Report #104 Tuesday, April 14, 2026---Yokohama, Japan---Day #1 Of 2---7:30am--Overnight--Docked Starboard Side To Pier---Hazy Sun---63 Degrees--75% Humidity--4.1mph Winds-----Casual Dress

The Volendam sailed into the massive bay area of Yokohama very early at 6am or so with the bow opened and where they were serving Yokohama rolls, juice and coffee of course.    After what seemed like miles of moored vessels and commercial dock areas,  we docked starboard at the Osanbashi Yokohama International Passenger Terminal, one of the most innovative terminals we have ever seen. 

 

Today happens to be the end of another segment with about 300 guests disembarking and around 159 people joining.  The total amount of passengers is now a little over 900.  The last segment was from Singapore to Tokyo (Yokohama) for a total of 21 days.  The final segment is from Tokyo to Ft. Lauderdale for 34 days, although there will be some leaving in Seattle and more leaving in San Diego.  Some folks will be boarding in San Diego as well.  It makes our heads spin trying to figure this out.  We are certain there are good deals out there to fill the ship the best HAL can.  

 

We have been in touch with the Princeton Tailors who will have a representative join the ship today and tomorrow in Yokohama in order to correct some major mistakes that occurred with some of the guests orders.  Roxanne agreed to meet with us at 11am.  She came to our room and decided that the slacks of the tux had to be re-made since they were 6 inches too short.  We had requested covered buttons with the brocade vest, but they came with regular buttons.  The tux shirt had tiny round buttonholes made for a different type of studs, so she said she would send a set of the jewelry instead of replacing the shirt.  Good deal.   She took both pieces and promised to have them delivered to the ship when it arrives in Seattle on April 29^th.  We trust they will follow through with their promise, and we were glad to see they backed up their excellent service.

 

With that out of the way, we left the ship around 11:30am and entered the huge and new terminal.  They had a treasure trove of printed maps and brochures which one of us loves.  We did bring umbrellas just in case it might rain.  It was overcast with hazy sun, but the temperature was a comfortable 63 degrees.  Humidity was only 75% and the winds were minimal.  It would turn out to be a beautiful day.  Outside the terminal doors, we ran into Captain Frank and his wife Alexandra and it appeared they were out for a day of exploring and lunch for sure.  They had a few officers with them and they all seemed very impressed with this terminal.  The walkways down each side were made with teak or something similar, and were said to look like the back of a whale.  A funny warning was printed on this unique walkway and that was watch for splinters.  Not so funny if you were not wearing proper shoes. 

 

The population of this city is 3.7 million people, the second largest in the country we read.  The total number of local passengers using the Yokohama train station is 2.3 million every day.  The number of ships of all kinds and sizes arriving to the port daily is 90.  Impressive numbers to say the least. 

 

It was a long walk down to the street level where we turned left on the main street.  This led to Yamashita Park (1930), a seaside strip of re-claimed land planted with an expanse of lawn and flower beds. It had a gorgeous view of the harbor with statues and floral displays.  It became apparent that there was a competition of flower designs and displays – all planted in every bedding plant and bulb that exists.  The main bulbs used were tulips for spring time.  The creative scenes drew many locals to this park, especially those with their little dogs and some cats.  These pampered pets were even dressed with jackets or dresses and groomed to the hilt.  The owners posed their animals in each display to take their picture.  Even a large long-hair cat was posing for pictures.  Each and every animal had a stroller made for them, like a baby stroller.  We have seen this while in Tokyo but did not expect it here. 

 

Speaking of Tokyo, this port was the gateway to Tokyo where there were some tours offered.  One excursion was a tour with an airport transfer for 5.5 hours and $200.  Tokyo on your own was 7 hours for $110.  Then it was temples and shrines for 5 to 5.25 hours and $100 and $190.  Highlights of Tokyo was 5.25 hours for $120 or best of Tokyo for 8.5 hours and $210.  Some of the longer tours included lunch.  Since we have done some of these tours in the past, we decided to see what Yokohama had to offer on our own.  We were glad we did. 

 

At the far end of Yamashita Park was a docked cargo-passenger liner from 1930 called NYK Hikawa Maru, which appears to be a museum these days.  It traveled between Seattle and Japan and was called the Queen of the North Pacific. In those days, it was considered lavish with top notch services, cuisine, and décor.  During WWII, the ship was used for a naval hospital for the Japanese Imperial Navy.  

 

From here, we turned inland and crossed the street where the Hotel New Grand was located, another icon of old Yokohama, only bigger and better with a new tower added to the property.  Walking a couple of blocks away, we entered the Choyo Gate (East) to Chinatown, one of the largest in Japan if not in the world.  It was packed with tall colorful gates, temples, and restaurants.  Walking the main pedestrian street revealed dozens of shops with clothing and souvenirs.  Chinese food had to be the most places here with small take-away counters to large opulent restaurants.   If you wanted to stroll down every alleyway and side street, you would be here all day, it was that large.   Besides the all-you-can-eat diners, there were both Chinese and Japanese restaurants and grocery stores.  Bakeries and tea shops topped the list.  It was souvenir heaven for many.  Along the way, we saw several fortune-telling tables where the locals were reading palms, and not just the tourists.

 

Here’s a snippet of history about this Chinatown.  In 1859 Yokohama opened the city to international trade.  Western merchants arrived with Chinese assistants as interpreters with the Japanese.  In time, these Chinese people became chefs, tailors, barbers, and restauranteurs.  They lived in a foreign residence area but suffered during the Sino-Japanese War in 1894-95.  Then they survived the Great Kanto earthquake of 1923 and the attacks during WWII.  Being a resilient, these hardy people survived it all and got along well with the Japanese from there on.   

 

We stuck to the main street so as not to get lost.  And being that it was afternoon, it was lunch time for hundreds of students who attended private schools close by.  High school age, these uniformed kids were buying the local food that was sold at windows of cafes.  Some of the sticky buns had different faces put on them to identify the fillings.  Some were bean curd while others were shark fin.  We did see many kids eating what appeared to be breaded chicken or fish pounded thin.   They used their fingers or with the sushi, they used chopsticks.  We saw skewers of something red, which turned out to be frosting-dipped strawberries with green grapes separating the berries.  None of these kids were eating sandwiches like we did at that age.

 

One of the local shops had some kimonos hanging outside the entrance.  One size fits all, we bought one with a Japanese floral design with a black fringe on the bottom.  It will be a nice souvenir from here and perfect for dressy evening on the ship.

 

There was not any place for lunch for us in Chinatown, so we backtracked through the park and ended up at the Wharf House at the front end of the park.  They had a wide variety of food from Japanese to American.   We were seated at the back patio with a view of the harbor and the Volendam as well.   We ordered two large Kirin draft beers to start, followed by one serving of nachos and French fries to share.  The servings were not huge, so we added one dessert of a chocolate brownie to end the meal.  It was so nice sitting and relaxing after all the walking.  We were lucky to have such a nice day weatherwise. 

 

We got back to the ship by 4pm and spent the time until dinner online.  We will never be caught up with photos until we have the upcoming seven days at sea.   The attendance at dinner was spotty with many guests onshore and also eating in the Lido with the special steak dinner.    We ordered one chicken starter and a shrimp and pork wrap.   We both decided on the fish and chips without the fries, but were disappointed to how greasy the breaded fish was.  The tartar sauce helped.  Half of our plates were filled with broccoli and stir-fried noodles.    For dessert we both  had the vanilla rice pudding with raisins – very good.

 

The piano player, Panos Karan did two shows in the World Stage with a breathtaking performance that was not to be missed.  Sorry, we were so tired, we missed it.   Had to rest up for another busy day in Yokohama tomorrow. 

 

Bill & Mary Ann           

 

395 Pictures

Report #103 Monday, April 13, 2026---Shimizu, Japan---7am-8pm----Docked Port Side To Pier----Overcast And Hazy----63 Degrees----75% Humidity----1.9mph Winds----Casual Dress

Our port of call for today was Shimizu, Japan, and a new one for us and many others that we know.  We docked portside to the Hinode Pier with the Mein Schiff 6 docked right in front us.  We all had a bird’s eye view of Mt. Fuji only 14 miles away although there was a haze that covered the 12,000-foot volcano most of the day.   It was good that the other cruise ship was here because the port authorities will provide a free shuttle with ships of 2000 guests or more.  We would not have qualified, but with a total of about 4000 people, we were included with that group and shared the buses. The bus took us to the JR Shimizu Train Station with a stop at another station on the way.  The shuttles ran every 20 minutes with the last shuttle for us at 7pm.   All aboard was 7:30pm, extended from 5pm because the distance to the next port of Yokohama was quite close. 

