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Costa Classica Far East
My DH & I wanted to visit Japan & when we saw this itinerary, we thought it would be an affordable way to do it. We booked stateroom 4156 which was at the back of the ship. The engine must be back here because there was a lot of noise & vibration upon arrival or departure from the port.
Embarkation is from 1 pm onwards at the Ocean Terminal. We arrived at 3:15 pm & were onboard by 4:30 pm. They photocopy your passport picture page for you & keep your passport. The onboard currency is the Euro. There is a currency exchange office onboard, however there is a 3 Euro charge for each transaction. Announcements are in English, French, German, Italian and Spanish. Dinner times are 6 pm & 8:30 pm. Since the ship wasn't departing Hong Kong until midnight, there wasn't too much going on. A musical video of Pavarotti at 8pm & a Hungarian concert at 9:30 pm.
Day 2 At sea Dress code: Informal
Today we had to go to the conference centre to register our credit cards. They accept American Express & Mastercard. For cash payments, a minimum deposit of 150 Euros per person is required.
The muster drill is at 4 pm today. All muster stations are on deck 9.
This ship accomodates 1500 passengers. The activity schedule has 1-2 activities per 15min slot.
They have arts & crafts daily with Reynaldo from Brazil. Today is Paper flowers. They use a lot of crepe paper which you twist or roll between your fingers.
If you like to win prizes, try the quizzes. The first few days, they were giving away jewellry.
For any talk that they give in the theatre, you can also catch it later on your tv.
They have Holy Mass and bingo daily.
Evening shows are after your dinner.
Tonight's entertainment is a variety show
There is a 3% service charge when you use your Costa card in the casino.
The Costa card is only for onboard purchases.
There is a separate key for your stateroom.
Had dinner tonight in the Tivoli restaurant, table 57, waiter Zhao Li.
She appeared at our table & immediately asked “ what would you like to order ?” without bothering to introduce herself. After the dessert plates were removed, no one returned to ask if we wanted tea/coffee, so we left & went upstairs to the buffet for our drinks. A pleasant surprise, when we discovered that the buffet served exactly the same entrees as the restaurant. Decided then that we would eat in the buffet from then on.
Day 3 At sea Dress code: Formal
Arts & Crafts: bookmarks in morning, paper boxes in afternoon. Presentation on South Korea & Nagasaki. Basic Japanese lesson in afternoon. ( They should have given a Korean lesson as the taxi drivers don't speak any English) Captain's Welcome Gala Cocktail Party. Onboard photos are 11.95Euros. Tonight's show: Casino with the Afro Arimba dancers and singer Miles Hartman ( great show!)
Day 4 Cheju, South Korea Dress code: Informal
There is a shuttle bus which goes to the Shilla Duty Free shop for 6Euros per person roundtrip.
I didn't book this but others said they wandered around on their own from the duty free store & just went back to the meeting point to go back to the ship. The shuttle runs from 8:45 am to 5 pm every 30mins. There is a currency exchange desk in the terminal. You will receive a bottle of water and a lot of taxi drivers waiting outside. Bus 92 goes near the port. The Jung Ang Underground Shopping Centre is a gem.
Arts & Crafts: Origami. Musical Video of Michael Buble in the afternoon.
Tonight's show: Instant Fashion Show. 11:15 pm Election of the Ideal Couple.
There is a pizzeria every evening from 5-7 pm & 9 pm – 1 am. Every evening there a 4 pizzas offered. You sit at tables & order your pizza.
Day 5 Nagasaki Dress code: Informal
Since Nagasaki is our first Japanese port, we have to go through immigration& quarantine control.
It was supposed to be by deck numbers with the highest decks first. But since all the H1N1 cases were originating in Canada or the US, they called us first. When we got there, the Japanese authorities were wearing yellow gowns & masks just like in a hospital. They stuck a thermometer in my armpit and fingerprinted me. There is a currency exchange desk outside. They DO NOT take $ 100 USD bills as they do not have a scanner. You can go to 18 Bank on the 2nd floor where they will also give you a better rate. Don't let them give you notes larger than 5000 JPY as you may have difficulty using them.
You can also buy a one day tram ticket for 500 JPY. The admission for Glover Gardens is 600 JPY. Note: this is not a garden per se but former residences of foreigners.
Arts & Crafts: recycled paper. Tonight's show: Magic & Illusions
Day 6 At sea Dress code: Informal
Arts & Crafts: Batik painting & Tropical flowers. Talk on Tokyo & Kobe. Japanese lesson in morning. Afternoon: musical video of Ray Charles, High Tea. Tonight's show: Singer Barbara Fiorino. 11:15 pm Election of Miss Costa Classica.
Day 7 Tokyo Dress Code: Informal
Docked at Harumi Terminal. Don't remember seeing a currency exchange desk. Be sure to get the pretty coasters from the Port of Tokyo. Bus right outside terminal. Bus 12 from stop #1 goes to Tokyo station ( 30min ride ) 200 JPY to take bus. No smoking in public. No seating areas in the underground or department stores unless you are in an eating establishment. Arts & Crafts: Napkin folding. Tonight's show: Japanese concert of the flute & harp by local musicans.
