the Shanghai Visa requirements. I do have one more question, if you can help. I do believe that my cruise on the Celebrity Millennium from October 13 - 27 does qualify for the Visa exemption for the 144 hour rule. However, I read something about having some documentation to show that we are exempt. Do you know if that is true and where would I get such documentation for the exemption. Does Celebrity provide you with it, does Japan provide you with it when you land there, does South Korea provide you with it being they are the last stop before Shanghai. I am so confused. I called the Chinese Embassy in NY and they referred me to an international phone number for Shanghai Immigration but they couldn't guaranty anyone would speak English. This is the most frustrating thing and it's a shame that Celebrity doesn't take better care of their passengers on something so important. If you have any further information, I would really like your input and help. Thank you again.

From everything I have read - even if you think you qualify for the exemption, previous cruisers strongly recommend getting the visa. In some cases, those without visas were denied disembarkation (not sure of the port). After the thousands of dollars we are spending on this cruise, flights, hotels and tours, we are not willing to take such a risk for the nominal visa fee and application. Is there a reason you are reluctant to do so?

Celebrity has no idea what your tours, and pre or post travel plans might be so they would not be able to say you are exempt (not sure why another country on the itinerary would provide you with such proof either). You alone are responsible to have proper travel documents that comply with your personal travel plans.

As stated in their resources:

It is the sole responsibility of the guest to identify and obtain all required travel documents for all ports.

Did you contact the recommended Celebrity VISA compamy? Maybe they could help you.

Celebrity Cruises

(800) 579-2406

Email: celebrity@cibt.com http://www.cibt.com/celebrity

Seems like they are pretty clear on their policy.

Hope you find the answer you are seeking and have a wonderful trip!

Thank you both for your answers. I didn't realize there was a visa specialist connected with Celebrity. I will give them a call. I am pretty sure that the author of this post is correct and that we are exempt. I was just concerned about how the authorities in Shanghai will know we are exempt and if we needed to present documentation, but the author cleared that concern up for me. I will make the phone call to Celebrity's Visa specialist just to be sure.

Thank you to everyone,.

Hi @ all:

Here is some further explanation of the procedure regarding the visa free transit. This is how it is done on Celebrity.

However, since this procedure fulfills the immigration requirements it should be of interest for passengers of other cruise lines as well.

Before the end of the cruise you will receive a blue transit immigration card. On Celebrity Millennium it came with the shown letter explaining which documents you need to present during immigration. The documents were already checked by Celebrity during embarkation.

Here´s also a link to a website giving understandable information:

https://www.traveltothemagic.net/visa-free-travel-shanghai-disney-resort/

Yes, it is not an official website. However, it puts into simple terms what can be found on official websites of Chinese immigration departments, Shanghai customs etc.

You are truly a source of unbelievable knowledge. So very helpful. Much thanks for your posts.

Thank you for just detailed and informative posts with gorgeous photography. I will be staying at that same hotel in Tokyo for a night in October (HAL Amsterdam) and am excited to see how beautiful it is, not to mention the tip about Kitchen Street.

I'll be contacting TripleLights about tours in a couple of other ports as well. It's a great resource you have provided to all of us.

Thank you all!

We are happy to share our passion for travel with you!

A massive thank you for this- I think it might be thing to help persuade my husband! We are looking at a 15 night trip which is 7 nights land tour and 7 nights cruise with Princess in May next year and very expensive so keen we get something we enjoy and make the right decision. We are usually adventurous travellers and do one big DIY trip a year and a cruise ( Argentina and Norwegian Fjords this year) so were concerned the land tour it would be too much of a herding mentality and too many people but you have convinced me on the wonders of Japan!

Would you recommend a balcony?

 

Would you recommend a balcony?

I'm confident that nearly everyone is going to say "Yes. In fact, you need Aqua class or a suite!". Nothing wrong with that - but from my long history on this forum, the majority of posters wouldn't (or have never) cruised any other way.

We have plenty of money to book those cabins, but don't. We book insides or OV - WHATEVER is necessary to get the perks. Essentially, we book whatever is the cheapest arrangement to get us on the ship, including guarantees. 25+ cruises, 7 different cruise lines, all very satisfactory. Only once, we were assigned to the absolute worst cabin on the ship. For a week, meh, big deal.

We do not suffer from sea sickness. We've had minimal issues with noise on today's better insulated ships. We do not suffer from claustrophobia. We have been upgraded several times to balconies on different itineraries, and barely used it. We use the cabin to sleep, nap, change clothes.