 

The ships were also located very close to the Shimizu Marine Park and the PARK-side shopping mall, all within walking distance.  And it was going to be a nice day, even with the overcast skies.  It was not cold but a comfortable 63 degrees with 75% humidity and hardly a breeze.  The tours today included a ride to Sunpu Castle Park with views of Mt. Fuji for 4.5 hours and $135.  Next was a trip to Nihondaira Outlook and a shrine for 3.5 hours and $160.  Last was Fujian Honga Sengen Taisha Shrine & Mt. Fuji World Heritage Center for 4 hours and $160.    Speaking of tours, we heard that the day before we arrived to Nagasaki, lightning hit the slope car rope at the Mt. Inasa observation platform.   It cause enough damage that the rope ride was shut down.  You can trust one thing….there will be no rope gondola rides for us any time soon, if ever.

 

We left the ship around 10am and joined the shuttle line with the Mein Schiff 6 guests, most of whom we believe were German.  Watching from the bus,  we noticed there were few people walking the streets, so we were glad we did not attempt to hike this route.  The first stop was at Shin Shimizu train station, where many folks got off to catch a train out of the city.  We stayed on and went to the end of the drive at JR Shimizu Station with two venues to see. 

 

Lucky for us, we ran right into friends who gave us directions to the fish market by the name of Kashinoichi Fish Market which had opened before 11am.  We heard that they did not open before that time, so don’t rush to go there early.  The local docents at the bus stop had pointed to the direction of this market but said it was 5 minutes away.  Not exactly, taking our time, it was more like 20 minutes.   We had to go up an escaltor through the train station, over a highway on a raised pedestrian walkway, and make our way to the upper level of the fish market building.   We entered through a door where nicer restaurants were located, then found our way to the street level store.   Compared to other fish markets we have seen worldwide, this one was very neat and clean with most everything covered with plastic wrap and labeled.  Not sure what some of the fish were, nothing smelled fishy here.   The vendors offered some samples for tasting, but we thanked them and just took photos.   Even without speaking any English, these folks were quite friendly. 

 

We did not find a suitable place for us for lunch and it was still too early for us.  Back-tracking, we walked through the train station to wander through their Shopping Mall which was covered like the one we saw in Naze, only bigger and better.   The name was Shimizu Ekimae Ginza Shopping Street – all pedestrian.  It was described in their brochure that it was a charming, covered arcade where locals greeted you with a smile.  We happened to run into our friends once again as they were already on their way out after finding some treasures.   Ginny said the best bargains were to be found at their version of a Dollar Store back in the states. 

 

One of us had a total of 700 yen in coin to spend somewhere.  It was worth close to $4.40 USD.  And we did find some useful items all priced at 110 yen.   They included a pocket calculator, a magnifying glass, a marking pen, bandaids, a pair of “cheater” glasses, and a Burberry coin purse.  What a deal.  We window-shopped the rest of the arcade, then headed back to the shuttle for the 15 minute ride.

 

Back at the pier, we walked over to the more modern mall called S-Pulse Dream Plaza, where we saw many of our crew headed for shopping and dining.   The main mall had just a few stores like Uni Qlo and an outdoor shop as well as a Starbucks.  On another level, we saw a shoe store, a mini market and another clothes shop.  The second building had a kiddie land arcade with rides for the little ones and a flywheel for everyone.  Then we entered the lower level where we found all sorts of foods for sale and a food court.  Another level had a series of restaurants, nothing fancy, a supermarket, and sushi.  Sake and more could be bought at a liquor store.   The ramen and tempura cafes were favorites for the crew.  Of course, there was no venue that appealed to us, so it was back to the ship for lunch.  On our way out of this mini-mall, we went to the harbor here and saw lagre black fish swimming in the shallow waters.  People must toss food to them, because when the fish spotted us, they came right over to the edge.

 

While we were walking around the harbor area, a bus load of Japanese tourists came running down a path from a coach.  Apparently they had been on a long bus ride so their guide brought them here to use the public restrooms.  These folks were not young, so to see them run like that was rather impressive.  Those kinds of things do not need an interpreter to explain as we have all been in that situation one time or another.    

 

Passing by the entrance to the Mein Schiff 6 dock, there were souvenir tents set up with some unusual trinkets.  Besides the usual magnets, keyrings, and t-shirts, they were selling jewelry made from old roofing tiles.  Charcoal gray in  color, they had necklaces and earrings with the claim you would be wearing part of their history that might be centuries old.  Then there were small replicas of Mt. Fuji that actually smoked when lit.  Looked like the folks were liking all of it too. 

 

Our ship had no tents, so we went back onboard and ordered room service salads and mini burger sliders.   That was around 3pm and a good time to catch up on online work.  We watched as the Mein Schiff 6 pulled away from the dock by 7pm.   Then it was time for a dinner of udon noodle soup, ground lamb meatballs, and a crab/shrimp roll.  Both of us ordered the chicken piccata with fried polenta and found it to be an ample serving.   We finished the meal with a sliced banana, and lime jello.    While we were having our starters, the Executive Chef Noorul Ari stopped by to chat with us.  We have been asking our head waiter, Eko, about the change in the Caesar salad dressing.  Honestly, he really could not explain why Ken’s Caesar Dressing was replaced with a nasty, oily substitute.  So he promised to look into it, and worse comes to worse, he would personally whip up some fresh dressing for us.    Then the subject of yogurt came up.  He was sorry to say that the ship had run out of all of the yogurt and they were making their own version of it from scratch.  It has been more like yogurt soup, and nowhere near close to Greek yogurt, which is always firm and creamy.  Once again, he hoped the next delivery they get in Yokohama will include better dressing and lots of yogurt.   Nice of him to stop by and ask.  Maybe he heard more than he wanted to, but someone has to tell them.  Their biggest concern seems to be the ratings they get from the questionnaires after the cruise.    They are most pleased when given the chance to make something right and the only way that happens is if someone speaks up. 

 

Showtime in the World Stage was an illusionist and mentalist named Andrew Lee.  The teaser was be prepared to be wowed out of your seats in this mind-reading show.  Really?

 

Looking forward to two full days in Yokohama for Tokyo.  Going to be a busy two days.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

423 Pictures

Report #102 Sunday, April 12, 2026----Day At Sea----Cloudy And Overcast---70 Degrees---58% Humidity----20 Knot Winds----Ships Speed--17.5 Knots-----Formal Dress

It was a comfortable and warm day at sea with temps in the low 70’s, less humidity and 10.3 mph winds.  It did remain cloudy most of the day.  We finally met fellow diners Carol and Pat, often seen on other world cruises, but never formally met.  They are among the loyal diners for breakfast in the Pinnacle Grill and are also members of the President’s Club.  We shared the story of the fire on the Diamond Princess back in 2002, and the reason for the switch of names.  Cathy and Mike, who sit next to us at breakfast, chimed in and said they could verify what we said, since they were there as well.  We agree that it is nice that we all remember that trip like it was yesterday.

 

It seemed like people were anxious to leave the room because Culinary Ambassador Chef Morimoto was scheduled to prepare seared Kyushu tuna in the World Stage at 10am.  It seems to be a big deal that he is onboard, which if you love fish dishes, it would be a big deal.  Sorry, that’s not us.  However, there will be a total of three days in a row that Morimoto by Sea has taken over the Pinnacle Grill at dinnertime.  A few years ago, this venue was filled by Rudy’s Sel De Mer.  We have heard that he is on the Princess ships these days.   We miss seeing his specially-designed charger plates.

 

It was a good day to work on pictures and catch up on research and document the upcoming tours from Shore Excursions.  We enjoyed a room service lunch after 2pm with one salad, which was custom-made and a club sandwich.  We can verify that the salads that are offered by room service are the best, even better then the ones at dinner in the dining room and fresher than in the Lido.  And by keeping out of the Lido during the lunch service, we are not tempted by cookies and ice cream cones. 

 

Captain Frank gave his sea day report saying the ship was doing 17.5 knots with 271 nautical miles to reach Shimizu tomorrow morning.  We were currently sailing 28 miles from land and were close to Hiroshima.  It was overcast with high clouds and 70 degrees.  The sea swells were 5 feet high with 20 knot winds, which increased from this morning.  The Mein Schiff 6 will also be docked in Shimizu where both ships will be docked portside.

 

Josh had a talk on Shimizu, a new stop for us, and Yokohama for Tokyo.   We will catch up with that at 10pm when it shows up on our room TV.  That works out better for us since we can rerun the talk and get the details much better.  The trick is to stay awake.  We decided to add some more yen to our wallets just in case the credit card did not work. 