Day 8 Tokyo Dress Code: Formal
Before you take the escalator down to the ground floor, there is a bus schedule posted.
You can take a bus to Odaiba which includes Palette Town, a huge amusement mall with seating areas ( yay!) Note: Machines don't take notes of 5000 JPY or higher. Afternoon: Arts & Crafts: Watercolor painting, music video of Robbie Williams. Captain's Gala Dinner ( lobster in restaurant only ) Tonight's show: Fiesta Fantasia with the Afro Arimba dancers & singer Miles Hartman (another great show!)
Day 9 Kobe Dress Code: Informal
Currency exchange in terminal. Lots to see here even if you don't want to go to Kyoto, Nara or Himeji. Take Portliner to Sannomiya. Go down to the bus terminal & you can take the city loop bus ( hop on, hop off ) 250 JPY for each time you get off or 650 JPY for 1 day pass. There are 14 – 16 stops depending on the route. ( 70mins for 1 loop). We went shopping at the Canal Gardens, Nishinomiya Gardens & the Motomachi ( under the JR tracks ). In the port terminal, you can also buy 100% cotton, made in Japan t-shirt for 1500 JPY. Arts & Crafts: Origami. Tonight's show: Japanese Traditional Dance by local artists. 10 pm Music Video of the New Years Gala by the Berlin Philharmonic.
Day 10 Kobe Dress Code: Informal
Arts & Crafts: Batik t-shirts Tonight's show: A Taste of Spain with Trio Mulero ( flamenco dancing )
Day 11 At sea Dress Code: Informal
This morning you have to collect your passports based on your deck number.
Morning: Talk on Okinawa & Taiwan, Japanese lesson. Afternoon: Music video Frank Sinatra, Arts & Crafts: Oriental Stars, Prepare costumes for tonight's Carnival, High Tea. Tonight's show: Rob & Connye ( Acrobats from Romania ). 11:15 pm Carnivale Parade
Day 12 Naha Okinawa Dress Code: Informal
All guests must proceed through immigration control from 12:30 pm onwards. The ship cannot sail until all guests have passed. We had to wait until 2:30 pm to leave ( 30 mins late ) because of one guest .We were at Naha port, pier 7 in a container port. It was approx 10 long city blocks to the bus stop. There is no bus service to/from this area from 9 am to 2 pm. Bus fare is 200 JPY. The Naha Main Place Shopping Centre is nice. Most shops don't open until 10 am. Taxi from here back to the ship is approx 1200 JPY. This island is very tropical. You can wear your Hawaiian shirts here. Arts & Crafts: Mandalas. Romantic dinner: Other than a candel on the table, there is nothing special about this dinner. The headwaiter for your section will come & ask if you have any suggestions or complaints about the service or the food. Tonight's show: Tenor Ugo Paliotto from Naples, Italy. 11:15 pm Election of Mister Pizza.
Day 13 Keelung, Taiwan Dress Code: Informal
Currency exchange & maps avail at pier. Need to walk equivalent of 2 long city blocks to Keelung Harbour Building before you can get a taxi. Train to Taipei is 78 TWD for a roundtrip ticket. This is a 10% discount off a oneway ticket. It is a 50min trip. There are washrooms onboard. If it's really hot, just stay underground at the Taipei City Mall & the Taipei New World Mall. Having a meal here is super cheap too. Look for places that are busy. Above ground, head for the Shinkoshi Department Store. Lots of bargains & brands here. A word of warning: Grab the toilet before you enter the stall. Mostly squat toilets. Although the handicapped toilet is a regular toilet. After 9 pm, there is a Night Market in Keelung. Tonight's show: Crew Talent Show
Day 14 At sea Dress Code: Formal
If you want to leave the ship early, you have to inform the Purser's Desk & each person in your stateroom must sign the Declaration form in the presence of the purser staff. There is no tipping onboard but a 5 Euros per person per day hotel charge which cannot be modified. Afternoon: Compulsory temperature check of all passengers for Hong Kong immigration control, Farewell Gala Cocktail Party, Tonight's Show: Farewell show, 11:15 pm Passenger Talent Show
Day 15 Hong Kong
The taxi stand is at the bus terminal.
Notes:
There is no clothesline in the bathroom, the hangers can only be used in the closet. Bring your own clothesline to string across the room. Towards the end of the cruise, you can put 25 pieces in your laundry bag for $ 19.99 Euros. Shower cap, body lotion & sewing are by request. Bath & hand towel only, no facecloth. Breakfast in Tivoli restaurant has espresso & cappucino at no additional charge. Can order off menu or have buffet. Lots of variety of tea. Hot milk avail in buffet. Real ice cream in restaurant. Ice cream in buffet is really ice milk. The food is prepared with heavy creams, sauces and butter. Even the desserts are sometimes just cream ( lemon, strawberry, orange ). We took this cruise for the itinerary. We enjoyed the European entertainment, activities etc. The passengers onboard were mostly from the UK & Australia. This was our first Costa cruise & we thoroughly enjoyed it.
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