No matter WHICH balcony you choose, the views are better, more expansive, someplace else on the ship. If we were on our balcony, we would have missed many memorable views of dolphins, whales, flying fish, magnificent birds, glaciers caving, etc.

ONE exception: Norwegian Fjords cruise last May. I booked a GTY balcony. Again, we spent very little time on the balcony - but the floor to ceiling window truly added to that trip. The never ending daylight was amazing. Wouldn't have missed it for the world.

I'll also add that these Asian cruises tend to be port intensive. You'll be off the ship A LOT. Personally, I don't want to pay for a cabin that's empty most of the time.

just my 2 cents.

Thank you and actually just like us- we had a balcony on our Norway cruse and was amazing for the waterfall and a glass of wine pre bed where we had whales one night. We also have chosen a balcony for the Caribbean but not Alaska or the Baltics as cold! When my husband retires we will do a few cruises a year I suspect and get the points up but at the moment have the luxury of being in the UK so cheap flights to Europe make a weekend break easy and we tend to do lots of them interspersed with a cruise and a big Asia/Africa /America trip each year.

The Japan itinerary appeals as a mix of land and cruise which means we can cover a lot on 15 days without the hassle of all DIY and in an expensive country great to be able to hop back on board for a bed. However also wondering if it might be worth booking the cruise and then a land tour separately - must do more research!

We've taken 3 or 4 cruises in Asia and even had a balcony on our ship from Shanghai to Hong Kong!

As such a cruise is port-intensive, a balcony is a luxury and dependent on the weather. It was used only once or twice only to check the weather. In going into Hong Kong, it was used to photograph the entrance intoi HK and almost froze my b*** off!

So - check the average temperatures for your trip before deciding on a balcony.

Would you recommend a balcony?

Wether one needs a balcony or not is a personal preference... so let me say it this way: I would not advise against a balcony.

Personally an inside stateroom is a no-go for us because we want the natural light. However, we have cruised in Ocean View Staterooms before and had just as much fun.

That beeing said, a Japan cruise is amazing - because of the country. The type of stateroom won´t change that.

We got stuck in an inside cabin as they are the only one's available on our cruise date. What a bum.:loudcry::loudcry:

Oh well, more cash for excursions.:D

Thank you so much for your wonderful report, it contained a lot of information which will assist me in my upcoming trip. It was a pleasure to share your enjoyment and delight in discovering Japan, Korea and Shanghai. The fantastic photography really complimented the report.

Excellent review and amazing pictures. Thank you for sharing 😍. Heading that way in a couple weeks.. appreciate your expertise and tips 👍

Amazing review! I went to Triplelights website and attempted to find a guide/tour for Kyoto that will pick me up at the ship terminal in Kobe. I believe when I read your review Ken did that for your group?

From what I saw on the website I couldn’t see where I could request they pick me up in Kobe? How did the young woman from London arrange this? Thanks!

Amazing review! I went to Triplelights website and attempted to find a guide/tour for Kyoto that will pick me up at the ship terminal in Kobe. I believe when I read your review Ken did that for your group?

 

From what I saw on the website I couldn’t see where I could request they pick me up in Kobe? How did the young woman from London arrange this? Thanks!

Thank you!

Actually Ken was the only guide (on that trip) who we booked with Tours by Locals.

However, all our guides picked us up at the terminals.

We visited Japan last year on the Celebrity Millennium (our first cruise with Celebrity) and frankly were disappointed. The ship is old and looks tired. There was no coin operated laundry ($$$$). On a 2 week cruise, they ran out of shrimp, hot dogs and iced tea. Perhaps other items as well. If this ship is representative of Celebrity, we’ll gladly stick with Princess.

 

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

We had the opposite experience, we cruised around Japan and South Korea on the sapphire princess in October last year, we had a suite and this was our first princess cruise. Never ever again, plastic plates and glasses ( even for wine ) in the buffet which was no larger than my kitchen. I actually looked around the ship as could not believe this was actually the main buffet. Food in the MDR poor, very little choice and largely catered for the Asian market as did the entertainment. Luckily the itinerary was fabulous, and the table companions in the MDR were great so not a completely wasted journey but that’s a first and last cruise with princess. We regularly cruise with Celebrity and Azamara and will stick with them in the future.

Sent from my iPad using Forums

Thank you so much for this wonderful review with all the lovely photographs. We are experienced travellers and experienced cruisers but have never been to Japan. We found this review particularly interesting since we are now booked on Millennium for next November. Thank you for this invaluable information.