 

This evening was labeled “formal” and was for the Cherry Blossom Masquerade whatever? to follow dinnertime after 8:30pm.  Passengers were asked to don a mask and dress to impress for a night of mystery and excitement.    So was this a “ball” like they usually have, or not?  So far we have not talked to anyone that attended.  There was music provided by the group Vivace beginning at 8pm.      And as usual, this event was held mostly for the convenience of the early diners and not the second seating guests.  We foresee the day when the ship goes to anytime dining all of the time on both levels of the dining room. 

 

There was no World Stage entertainment due to the Masquerade Affair. 

 

Looking forward to a new port tomorrow…Shimizu with a view of Mt. Fuji, a mere 14 miles away (weather-permitting). 

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

No Pictures

Report #101---Saturday, April 11, 2026----Day #2 Of 2---Nagasaki, Japan---All Aboard 4:30pm---Docked Starboard Side To Pier---Cloudy With Sun---68 Degrees--56% Humidity---3.8mph Winds------Casual Dress

Day two in Nagasaki was just as predicted……68 degrees with 56% humidity and light winds.  The best thing was that the sun came out and the rain was gone.  A few scattered clouds did not matter.

 

There was another crew drill held at 9:30am, so it was a good time to leave.  Today we followed the directions to Nagasaki’s Shinchi Chinatown, touted to be one of the oldest ones in Japan.  On our way out of the dock, we ran into the same information fellow that teased us about the pizza yesterday, or the lack of finding an Italian restaurant.  He asked if we were successful in locating pizza and beer, and we said, as a matter of fact, we sure did.  And it was within walking distance from the pier.  He asked where it was, then wished us a good day in town. 

 

We took a long way around passing the wharf area, then going by the huge Prefectural Art Museum.  We seem to recall touring here many years ago.  Following the street signs, we did locate the correct street to the portal over the Chinatown, which some joked it was Chinastreet, referring to how small it was.  Sitting under a shrine across the street, we spotted friends already coming out of Chinatown.  They joined us for a spell while we discussed ship news and world news, most of which has been cut off to us.  We told them about the pizza café we found yesterday, and they would check it out since they have had their fill of Asian food for awhile. 

 

So this Chinatown was small in comparison to some we have seen but also was very clean and uncrowded for a change.  There were the usual hanging lanterns and Chinese decorations to brighten up the scene.   Souvenir shops were scattered between small eateries with two main restaurants down the far end.   We suspect that many of the passengers may have come here for dinner last night.  None of the souvenirs appealed to us since we already have them all at home.   

 

From here, we wandered back towards Dejima Wharf passing the Dutch Trading Post Site, that was built in the Edo period centuries ago.  It is a nationally designated historic site about Nagasaki’s unique Wakaran culture which is a mixture of Japanese, Chinese, and Dutch cultures.  We did not have time to go inside but did walk past the ancient rock wall that has recently been excavated.  We could see the original rocks that lined the harbor here for a long block.  The walls of the trading post have been reinforced to preserve the site as well.  

 

We crossed a pedestrian bridge to the Youme shopping mall, a modern 4 or 5 story building with modern clothing, a supermarket, and a food court.   We made a quick pass through the first floor, then down to the food court.  Everything was fast food style and included a McDonalds. 

 

From here, we strolled through Dejima Wharf with several eateries, mostly fish- oriented, and the small marina with a few boats.    No good pizza place here, we continued onto the Seaside Park.  This time we walked the backside of the park to find it was beautifully landscaped and followed the canal all the way to the end of the park. 

 

Going the samedirection we went yesterday, we easily found the ALI pizza café and had another delightful lunch there.  This time, we were among the first customers to be seated, followed within ten minutes by a full restaurant.  We got lucky with our timing, since today being a Saturday, many more locals were out and about.  We ordered the same draft beers and two of the Margherita pizzas once again.   We do not know when and if we will find good pizzas like this for the remainder of the trip.   

 

We got back to the ship by 3pm, with the all aboard time of 4:30pm.  Of course, we worked until then online and writing our day’s adventure.  Captain Frank came on with his daily talk and stated what a wonderful two days we had here in Nagasaki.  Even with one rainy day, today’s nice weather made up for it.   He said we will have 600 nautical miles to go to the next port of Shimizu with a day at sea before arriving.  He expected gusty winds and a three-foot swell tomorrow.  The temperature will be around 65 degrees and no rain predicted.  Once leaving, there would be some scenic cruising on our way out of the harbor.    He was right.

 

Much to our surprise, a group of high school kids performed a show for us when the lines were being dropped.  There was a small band with the boys and girls doing a song and dance routine.  Then each and every kid grabbed an instrument and wowed us with their talent.  They cheered in Japanese of course and gave us an outstanding send-off.  We could hear the applause from the guests coming from each deck as well as the promenade deck.   Glad we went out on deck six forward, or we may have missed the show. 

 

Viewing from the portside from our veranda, we did get some nice photos as we passed various parts of town.  We did see a few very old cemeteries carved out of the stone hillsides.  Shipyards were everywhere on this side of the harbor as well as the opposite side.  We passed easily under the 2005 Megami Ohashi Bridge, built in the new cable-stay design.  It is the longest type of this bridge in the city at 558 feet tall, allowing for the biggest cruise ships on the seas. 

 

We passed by the tip of the city where there was a good view for the starboard folks to see the old Kaminoshima Church and the statue of the Virgin Mary also locally known as Venus wings.  On our side of the ship, we could see Iojima Island with the Iojima Lighthouse and Observatory on the tip of the island.   We were minutes out of the harbor into open waters when all of a sudden we spotted dolphins swimming and jumping near the ship.  Big ones too.  We sure did not expect that although one of us had a feeling we might see them.  Why, we don’t know…just instinct.  They lasted only a moment and we were lucky to be able to capture some of their antics.  Watching the wake, they disappeared and never came back.   It was time to go inside because it had gotten really cold outside and it was time for dinner soon.

 

Soup was a good starter to warm up along with along with salads.  The Caesar salad dressing has continued to be rather nasty, so we have learned to ordered it on the side or substitute something better.  One of us had the teriyaki chicken with mac and cheese, while the other had the flank steak (chewy).  This time the chicken won.  We had one scoop of pecan ice cream for dessert.

 

The entertainment was provided by the onboard singers with Boulevards rock and roll music.  The Casino remained closed for the evening, perhaps due to the fact we were not in international waters.  Really looking forward to one glorious day at sea to re-boot.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

354 Pictures

Report #100---Friday, April 10, 2026----Day #1 Of 2---Nagasaki, Japan---8am-Overnight---Docked Starboard Side To Pier---Cloudy With Showers---63 Degrees--90% Humidity---8.1mph Winds-------Casual Dress

Well, we have pretty much reached the 100^th day mark in this world cruise.  Hard to imagine there is a little over a month left.  We have to admit, we are really enjoying Japan, even though we have been here before, there are places new to us and more to see and learn in the places we have already visited. 

 

The first thing we noticed before our arrival to Nagasaki was that the satellite TV feed had been shut down again.  This has to be a government mandate with the cruise ships and goes unexplained by anyone on this ship.  Not every person goes onshore in each and every port for many reasons.  Without the ability to keep up with the news, for instance, can be stressful.  The answer we get when asking the front desk people is that the service will resume once we leave port.  At least, the internet signal has not been affected or there would be a mutiny onboard for sure.

 

It was raining lightly when the Volendam arrived to the port of Nagasaki this morning around 7am.  The ship was docked starboard at the Dejima Pier and will stay here for two days.   While we were at breakfast, the Diamond Princess arrived dropping a whole lot of guests into town.  The Diamond was re-christened in 2004 and it is 115,875 gross ton. It carries a total of 2700 passengers and 1100 crew members.   Should be a busy day here, despite the ongoing rain showers.   We have been told that tomorrow, the weather will be clear of rain and mostly sunny.  It didn’t matter to us as we always go off no matter what the weather.

 

We have to add an interesting story regarding the Diamond Princess.  Back in October 1, 2002, the Diamond was being constructed in the Mitsubishi shipyard when it caught on fire from a welder working in one of the staterooms.  The fire spread and lasted for over 36 hours, causing huge damage to the ship (70% of it was destroyed).  All workers were safely evacuated and there were no deaths.   The largest insurance claim ever was filed for 400 million dollars by Princess. We happened to be here on the Volendam a day or so after it happened and saw the extensive damage from our veranda.    At the same time, the Sapphire Princess was also being built here.  The hulls were switched and the Diamond became the Sapphire and Sapphire was the Diamond, which entered service in March 2004.   The Sapphire debuted in May of 2004.  There were passenger reports that the Sapphire had that “new car smell” about it.  True since it was really the damaged Diamond re-named.  

