Best of Japan - Millennium 5/2 - 5/15

[DaKahuna]

Since I did not do it yesterday, let me post a few photo’s of our Aqua Sky Suite.

 

We are in one of the Aqua Sky Suites next to the Penthouse Suite which is wider than our Sky Suite we were in on our last Millennium cruise.  There is only a single door leading to the balcony but the balcony is much wider than a regular sky suite and has a two loungers, two chairs, a small table, as well as a bench seat.  The chairs, table, and bench seat was all that would fit on our Sky Suite Balcony.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The two round white foot stools are also new to us.  In our last Sky Suite there was only the small brown table next to the couch. 

 

My biggest complaint about the revolutionized Sky Suites, including this one is the lack of storage — there are no shelves in the bathroom — only a long one under the sink.  Two drawers in the one cabinet, along with a couple of shelves.  Two cabinets to the left of the desk and a double cabinet under the TV (on the left, the right side is the mini-Fridge). 

 

 

 

[DaKahuna]

We just signed up for a sake tasting on 8th of May at 2 pm.  The one today is sold out and they are only accepting a limited number of reservations for this one, so if you are interested ask your sommelier first chance you get.

 

[bjahil47]

Just caught up on your adventures thus far!  Have a great cruise!

Bonnie

[DaKahuna]

We just finished the food and wine pairing and we thought it was done quite well.  The sommelier conducting the event is from the MDR on deck 4 and did a good job of explaining everything.  

 

 

My wife was quite taken with the Riesling and I, which may be no surprise, favorited the Elegance Cabernet Sauvignon, which no longer falls under the premium package.  The wines featured, with the exception of the Reisling were Kendel Jackson wines.  Included both the Elegances that are exclusive to Celebrity. 

 

The food:

 

 

The grape varietals 

 

 

 

 

I just noticed I did not get a picture of the Sauvignon Blanc .. Sorry. 

 

The event was held in Blu.  I have read a lot of comments on CC about how close the tables are to each other in Blu but they did not see that way to us.  We easily walked between the tables. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited May 3 by DaKahuna

[DaKahuna]

Celebrity is doing a must better job of keeping us informed about the ports we are visiting on this cruise than we have experienced in the past.  This was waiting for us in our stateroom when we returned before lunch.  This is the first time either of us can remember receiving this type of information.  

 

 

[DaKahuna]

 The seas have been smooth and it almost appears as we are barely moving. 

 

 

 

 

Someone up above must be Celebrity fans .. 

 

 

As nice of an X as I remember seeing.  

 

[DaKahuna]

@Jim_Iain  look what I found in the Retreat Lounge.  Looked earlier at Cafe al Bacio but they did not have them. 
 

[rsvp1]

I will be following - and possibly asking questions, as we have this same cruise coming up. 

 

[Georgia_Peaches]

9 hours ago, DaKahuna said:

 

My biggest complaint about the revolution

Does the balcony space have an awning?

[hcat]

9 hours ago, DaKahuna said:

Since I did not do it yesterday, let me post a few photo’s of our Aqua Sky Suite.

 

We are in one of the Aqua Sky Suites next to the Penthouse Suite which is wider than our Sky Suite we were in on our last Millennium cruise.  There is only a single door leading to the balcony but the balcony is much wider than a regular sky suite and has a two loungers, two chairs, a small table, as well as a bench seat.  The chairs, table, and bench seat was all that would fit on our Sky Suite Balcony.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The two round white foot stools are also new to us.  In our last Sky Suite there was only the small brown table next to the couch. 

 

My biggest complaint about the revolutionized Sky Suites, including this one is the lack of storage — there are no shelves in the bathroom — only a long one under the sink.  Two drawers in the one cabinet, along with a couple of shelves.  Two cabinets to the left of the desk and a double cabinet under the TV (on the left, the right side is the mini-Fridge). 

 

 

 

Thanks for posting photos of your suite...Overall looks like a  nice size room..but  decor/ colors  to me  more like a guy's  dorm room.   

 

Bathroom tile is very busy pattern but  not a place where one spends too much time   Have you tried the tub?

[DaKahuna]

52 minutes ago, Georgia_Peaches said:

Does the balcony space have an awning?

 

No it does not, in fact here are pictures looking upward from the balcony. 

