The cruise was chosen so we could see most of Japan with the convenience of a cruise...perhaps we would have been better off using the rail system itself. Getting to our hotel from Haneda easily accomplished by riding the airport bus....45 min door to door, ¥1,350/person...Yokohama was worth spending a few days exploring before boarding. We explored easily on our own and the rail/subway system was a breeze to navigate (with the help of the friendly rail personnel). Staying at the hotel Monterey was easily walkable to the osanbashi port as well as having shopping (red brick warehouse) and dining options close by.
Embarkation was accomplished in a timely fashion, despite personnel’s lack of the command of the English language. We booked a disembarkation tour so it was a breeze to get to Haneda. Shorex was a rip-off, had to pay double if not triple for the same tour with an “English speaking” guide...
The ship is VERY dated despite recent refurbishment. The furniture is in desperate need of an overhaul if not reupholstered. The lounges were empty and forlorn.
Clean, VERY dated....shower head leaky, poor water pressure and temperature control. There was no happy medium. Our poor room steward tried her best to meet our needs....but when you have old and broken materials to work with, it was very challenging for her. There was always a musty, mouldy smell despite spraying with air fresheners....which then made it smelly like a hospital. Not the relaxing princess effect.....
Great port, Hotel Monterey reasonably priced, close proximity to port, shopping, Chinatown and directly across from beautiful waterfront park.
Matsue castle and the adachi museum not to be missed. Only complaint was that we had to remove our shoes to enter the castle, no big deal. Unfortunately the floors and the narrow stairwells were wooden, very narrow, waxed....a very very bad combination and an accident waiting to happen....
Beautiful city, a very nice mix of old and new. The APEC house was under renovation so we were not able to enter. The park and walk was very enjoyable. The international market was very crowded with very narrow alleyways....shopping was better outside the market...food carts with local delicacies abound....unfortunately they only took Korean dong. Luckily there was some food stalls at the dock and we were able to sample some sweets!
The excursions to the haedon yonggunsa temple worth the 108 slippery stone steps down to the seashore for the amazingly beautiful view.