 

Here are some of the tours offered today and tomorrow.   Both the Nagasaki Museum and History tour and Ground Zero and the Atomic Bomb Museum were 3.5 to 4 hours for $110.  Then the Atomic Bomb Museum and Mt. Inasayama Viewpoint was 5 hours for $140.   Arita porcelain and Nagasaki Peace Park was 7 hours for $245, while Saikai Bridge and scenic 99 islands was 8.5 hours for $230.  Accessible Nagasaki was 5 hours for $350.

 

We have taken the tours that included the Atomic Bomb Museum and the Peace Park as well as a tour to Glover Garden.  The museum and park were understandably upsetting, but the garden was delightful.  So today, we decided to return to Glover Garden, where we saw the park 24 years ago on this very same ship.  We liked it then, and knew we would like it more today. 

 

Leaving the ship around 10am, we discovered there was no cruise terminal and access to town was easy.   We stopped at the info table on the pier for maps and directions.  When we asked one of the older Japanese guides about where we could find pizza, his reply was  “we’re not Italian here” and laughed as he did not know where to find Italian cuisine.  Wrong answer, a young Japanese gal came over and suggested that we might find that in the Wharf area, a better answer. 

 

From here, we turned right going past the expansive Nagasaki Seaside Park and coming out at one of the main streets in downtown.  We mixed with dozens of Princess folks all dressed for the rain with umbrellas and plastic ponchos.   Most were lining up to take the streetcar to some sights in town.  We soon discovered that the street signs also had arrows pointing to major sights within easy walking distance.    We happened to pass by the Confucious Shrine and Historical Museum of China.   There was a fee, but there were no people inside at all.  Maybe it was too early, so we kept going.

 

Our destination was the Glover Garden.  Following a side street, we came across a corner restaurant called Ali Pizza.  How about that?  As well as other starters and entrees, their menu showed up to 20 varieties of pizza and they also had draft beer.   A small restaurant, it would open close to noontime and we decided it would be a good place for lunch.   We would come back…..

 

Miraculously, we made our way to the bottom area of the Glover Garden entrance by following a couple of elderly Japanese ladies who were headed in that direction.  We discover a small funicular elevator , called  Glover Sky Road that took us up five stories above the town.  There were extremely steep stairs going up, but no way would we want to do that.  We came out at a viewing platform where there was an elderly rest home nearby.   Wrapping around the bend we found another lift taking us to the top and the entrance to the Garden.  It was the toll gate #2  entrance where we paid 1300 yen ($8.18 USD) fee per person which included a free photo somewhere in the gardens. 

 

We did recall touring here in 2002, but with limited time to really take it all in.  This historic garden with homes dating back in the 1800’s is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and well-deserved for the cultural and historical elements it portrays.  We spent nearly three hours starting from the top using their detailed map with excellent information.   The only problem was that the printing on this map was infinitesimally small and hard to read.  Or maybe our eye site isn’t as good as it used to be.  Back in our room, we would be able to use the magnifying glass to get all of the details.  There were a total of ten buildings to visit as well as enjoy the gardens, ponds, outdoor cafe and fountains as we went down slowly to each level.  Four unique homes were constructed here for the Glover, Ringer, Walker and Alt families.   All from Europe, these men were responsible for establishing businesses that sparked the export trade operations.  Some were tied to beer, hoteliers, advanced fishing techniques,  and tea products. 

 

Right outside of the Glover mansion, we posed for a free fun photo using the coupon we had been given.  Normally we would not take the time to do this, but the black & white photo was more of a postcard size.  Looks like we were part of the 1800’s.  Of course, they had 4x6 photos in color to purchase for 2000 yen.  We preferred the free one instead….more authentic.  We have to add that the restrooms were well appointed with the fancy pushbutton toilets with heated seats.  Another how about that?    Located all through the gardens as well as all around town, were vending machines full of popular beverages as well as water.  They took coins or credit cards.  Easy peasy…..

 

We have to add that touring this complex was rather strenuous due to the steep incline of the hillside.  There were wheelchair paths, but even those were steep and slippery in the wet weather.  Coming out at the main gate #1  at the bottom, we passed by a street-full of boutique shops, cafes, and the Oura Church.  This was described as a hauntingly beautiful Catholic Church, Japan’s oldest, commemorating early Christan missionaries and hidden believers during religious persecution.  It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, but there was a fee of 1000 yen to enter.  Standing at the base of the steep stairs to go into the church, one of us decided they would have to pay me 1000 yen to tackle those stairs.  Many tourists turned away not wishing to pay for something that has always been free to see a Catholic Church. We did the same, having seen it 24 years ago.  Back onboard later, we searched the reason for the fee and found that there was a little museum on the property and therefore, they could charge for the entrance. Whether or not you visited that museum, it did not matter.

 

Wrapping around the hairpin corner,  we saw a larger brick-built church that was opened.  Going inside, there was a flight of stairs to the second floor to see the interior.  Only one of us did it, and came back with pictures.  Good enough for me.  We continued down the steep street passing through a bakery with nicely- packaged treats for sale.  There were two young Japanese girls buying some cakes and cookies that were put in a fancy paper bag.  The salesgirl  added a plastic cover to keep that bag dry in the rain that was starting to fall now.  We had lucked out and never had more than a mist up in the Garden, although we heard that it rained heavily at the pier.

 

Time for lunch, we located the pizza café where we started with two draft Asahi beers and a Margherita pizza to share.   The pizza was delicious, but more on a personal size.  So we ordered another one to share.  It was wonderful being able to sit and talk about what we just saw today.  And the café was not crowded with only one other couple in there around 1pm. 

 

Heading back to the ship, we were back onboard by 3pm and spent the remainder of the day working online and taking copious notes on our exploits for the day. 

 

Dinnertime had Japanese cuisine that included a beef tataki starter and chicken teriyaki with ginger-fried rice and stir-fried broccoli.  Both good.  Dessert was light with jello and fruit.

 

Illusionist & mentalist Andrew Lee was the entertainment this evening.   We doubt he filed the lounge because a lot of people were off the ship and probably out to dinner.   We did notice that the Diamond Princess was gone sometime between 5 and 6pm. 

 

So much for day one in Nagasaki and looking forward to one more day here.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

525 Pictures

Report # 99 Thursday, April 9, 2026---Sea Day Enroute To Nagasaki, Japan----Scattered Clouds----70 Degrees---73% Humidity----23.6mph Winds----Ships Speed 12 Knots-----Casual Dress

The Volendam did not leave the port of Naze until closer to 7am instead of 5am.  It made little difference in our time to reach Nagasaki tomorrow we guess.   We still maintained a speed of 12 to 14 knots even though the seas were rather rough. 

 

We resumed our sea day routine of one of us walking the promenade deck and the other trying to catch up on reports.  It seems impossible right now, but one day behind isn’t too bad.  It is necessary to keep some notes because the days blend together, and some details are hard to remember.  

 

We took a break for lemonade at the Seaview Pool where some serious sunbathers were still trying to maintain those tans.  The sun was trying to peek out between the clouds, but there was no heat in it like there was just a week ago.  Greg joined us and shared his exploits while in Naze and Amami yesterday.  He and his buddies took a local bus that took them to many of the same sights as the HAL tours did.  And we might add, for a lot less money.  They saw the silk complex as well as the studio museum of the famous watercolor artist that lived and painted here.   Smart move on their end.  Later on, we also talked to friends who had done the same thing. 

 

Captain Frank came on right after the noon whistle blew.   He advised all of us that the seas will be getting rougher later this afternoon, and the winds will pick up a lot.  He expected to close all outside decks.  The current distance to reach Nagasaki was 200 nautical miles and the temperature was cooler at 70 degrees.  The humidity was 73% with winds at 23.6mph.  It was overcast with scattered clouds and sure felt like rain. 

 

Chef Morimoto must have boarded the ship because he had a culinary trivia session at 1pm.    George Sranko gave a talk on Japan – fire, springs and drama, while Gabe Baskin talked about the Japanese language.  Then there was a port talk on Nagasaki at 2pm, which we will watch later tonight.  There is always something happening to keep the natives busy.

 

The day went by with us making some progress with the internet.  Lunch was light with a salad, a bowl of soup, and a shared plate of two mini sliders.

 

Dinner was light since we were not really all that hungry.   One of us had the second bowl of soup for the day – fiesta chicken and the other had nothing for starters.   Mains were the same of sweet and sour chicken with egg-fried rice and carrots.  Desserts were even lighter – one glassful of jello, a bit on the rubbery side, and one sliced banana with a little fudge sauce. 