 

Looking left

 

 

Looking up

 

 

Looking right 

 

 

 

and straight up from the balcony rail 

 

 

 

p.s. I had the bourbon and peaches tonight — no extra charge. 

 

 

 

 

[Georgia_Peaches]

Just now, DaKahuna said:

p.s. I had the bourbon and peaches tonight — no extra charge. 

Thank you for the pics!  I'm very intrigued by your cabin but the lack of an awning would be a deal breaker for me as I can't tolerate much sun.  

 

And I appreciate you taking one for the team by ordering the B&P!   😊

[DaKahuna]

8 minutes ago, hcat said:

Bathroom tile is very busy pattern but  not a place where one spends too much time   Have you tried the tub?

 

 I am not a fan of the Hoppenized changes.  

 No we have not tried the tub.  Love the shower though.  Have of  not had to worry about slipping stepping in or out of the shower. 

 

 

[DaKahuna]

6 minutes ago, Georgia_Peaches said:

Thank you for the pics!  I'm very intrigued by your cabin but the lack of an awning would be a deal breaker for me as I can't tolerate much sun. 

 

 Has not been a problem for us.  We usually spend more time on the balcony than we have done so far this cruise.  This cruise is very port Intensive so do not anticipate spending more than an hour or two a day outside on the balcony.  

 

 It just so happened we saw some nice skies, that I posted pictures of earlier, and stepped out.  Quite by accident I decided to take pictures looking upward when I looked and realize there was not a balcony above us at all.  I had no idea that was the case until I decided to look up. 

 

6 minutes ago, Georgia_Peaches said:

 

And I appreciate you taking one for the team by ordering the B&P!   😊

 

Always happy to try a new drink.  It was a little to ‘peachy sweet” for my taste.  I’ll still to my rum old fashioned and sidecars. 

 

Can’t wait for 5/5.  I see a few spicy margaritas in my future. 

 

Edited May 3 by DaKahuna

[DaKahuna]

This afternoon was just a lazy day.  Dropped my DW off at the SPA for her appointment.  Went to the casino and contributed once again to Celebrity’s bottom line.  Then went to the Retreat Lounge to wait for my wife to finish.  

 

 Afterwards we came back to the room and waited until we felt like going to dinner. 

 

 Dinner was in Luminae again tonight.  We both enjoy eating there and tonight waited a little later than normal in hopes that the early diners would be done and we could get a window seat — worked out in our favor. 

 

I had a pre-appetizer Bourbon and Peaches — if you like drinks that are little on the sweet side or the flavor of peaches you will like this 

 

 

I missed pictures of the Amuse-bouche, seared tuna with a chili like oil and a celanto & parsley mix, and appetizers — French onion soup for her, shrimp cocktail (with extra horseradish) and the chilled lobster salad for myself. 

 

They had an off menu chef’s special of teriyaki salmon with sticky rice which my DW had.

 

 

She paired it with the Reisling from our Food and Wine pairing earlier today:

 

 

While I had the fennel crusted grilled lamp chops, which was not a bone in chop but more like a tenderloin cut. 

 

 

And I paired this with a red blend that I have had on other cruises. 

 

 

For dessert she went with the Buttermilk Penna Cotta 

 

 

And I had the Daniel Boulud Raspberry pistachio vacherin.  Notice, this is the first time I have had with where it was not rectangular shaped.  When I mentioned this to our waiter, he smiled and asked me how many Celebrity cruises I had been on! 

 

 

 

[DaKahuna]

in our room tonight we found another interesting information sheet regarding all the customs and immigration checks we are going to be going through.  

 

 

 

It is very nice to be kept informed. 

 

 

[DaKahuna]

Just now, DaKahuna said:

in our room tonight we found another interesting information sheet regarding all the customs and immigration checks we are going to be going through.  

 

 

 

It is very nice to be kept informed. 

 

I have also read on CC not long ago a comment about the pillow chocolates — we had the normal dark chocolate squares last night and tonight, being Evening Chic we had the box of chocolates.  Although in the past I thought I remember a box for each of us but tonight was only a single box. 

 

[NMTraveller]

2 hours ago, DaKahuna said:

 

 I am not a fan of the Hoppenized changes.  

 No we have not tried the tub.  Love the shower though.  Have of  not had to worry about slipping stepping in or out of the shower. 

 

 

Very very gray ...