 

Tonight an instrumentalist named Sueli Tang gave a piano performance with contemporary meets classics.   A nice change of pace from the usual guest entertainers.

 

Looking forward to seeing Nagasaki once again.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

54 Pictures

Report #98 Wednesday, April 8, 2026---Naze, Amami Oshima, Japan---8am Till 5am The Next Day---Docked Starboard Side To Pier---Partly Sunny---66 Degrees--81% Humidity--15.6mph Winds-------Casual Dress

Today we are in a new port for many of us….Naze (Amami), Japan.  We woke up to find we were in a place that looked just like being in Alaska with green hillsides and a village-like town at our feet.  What a different landscape compared to Naha Okinawa yesterday. 

 

Unfortunately, we missed copying the shore excursions and by today, they were gone from the TV.  We do know there was a trip to see how the silk is made here at a factory as well as a liquor called kokuto shochu unique to these Amami Islands and made from distilling sugarcane.   Most all of the tours went outside of the port village of Naze.  There were stops at a museum, a park, a primeval forest, a mangrove, and a waterfall.  The bus rides were a minimum of 40 minutes to get to these sights.  Talking with our friend Greg the following day, he said he and his group took a local bus and made almost all of the stops the tours did.  Sometimes it pays to do your internet homework.  One way or another, if a ship tour fits your needs, then go for it we say.  We also know friends that took a taxi to the main sights as well.  Then they could decide where to have lunch and not be under pressure to join a bus group. 

 

At breakfast, we discovered the Pinnacle Grill had been transformed to an Indonesian restaurant with everything they used to decorate while in Bali.   The walls were dripping with scary Indonesian masks and demons which was to be for a special dinner tonight, Rijsttafel, a pop-up $35 plus 18% meal.  They had one seating time at 6pm, and from what we heard, it was fully booked.   So far, we think the pop-ups have outnumbered the regular steak and seafood dinners in there, although it is  just a guess on our part. 

 

We had a really odd thing happen to our toilet seat where it simply cracked all the way through all by itself.  No, we are not kidding.  It was good one minute, then later we found it cracked.   Reporting it to the front desk, we were told it would be fixed ASAP during the time we were off of the ship.  However, when we did return, it was not fixed.  We immediately told our room steward, who we should have informed first, and the seat was replaced within 15 minutes.   We swear this room is jinxed.  Good thing we happened to have brought a roll of duct tape with us from home.  It worked until the new seat arrived.  Comparing the seats, the old one was an ADA seat with raised points to make it higher.  That must have been stressed and caused it to crack. Anyway, we left the ship at 10am in hopes it would be fixed shortly.  

 

There was no cruise terminal here, but a set of tents were set up to shade some souvenir tables and later, some food trucks.  They were selling a limited number of Japanese treasures of local silk and the distilled liquor.  And as always, there was a collection of affordable jewelry, cards, artwork, and carvings.  There were a few t-shirts, kimonos and silk ties for the fellows as well as brocade table runners. 

 

More important, they had a display of a local city map and also a smaller map with good directions.  It was strictly a map of Naze, the port city, which worked for us since we had no intentions of leaving here.  The weather was beautiful with temps in the 70’s and some sun shining through the clouds.    No rain, which we found out later that it had rained here for days on end with today, finally a dry one.    How about that?  The cute info girl pointed to the left for all of us walkers to go to downtown.  Following the map, we passed by Marine Town Park, then entered into the oldest part of this city.  The description on the map described downtown as having a shopping street lined with small local stores that included souvenir shops selling authentic silk fabric. 

 

We had turned on a street that led us into the café and restaurant area, none of which were opened at 10 or 11 am.   In fact, we ran into people that like to walk like us.  They were sitting on a bench outside a fast-food Indian café, drinking cold beverages.   They advised us not to waste our time going further up this road, since they were informed nothing opens until much later in the day.   Like when it gets dark.  So we wandering up another side street and ran into City Hall quite by accident. 

 

Very close to the City Hall, we spotted a church, which turned out to be a Catholic church by the name of Sacred Heart.   There was a small story written on the map saying that this church is home to an altar given by the Cathedral of St. Matthew in Washington DC, of all places.  This altar was given to this cathedral, and it was tied to the Requiem Mass for President John F Kennedy back in the 1960’s.  Small world and lucky we came across the church.  

 

Very close to this church was the covered pedestrian Nazemuchi Shopping Street with 1950’s style shops and cafes.  Clothing styles were very basic and not what you might find in a modern shopping mall.  A few small boutiques were selling traditional kimonos and matching thong-like sandals.  Silk, maybe, but the prices were right we heard later on. 

 

From here we took parallel streets back towards the pier, seeing more shops , barber shops, eateries, a mini-market, apartment towers and hotels.  We had the option of walking past the pier and onto another street with a few more cafes and a museum at the far end.  Truthfully, it was getting close to lunch time and we had already walked far enough.  And we still had the tables to check out at the pier, so we continued back the way we came.  For a memento of this port, one of us bought a pair of Japanese-looking earrings with the painting of the local bird and some flowers for the huge price of 1500 yen or $10 USD. 

 

It was a good time to work online and make some progress with the photos.  We enjoyed a lunch of a Cobb salad, a bowl of chili, and a shared plate of mini burger sliders.  There was no sail away because we were docked until 5am tomorrow morning.   At least there would be no rocking and rolling all night if the conditions picked up.  

 

Dinner found us ordering starters of a Japanese brothy soup and a chicken karaage, Japanese-style fried chicken bites.   Mains were the veal sage meatballs like they serve in the Canaletto.  They sat on a red sauce with a creamy polenta on the bottom.  It was good and served piping hot.    Desserts were one chocolate tart and some sliced watermelon. 

 

The show featured a comedian named Martin Beaumont with a clean and clever show called Around the World in 80 Laughs.  We heard he was very funny and we also think we saw him  on the Zaandam last fall.   

 

We have one sea day, then will be in Nagasaki for two days.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

259 Pictures

Report #97 Tuesday, April 7, 2026---Naha, Okinawa, Japan---Docked Starboard Side To Pier---7:30am-6:30pm--Overcast With Rain--73 Degrees--91% Humidity--24.8mph Winds----Casual Dress

The country of Japan is our next destination with several ports.  There are 127 million people in Japan that speak Japanese.  Some understand and speak a little English, but mostly in the tourist industry.    Japan is a country of ancient traditions as well as modern life making it a timeless place.  A visit here will reveal temples, shrines, monasteries, Zen rock gardens mixed with modern architecture.  Springtime is a wonderful time to visit to see the blooming cherry trees.  We have never hit that right time of year, and we will not see it this time either.  Good excuse to come back some day.  Mt. Fuji is breathtaking and is considered a sacred volcano.  We did see the mountain in its glory, covered with snow two years ago.  It was stunning and it was COLD.  Mt. Fuji is a subject of their most famous artists and poets.  Lessons in history will stay with you forever with visits to Hiroshima and Nagasaki.   We will be spending two days in Nagasaki very soon, a place we visited back in 2002.  Yes, quite memorable.   So was the capital of Tokyo where we saw thousands upon thousands of shoppers in the Ginza district.   While on a tour we were given an hour to explore one major store in a mall.  It was more like squeezing into a can of sardines.  No kidding.   It got even worse going from floor to floor on the escalators.  We could not wait to get back outside and watch the few people that had dog permits walking them in a park across the street.  Mostly small breeds pushed in baby strollers by their owners and dressed better than their owners. 

 

So our first port in Japan was Naha, Okinawa where we arrived in the dark and docked starboard.  At 7am, the temperature was 73 degrees, the humidity 91% and winds 24.8mph.  It was raining off and on all morning and overcast the rest of the day.    And there were some tours of course.  Panoramic Okinawa was an easy bus ride for 2.5 hours and $120.  Best of Okinawa was 6.5 hours for $210 with lunch, while Okinawa in depth was 8.5 hours for $210 also.  Ryukyumura Village, Cape Manzamo, and Kokusai St. was 6.5 hours for $170.  Gyokusendo Cave, Peace Memorial and Kokusai St was 5.5 hours for $160.  Shurijo Castle Park, garden and Kokusai St was 4.5 hours for $140. 

 

But first, we all had a job to do and that was the Naha mandatory immigration inspection for a face-to-face check.  A few days ago, we received disembarkation cards for each of us to fill out (instructions included) and a customs declaration form – one per family.    We also got a letter of our Group B to go to the terminal at 7:45am with our room cards, passports and filled out forms.  Even though that was our designated time, we had the option of going off at any time before 10am or so. 

 

We chose to go to breakfast as usual, and head over around 8:30am.  The tour groups got priority as always, so the crowd would be less when we went off.  To complicate matters, everyone got a notice last night that all of the ships water would be turned off from 9:30am to 1:30pm. The entire ship - NO WATER  anywhere which meant no toilets, sinks or showers.  No food service, except sandwiches in the Lido we heard, as they had no water also.  Then we were advised to let the faucets run until the water cleared up without a rusty color.  This was an unavoidable preventative maintenance, which goes along with the ship being old and getting older by the day.  What else could happen?   Oh yeah, there was no TV reception at all and it was raining.  On our way to the terminal, we got the sad news that one of our longtime friends and among the highest number President’s Club member had passed away.  He was one-of-a-kind type of guy and will be missed by many.

 

The way off of the ship was convoluted with a short gangway at A deck, then a walk through the terminal zig-zag gangway and up a flight of stairs to the officials waiting for us in the terminal.  We handed off our forms, showed our passports,  got our room cards marked with a blue sticker, then turned around and made our way back to the ship.  The same zigzag and stairway seemed to take forever, but the rain had stopped by then.  Now we are good to go in every Japanese port where we will be required to take our passports with us.  

 

We did some internet work by the time the water was shut off.  We left and headed through the terminal once again to find the road out of the port area.   Being here just two years ago, it all came back like it was yesterday.  And we did find a nice map at the info desk in the terminal.  Maps are always a plus.  Our destination would be a hike up to the Kokusai Street area.  It was a rather long walk just to get out of this terminal, going through the parking garage and finally out into the main street. There was an optional public transport bus with a one-way fare of 240 yen that would take the folks to the central downtown area of Naha at Kokusai Street.  This part of town has the nice malls, souvenir shops by the dozen, hotels, museums, and authentic Okinawa eateries.    We like to walk since it was just over one mile with lots of photo ops along the way.   Crossing the main highway, we passed through the tall granite pillars of dragons, a monument commemorating peace.  These dragon pillars are 15 meters high and 3 meters wide, facing the harbor protecting the island.

 

Following this street up to the shopping area, there were a few gardens, one of which was Fukushuen Garden, one of the stops for a ship’s excursion.  If we had stopped here a month ago, these gardens would have been stunning.  The most blossoms we saw today were from the bougainvillea vines, not so much the spring-blooming trees.  Another smaller garden was Matsuyama Park with convenient restrooms.   Once at the top of this street, we crossed the canal and came upon the RyuBo mall, a multi-level modern building with upscale shops and eateries.  It was raining lightly, so we decided to go in the mall to dry off and explore the many departments. 

 

The most interesting section of this mall had to be the bakery with the fanciest cakes, cookies, and sweet treats.  All of it looked delicious and seemed very pricey, although it takes a whole lot of yen to equal the US dollar.  At 159 yen to the $1 USD, the prices were not all that bad after all.   Most passengers have the cell phones with a built in calculator for the money exchange rates.  We can do the same math by bringing a small calculator, which one of us seems to forget in every port.  Duh…. 

 

Walking further down this end of the floor, we came upon the Ryubo Food Hall, which normally we do not consider.  However, there were separate full-service venues here and one of them happened to be Franco Italian cuisine and they served draft beer as well.  Speaking with the receptionist, we decided this would work fine if we did not find another restaurant in town.  We ran into our buddy Heo, who was roaming the  department store like us, waiting for friends, one of whom was getting a haircut. Heo shared their exploits with the recent visits in the last couple of ports, since we have not seen them for a few days.   We need more sea days.

 

From here, we made our way to Kokusai Street and followed it all the way to almost the end.  Too bad it was raining, since we hesitated going inside most of the smaller shops with dripping umbrellas.  Many of these souvenir shops sold Orion beer and Spam t-shirts.  This canned meat (??) was most popular during the war years and became a staple for the US military troops stationed here.  The locals liked it as well.   One of us was looking for a pair of “Spam” socks, which were sold everywhere a few years ago.  Of course, all we could see were beer and Little Kitty socks along with tote bags and t-shirts.  One item that was sold here was some very eye-catching jewelry sets with deep-blue marble-sized stones.  They glimmered in the light, so we checked out a display in a case.  They are called Firefly glass stones made with foil and some with silver inside the glass stones.  They are said to glow in the dark.  The shop was pretty busy, so we did not have a chance to look closer.  Maybe next time. 

 

The next search was for a suitable lunch venue, but most all of the restaurants were not to our liking.  It was back to the Ryubo Mall for Italian food at The Carino Okinawa.  We were seated in a cubbyhole with nice comfortable bench seats and a private table.  Ordering was hindered by the fact their menu was a QR code.  Hate that.  But a sweet waitress used her phone to show us their options.  It was simple -  large pint-size Orion draft beers to start, followed by a margherita pizza.  Easy, right?  Not exactly as the beers were correct, ice cold in huge, chilled mugs,  but the pizza was not right.  It looked more like an appetizer with mystery meat or fish on it. Definitely not margherita, one of us did not feel comfortable to even taste it.  We asked our waitress what kind of pizza it was, but she did not know or understand our question.   She summoned the chef over who informed us the pizza was a mistake, and he would bring the right one.  Bill had tasted the meat, which he finally decided might have been pork belly and not any type of shellfish.  We never found out for sure.

 

The margherita was brought but did not match the photo we saw on the outside wall for this venue.   The crust was extremely thin, but the toppings were excellent.  One thing we have noticed in Japan is that the servings can be smallish.  Sitting close to us was a local Japanese fellow who intervened to help us with the menu.   We seemed to be among the few cruise guests dining in here, and the locals are so helpful, even without asking.   He helped us chose a tiny dessert to share which was tiramisu.   Our final bill was 6270 yen or $39 USD.  Not bad considering we had a total of three beers.  And they were really good.  Also, American Express  was accepted.    Sitting and relaxing was even better for an hour.  But it was time to move on.

 

Walking back taking our time, we got to the pier by 3:30pm.  By then, some of the tours were getting back as well.  We worked online until the Captain came on with his update at 6:30pm.  Normally, he would not do this during dinner time, but there had been a change with the itinerary and we discovered that  we would be spending the evening in the following port of Naze, due to a storm hitting the Nagasaki area.  We would be leaving Naze at 5am the following morning and heading towards Nagasaki with a day st sea.  He expected to be closing the outside decks on the 9^th , the sea day, due to high winds and rough seas.

 

Dinner had some interesting Japanese items, but we stuck to our usual salads, lamb spring rolls, excellent, and mains of chopped sirloin steak.  It was served with a gravy with peas and carrots and really reminded us of Salisbury steak.  It was quite good.   We each had a small scoop of coffee fudge ice cream for dessert. 

 

Showtime featured vocalist Cassidy Janson singing musical and movie classics.  She also filled in with fun stories from her years in show business. 

 

Tomorrow’s port will be a new one for many of us…..Naze (Amami) Japan, arriving early and leaving much later than originally planned.  Fine with us and the crew members as well.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

371 Pictures

Report #96 Monday, April 6, 2026---Sea Day Enroute To Naha, Okinawa, Japan---Overcast With Rain All Day---75 Degrees---89% Humidity---20.6mph Winds--Ships Speed 10 Knots-----Casual Dress

Finally, a day to catch up with reports and pics until 10:15am when there was another Mariner Recognition Event in the World Stage.   This will be for those guests who will be disembarking in Tokyo, which is still several days away.  We suppose these events have to be scheduled when they can do them on a sea day.  We asked about how many folks will be leaving, and the answer was close to 200.  However, nearly the same amount will be joining for the next major segment, a 34-day cruise from Tokyo to Ft. Lauderdale.   Also, there are mini-segments where some people will be leaving in Seattle and San Diego. 

 

Our group of President’s Club members took their usual reserved seats, while the room filled with medal awardees and five-star guests we understand.   And once again, there was some entertainment prior to the ceremony with the musicians of Vivace and a fellow drummer treating us to a mini-symphony.  Maria, the violinist and Tetlana, the cellist are both from the Ukraine.  Olha, the pianist, is from Crimea.   Following their performance was the pianist from the Dam Band, a very talented fellow who also sang a Beatle’s song.    But the frosting on the cake was Josh, our travel guide and another singer from a band sang “That’s All I Ask of You” from Phantom of the Opera.  A big “wow”, the audience broke out with a huge applause and a standing ovation.   