[Jim_Iain]

I have some catching up to do.    I'm starting on the first page so should be able to catch up shortly.

 

Have a wonderful cruise.

[Jim_Iain]

On 4/29/2024 at 4:41 AM, DaKahuna said:

 

 I wish we had flown ANA instead of United.  The food on ANA has always been better than United’s.  Lesson remembered for our next trip. 

 

 

That I would agree.   We flew United to Sydney and I had the same entree as you.   I was happy I had a burger at the Polaris Lounge in advance.... it was rather unremarkable.    Last time we flew Singapore and had Lobster ....

[Jim_Iain]

On 4/30/2024 at 5:00 AM, MustBCruzn said:

 

Your pictures are wonderful and have me in full reminisce mode. I can't wait to hear how your visit to the base was (and see pictures). I was stationed at the Naval Hospital, Yokosuka in the late '70s, and have such fond memories of my time there.

 

Agree--- John's got a good eye for photography.    His pictures are bringing back such fond memories.  

[Jim_Iain]

On 5/2/2024 at 5:16 AM, DaKahuna said:

@Jim_Iain I was surprised to see the old Daniel Boulud Signatures menu on the Luminae menu still.  Apparently Luminae on Millennium has not transitioned to the new menu and the Daniel Boulud menu with the Raspberry pistachio vecherin is still available.  I asked our waiter and it said it is available every night.  I know what’s for dessert tomorrow. 

 

 

On Solstice they have gone half way -- Daniel B #2 Menu first 7 days and Daniel B #1 with Raspberry Pistachio Vecherin on the next 7.     Since she will be starting the Alaska season after our cruise it will all be the menu with the Chocolate Pile -- oops I mean Pill.

[Jim_Iain]

12 hours ago, DaKahuna said:

@Jim_Iain  look what I found in the Retreat Lounge.  Looked earlier at Cafe al Bacio but they did not have them. 
 

 

 

Yum... Do love those.  My preference has been filled on Solstice.  Al Bacio has the ones without the Meringue and the little chocolate ball.    Solstice does not have a hot/cold table since was not revolutionized so they bring what you order.    Only problem for many is there is no menu.    It is kinda if you know you can ask for it.

 

 

[Jim_Iain]

6 hours ago, DaKahuna said:

 

 

You are being treated like Royalty.    We have had none of the Bon Bon's .... we get tiny Cadberry square even on Chic nights.

[scorfman]

Trip day 3 Cruise day 2

 

Sea day today but nice weather and generally smooth seas. Just a lazy day and slow speed. We had breakfast in main dining and met a nice couple from Cornwall UK. As usual, our first breakfast included Eggs Benedict in the main dining room.

 

We then went to a Concierge Class port briefing which was informative, followed just after by the port briefing in the main theater. We didn’t feel too hungry at lunch so just grabbed a light lunch from the Mast Grill. I fell a bit under the weather so went back to the room for a nap which was just the ticket. While I was down the wife went exploring and played the “This or That” game in a lounge with fellow passengers.

 

Dinnertime came soon. We got our usual Riesling. Happens to be the one DaKahuna’s DW likes, the Chateau St Michelle. It is good and one we drink often at home. You can pick it up at Costco for $8 or so. A  really great value. I had a couple Mexican Firing Squads as a warmup for the Tequila tasting later in the evening. Wife had a lamb chop and I the Shrimp Scampi. Both were tasty. The waitstaff were quite concerned that we left with our deserts the night before but we assured them everything was fine. Tonight’s dinner service was much prompter so the kitchen had gotten through the 1st night kinks.

 

I had enough to drink with dinner and didn’t want to spoil our next day in port so I skipped the tequila tasting and we just spent time together before bed. Sorta bummed as it is my spirit of choice at home.

 

I have to say that I feel like staffing is back to pre-Covid levels. Service has been really nice compared with our last 3 cruises from 2021 on. Those were nice too but if you know you know.

 

As I write this we’re pulling into Kobe. Looking forward to some AM shopping as I noticed I forgot a couple clothing items, then off on our 1st tour in the afternoon. We booked an unusually large number of Celebrity tours this trip. We typically self explore but this time not. Looking forward to them and will do my best to critique. Bracing for crowds but with a smile!

Edited May 3 by scorfman
Curse you autocorrect!