 

The medal awarding commenced afterwards and was short and sweet with just a dozen or so guests getting mostly bronze medallions with a few silver and gold mixed in.   No platinum this time.   Then each President’s Club member was called to the table where sea days were announced and photos were taken once again.    Captain Frank and Florin did a fine and proper job.  Then some of the crew came on the stage and in front of it for their early farewell to the departing guests.  This will take care of the farewell parade they used to do in the dining room on the last evening of the segment.  Immediately following this ceremony, the guests proceeded to the lower dining room for a special brunch.     And once again, we did not attend.  Too close to breakfast time for us. 

 

Then Captain Frank came on the speakers at high noon and reminded us to put our watches and clocks forward one hour.  So we went from 12pm to 1pm.  This is supposed to have less impact on our day (crew and guests alike) compared to putting the clocks ahead after dinnertime or 2am in the morning.  Who really does that anyway?    The Captain stated that our first port in Japan will be Naha, Okinawa, 186 nautical miles away.  He surprised us by saying that Chinese aircraft were circling the ship, a surveillance team he suspected.  Then they flew off and never came back.  Good…  Then he said the temperature was 72 degrees, humid, and overcast with rain.  Winds were getting up to 35 knots with 7-foot seas.  The water temperature was 81 degrees, and the sea depth was 6000 feet.  Sorry to say, but he reported that tomorrow was not looking good with expected thunderstorms and rain.   The Volendam would dock starboard and an hour earlier.   Sunset was 6:45pm and sunrise tomorrow would be 6:15am. 

 

One important job everyone had was collecting their passports on deck three with approximate time slots for each passenger deck.  Decks 6 & 7 were last from 3:15pm to 4pm.   We did need to bring our passports receipts to pick them up or else you would have to fill out a new one.    We’ll need the passports tomorrow for the Japanese Immigration Inspection.  The usual sea day activities took place as well as a port talk on Naha (Okinawa) and Amami, a new port for us.  And we do have two guest speakers doing talks on Japan.

 

The day zoomed by as we made progress with the blog and photos, while enjoying a light room service lunch once again.   At dinner, we had two different salads, the prime rib meal and small desserts of coffee fudge ice cream.  The show was a dance and song routine by the World Cast Stage called Crossroads.  Rhythm, roots, and rhymes came together for a foot-stomping good time.

 

Looking forward to seeing Okinawa again.  We were here two years ago and had a fine time hiking to the main market in the center of downtown. 

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

32 Pictures

Report #95 Sunday, April 5, 2026---Keelung, Taiwan---10am-11:30pm----Happy Easter---Docked Starboard Side To Pier---Partly Sunny---77 Degrees---74% Humidity---6.7mph Winds-----Formal Dress

Happy Easter to all!!

 

Our second and last port for the country of Taiwan was Keelung for the city of Taipai.   The Volendam arrived to the port by 8:30am and docked starboard.  That was another plus for us since that side got the view of the terminal walls and we got the ocean and harbor view.   Thank you Captain Frank.   Although it was overcast with broken clouds, the temperature was 77 degrees, and the humidity was 74%.  There was a 6.7 mph wind and no rain. 

 

Doing some catch-up work online, we left the ship by 11am.  We have been here in 2002 on this same ship and took an excursion to Taipai, seeing all of the main highlights.   Staying in the port city was just fine with us.  Speaking of tours , there were a few such as the best of Taipai for 8 hours with lunch and $150.   Taipai on your own was for 8 hours and $60 – basically a transfer.  Taipai highlights was 5 hours for $90.   Wellness landscapes and hot springs was 7.5 hours for $180, while historic Taipai and temples was 4.5 hours for $70.  Taipai at night was 6.5 hours for $160 and may have included a meal.

 

In the terminal, we had to go through xray on the way out, but our passport copies with the official stamps were not checked once again.  A small information table provided no maps for us to take.  There were two maps glued to the table and the fellow said to take a picture.  What a difference from yesterday when we got a map loaded with info and pictures.  He did point out where the fish market and night market were located. 

 

There was some construction going on around the terminal area, so we made our way to Maritime Plaza, a huge area with a wooden boardwalk and benches with a view of the harbor and the Volendam docked right there.  As we approached the railing of this harbor, an elderly Taiwanese lady got our attention and said “beautiful” referring to the marina.  Then she motioned for Bill to take photos, which he did of course.  She left with a smile on her face. 

 

We spent some time at this viewpoint, watching a kite working the waters.  He dipped down and scooped up a morsel like a small octopus and flew off without landing on the surface.  We discovered later that this bird is on many of the manhole covers in town like a mascot.

 

We ended up walking up to the train station and past a museum.  Not sure where the markets were, we searched for posted area maps and found one at a bus stop below the train station.  English is not widely spoken here, so we hesitated to ask anyone.  Heading down a side street, we passed by numerous small shops, cafes, and tea houses.  There were dozens of convenience stores and pharmacies like Watsons. 

 

Eventually, we ended up at what we believe to be the Fish Market, but being a Sunday about every stall was shut down.  We do not think they observe Easter Sunday here, but there were those two holidays we mentioned yesterday….Children’s Day and Grave-sweeping Day.    As the day advanced, the town became more crowded with locals.  We stumbled upon the Night Market, which was not in full swing until 4pm this afternoon.  The name of this market is Kung Miaokou and is considered a culinary destination.  One long street had been turned into a pedestrian lane with a portal of red Chinese lanterns to mark the spot.  Colorful for sure, it was getting busy with people eating lunch and dozens more in line for small restaurants and take-away food. 

 

The deeper we got into this feeding frenzy, the harder it was to navigate through the crowd.   But we were amazed at the small stands in the center of the street where cooks were frying everything in bubbling oil in gallon-size tin cans.  For us, it was an accident waiting to happen.    Everything from sweet cherry tomatoes, to vegetables, fish, chicken and pork were cooked in this oil.  At the far end was a team of mother and daughter making little fish balls using what resembled a cast iron egg crate-like pan.  There were about 36 holes in the pan where the cook poured a thin batter of tempura with oil in the bottom of each hole.  When set a little, she added what looked like dried grubs, not shrimp.  When the batter turned brown underneath, she flipped the ball over to continue browning the other side.  Repeating this process over and over, she eventually put six fish balls in a plastic covered container to sell immediately.  There was a line of customers waiting for this treat.  

 

Tables and chairs were set up along the sidewalks, so between the chefs and the restaurants, it was really crowded…..not one of our favorite situations to be in the middle of.   Across the street from the food area was what appeared to be the rest of the Night Market.  Small shops had sidewalk tables set with clothing and other accessories for sale.  We think the conversion rate was 100 Taiwan dollars to $3 USD.  We never bought any local money, so we never bought anything.

 

As we were looking across the street at a decorative temple, a local man came out of a shop and said we needed to go inside this temple as it was famous.  Just as he was talking, I happened to look down on the sidewalk and spotted a very dead mouse near my foot.  Not a surprise with all of that outdoor food cooking.  Guess they need more cats to roam the streets at night.  So we did not need any more urging to cross the street and enter this temple which was Ching-An Temple.  It was opulent to say the least with dragons and gargoyles on the portals and roofs.  A replica of the Goddess Guanyin Statue was in the courtyard also known as the Goddess of Mercy.    We recognized this statue as the same one we could see on a hilltop, which is 74 feet tall.   Over-looking the city, you can climb the stairs on the inside of the statue and take a look out of her eye.  Needless to say, we took lots of photos of the interior table where locals were bringing offerings of food and flowers.  Men were lighting incense and many men and women were bowing and praying. 

 

We navigated our way back to the terminal, by-passing the two modern malls that were close by.   We have seen enough of those for a while and decided we could eat lunch onboard once again.  We chatted with some friends who were waiting for their Uber to go into Taipei.  It was fun sharing what we just saw in town and recommended they check out the Night Market later tonight.

 

Back in the terminal, we soon discovered that the gangway was being re-located.   Maybe it was due to tidal changes, but the gangway was removed, and another one set up on a lower deck.  That took at least ½ hour while the line of guests got longer and longer.  Many crew members were among the crowd waiting to board, so when they let us go, they ran up the gangway so not to be late.

 

Just as we entered our room, the Star Navigator, another gambling ship, docked across the harbor from us.  It holds 2000 guests, mostly Asian, for short 4 or 7 day cruises.  Another smaller local crise ship docked in front of the Star.  Now the town will be really crowded.  No way would we attempt to go back to shore like some folks planned on doing.   By 10pm, both ships had left the harbor.

 

We enjoyed another light room service lunch, working as usual on the blog and photos.  Dinner was indeed formal, due to the fact it was Easter Sunday.  Someone in Seattle dropped the ball on this one, since many people were missing dinner due to late tours and the fact we were here until midnight.   Attendance was spotty at the second seating, although Florin was hosting the table for 12 on the lower level.  It became apparent that the wine was flowing by the noise coming up the center dining room ceiling.  Other nearby diners came over to check out the noise-makers.  Some of the late-comers arrived in golf shirts and jeans but were not turned away.  We think that could have been avoided if they had switched formal to Monday instead.

 

We ordered two salads, one shrimp cocktail, and a bowl of hot potato/cheddar soup.  Entrees were rack of lamb, and a linguine with a cheese sauce, no meat.  Both were very good.   Desserts were coffee marble ice cream and sliced watermelon…always refreshing.  We had forgotten to read the Daily newsletter and missed the performance by a local group with 18 artists with drums, dance, and rhythm movements celebrating their culture.  Surely we will hear about tomorrow. 

 

We have one precious sea day before we reach the first port in Japan…. Okinawa.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

425 Pictures

Report #94 Saturday, April 4, 2026---Kaohsiung, Taiwan---8am-5pm----Docked Starboard Side To Pier----Heavy Monsoonal Rain---75 Degrees----84% Humidity---20mph Winds And Higher-------Casual Dress

The country of Taiwan will be our stops for the next two days.    Known for centuries as Formosa (the beautiful isle), Taiwan has emerged as a land of old traditions and Asian sophistications.  This country has towering cliffs, gorges of marble walls, as well as tropical forests.  Chinese cuisine and Japanese dishes add to Taipai beef noodles and Tainan milkfish.  They even serve BBQ wild boar and snacks of what they call “stinky” tofu, steamed dumplings, oyster omelets shrimp rolls and shave ice.  We’ll opt for the shave ice to be on the safe side.

 

The capital is Taipai and the population of the country is 23.5 million people.    The language is Mandarin and Taiwanese with English spoken in the travel-related businesses. 

 

Politically speaking, there is a vibrant democracy in a liberal society, free press, and a respect for human and animal rights.  Always in the back round is the lingering problem with China who would prefer to own this island/nation.  But that’s another whole story.  

 

What are their favorite foods?   As we just stated, stinky tofu or chou doufu is a most loved snack.  Worse than the smell of durian we were told by a fellow guest.  A stew of seafood, chicken, duck and pork simmered in a jar of rice wine is called “Buddha Jump Over the Moon”  good.  Can’t make this up, we swear.  A fermented sorghum called Kaoliang liquor goes well with stir fried cuttlefish with leeks, tofu,  and pork or clear oyster soup with ginger.   Another specialty is fatty wild boar grilled twice with onions and wild greens.  Any chance we might find wood-fired pizza?   We suspect the chances are slim to zero. 

 

We stopped in Taiwan back in 2002 while on the maiden voyage on this very same ship.  Our only port was Keelung for the capital city of Taipai.  We have never been back ever since then.  A few days ago, we were issued a photocopy of our passports with the official stamp from the Taiwanese authorities.  We will be required to carry these copies with us in both ports as proof of our immigration clearance while visiting here.  We were advised not to lose them or misplace them, as it would delay the ship being cleared. 

 

There were six tour options starting with a simple transfer to Taipai for 8 hours and $60.  Historical Taipai and Temples was 4.5 hours and $70, while Taipai highlights for 5 hours was $90.   Two excursions priced at $160 were the best of Taipai for 8 hours or Taipai at night for 6.5 hours.  Last was a wellness and hot springs tour for 7.5 hours and $180.  

 

So here we are in Kaohsiung in southern Taiwan with a population of 2,724,000 people that live in a tropical climate.  The warm season is April through October.    The main economy in this part of the country has always been heavily industrial.  The city has been modernized to a major economic, cultural, and a tourist haven.    Their natural resources of mountains, seaports, high rise buildings, arts, culture and food surprises most visitors.  To make it easier to get around this huge city, they have an efficient underground MRT, high speed rail, light rail vehicles, buses, and taxis…including Uber.  

 

The cruise terminal here is new and huge with a very modern design.  After passing through xray in this terminal, we noticed that our stamped passport pages were not screened.  There was a really nice information counter with real maps where a helper pointed out places we could walk from the terminal.  He did add that it was going to rain, and he hoped we had umbrellas.  Yes, we did.  Little did we know how soon we would need them.

 

Following the directions we were given, we headed out of the terminal and past the Uber and taxi drivers.  There were no pushy drivers trying to sell us tours, so it may not be allowed here.  The first thing we noticed was the fact there were no local people out and about and very few cars on the streets.  The city appeared to be asleep or there was a holiday we did not know about.  We ran into friends already coming back to the terminal.  We asked why and they said there was nothing opened and there appeared to be no shopping area within view.   They were nervous taking any public transportation not knowing where they were going.  One of the ladies said she looked it up, and there were two holidays.  One was Children’s Day and the other Sweep the Graves Day tomorrow.  Yes you read that right…sweep the graves of the families, a way to honor their relatives. 

 

We turned left crossing the train tracks and soon discovered there was a very upscale modern harbor from Piers 11 to 15.  This complex had a centerpiece called Kaohsiung Music Center, a most unique piece of architecture we have ever seen.  We entered the harbor at the Whale Promenade passing some small cars in the water that were actually different types of boats.  They must be rentals.   There was nothing opened yet, and we found it strange that so few people were there since it was 11am.    Locals probably pay attention to the weather forecast we bet.  

 

We found our way to an elevator that would take us up to an overpass, which was for bikes also.  It dropped us off near the Music Center, the ultra-modern design which opened in 2021.  Designed by Spanish and local Taiwanese architects, this building has become a new base for music entertainment in Southern Taiwan and an international cultural landmark. 

 

Going inside, we came upon a rehearsal in the lobby, then continued up each escalator to almost the top venue.  We got as far as Pop-Pop, which I thought was a popcorn counter.  No, it was a pop music venue.   At one point, we thought we heard thunder and may have seen lightning.  Time to head back down the escalators…quickly.  Once back outside, we headed around the side of the complex and KABOOM….thunder clapped overhead, lightning lit up the dark skies, and the rain began lightly.  We knew it would be seconds before it got worse.  And worse – it did. 

 

By now, we had reached the area of Pier 2 Art Center where a giant dinosaur was roaring and waving its huge tail.  Most people were using umbrellas, and others running for cover.  We did spot our friend Ilsa on a bus tour taking pictures before she went running for the coach.  Then the downpour hit with a force of wind that drove the rain sideways.   The umbrellas were useless at this point.  The closest structure happened to be the Great Harbor Bridge across the 3^rd wet basin of the port.  It was strictly a pedestrian bridge and loaded with locals trying to stay dry.  Nothing kept us dry  at this point, and we got soaked to the bone.  The local people even screamed like little kids, then we wondered what did they know that we did not.  Like maybe we should not be on this bridge over the river with lightning so close?   Too late, we could not get any wetter at this point.  Only electrocuted.  We laughed as we made our way up higher to find a small spot out of the driving rain.  Even the circular steps were flooded.

 

Good news, the worst had passed, and the rain let up.  We stashed our room key card holders and wallet into umbrella bags one of us picked up in the Music Center.  A bit late, because most everything was wet already.  Heaven forbid, we ruin those passport copies.  We did take the time to stroll around this Art Center in the old warehouses but found nothing but tea and coffee houses.  The search for a suitable lunch venue was not going to happen.  Passing the one possibility at the Meat Restaurant was not for one of us with a lot of fish items.  No pizza at all.  Darn…..

 

We avoided the puddles best we could as we entered the terminal by 1:30pm.  Back in our room, we showered and changed to dry clothing.  We would send the wet stuff to the laundry tonight.  Our shoes were soaked, but we had brought a blue pool towel to our room and used that to stuff inside the shoes.  It wicked the water out by morning, and we were good to go with cleaner shoes.

 

Captain Frank gave his talk at 4:45pm and said it was a great day in Kaohsiung even with the rain.  Lots of rain.   We would leave the port by 5pm with a short but scenic sail away.   We had a short distance to reach Keelung in the morning with 50 nautical miles to cover. 

 

We worked the remainder of the day on the computer so we don’t fall further behind with pictures and reports.  Dinner was in the Pinnacle Grill at 8pm where we ordered our favorite wedge salads with 2 pieces of clothesline bacon on the side.  One of us had the New York strip steak, while the other had the 8 oz filet mignon….both cooked to perfection.   Sides were mashed potatoes and French fries.  We shared the smallest slice of Key Lime pie and passed on the macaroons. 

 

Too tired to move, we missed the entertainment of Ian Jacinto with his saxophone tunes.  Maybe we will catch his next performance.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

329 Pictures