Cruising: 2024-Sep Quantum OTS
(Seattle-Japan)

Seattle has recently expanded the “light rail” service to Lynnwood, so we will use public transportation to take us to the port.

September 30, 2024 – Monday/Day 1 – Departure DayTime for another cruise! It’s a beautiful, sunny day. The two of us decided to try something different and take public transportation to the cruise port which was a bit of an adventure. We left the house shortly after 8:00 AM with two carry-on suitcases and two other smaller carry-ons. It took a bus, then the light rail train, another bus, and about a mile total of walking to get to the ship. It was $1.25 for each of us instead of about $100 if we took Uber!

It seemed like chaos in the cruise terminal but as long we followed the lines we kept moving and we were onboard by 11:15. We sat on a couch in the Bionic Bar where Pat had coffee that Laurie had picked up when he went to make our BOGO dinner reservations for tonight and for Day 11. At 1:00 we were able to get into our room to unpack and get set up with all Laurie’s technical stuff. This cruise we decided to try a guaranty balcony since it was such a great deal ($1,400).

We got an “obstructed view” (as we had expected) but can still see fine over the top of the lifeboats which are hanging outside our balcony. Natalia is our room attendant and seems very nice and efficient. We checked out our dining room table which is a great table for two against a window in a corner of the dining area (which we had requested in advance). Then we grabbed a nosh at Windjammer and went to relax on deck for the 4:00 sail away. Looking south from the Magnolia Bridge we had a fantastic panoramic view of the Seattle skyline with the Space Needle, the stadiums amd Mt. Rainter taking up a lot of the southern view, the Olympics to the west, and ferries crossing the sound in the foreground.

It was pleasant for a while then got windy and chilly, so back to our room to relax there. After 5:30 it was time for Happy Hour in the Crown Lounge, which surprisingly was not very crowded. Our waiter, Putu, made some pretty good singles so we may stick with him. Before long it was time to head to Izumi for a nice sushi dinner. Rowele served us edamame (pea pods) and miso soup for appetizers, then we shared two small plates, followed by four large plates, ending with dessert of chocolate lava cake and mochi ice cream. Delicious warm sake accompanied the meal. By the time we were done we were ready to stretch out in bed after a long but wonderful day. Tonight we moved the clocks back one hour.

The captain of the Quantum is Arild Hansen, the Cruise Director is Tanya, and the Activities Manager is Thiago.

October 1, 2024 – Tuesday/Day 2 – Cruising
Laurie was up about 5:00 and was soon in the lounge for coffee. Pat was up at 5:45 and went to join him. We read until about 7:30 before eating breakfast in Windjammer then going to the Solarium for more reading. At 10:00 we saw the first in a series of presentations on air travel which was interesting. A little more reading, this time in Vintages Lounge, a nibble at Two70, and then back to our room to relax. Happy Hour started in the Crown Lounge (Putu’s drinks were not so great today) but then we moved on to the casino to try our luck with the $8 slot credit we each had. Laurie was the winner walking away with $7.

Our first dinner in the dining room was delicious beef tenderloin.  Our waiters are Biki and Carl who seem okay so far. After turning our clocks back another hour, we turned in early to read and watch a little news on TV. We are now two hours behind home time.

October 2, 2024 – Wednesday/Day 3 – Cruising
The weather so far has been cool, cloudy, and rainy/foggy/windy at times – not outdoor weather. Pretty much the same start to our morning except after our Solarium time we stopped by the room before heading to the Top Tier Event in the theater. At the event they announced how many of each tier were onboard: Pinnacle 102, Diamond Plus 397, Diamond 523, Emerald 194, Platinum 396, and Gold 854. From there we immediately went to our scheduled mandatory Japanese immigration face-to-face appointment which went really fast because we happened to be there at a good time. We spent time reading in the Two70 Theater before moving on to Vintages (Ilano was a good waiter) to read some more, have a beverage, and spend some time chatting. After relaxing in the room for a while we decided to try seeing the “Starwater” show in the Two70 Theater even though we didn’t have reservations and got in no problem. It was a lot of singing, dancing, and technical displays on screens and the stage backdrop. We’re not sure what it was all about or how different segments tied together but it was something to do. Following that we had dinner in Windjammer before going back to our room. Another time change so we are now three hours behind home.

October 3, 2024 – Thursday/Day 4 – Cruising
Same morning routine. Same weather. For a change we ate a light soup lunch in Windjammer then headed to the theater for the first part of an enrichment series called “Don Knotts, Barney Fife & Mayberry”. The show was presented by Don Knotts’ nephew Bill Knotts. He was a very energetic presenter whose voice even sounded a little bit like Don Knotts. He showed some funny clips from the TV show and there were some nuggets of interesting information, but the guy threw in too many of his own lame jokes. We’ll have to see if we feel like seeing more tomorrow. Then we returned to our cabin to relax and catch up on a few things. We went back to Vintages for Happy Hour with generous drinks served again by Ilano. Then we went to Windjammer for dinner, walked around the ship a bit, and turned into our cabin for the night. Another one hour back time change.

October 4, 2024 – Friday/Day 5 – Cruising
A little brighter day with a few peeks of blue sky through gray clouds. Due to the time changes we find that we’re getting up earlier and earlier each day along with a lot of our shipmates. Laurie was in the lounge before 5:00 AM and Pat joined him at 5:30. At 7:00 we decided to take our reading to the Solarium so we could get a comfortable lounger for two. We stayed until after 1:00, making trips into Solarium Bistro for breakfast and beverages. Then we spent some time in the room. Ilano in Vintages served us good drinks again for Happy Hour before we went to the dining room for dinner. Trying to stay up a little later so we sleep a little later in the morning because of the time changes, we stopped in the Music Hall to listen to Karaoke. Most the singers were just okay – no one really good and no one really bad. Time to turn the clocks back again and turn in. Now five hours behind home.

October 5, 2024 – Saturday/Day 6 – Cruising
Mixed clouds and sun but still chilly and windy. Again we started in the Crown Lounge then went up to the Solarium early, bringing breakfast out to our lounger from Solarium Bistro a little later. After “window shopping” at Windjammer we returned to our room late morning. Along with reading we watched some Royal Caribbean TV which showed a history of Royal Caribbean as well some recordings of events that took place on the ship. We again spent Happy Hour in Vintages before going to Windjammer for a British themed buffet. The fish and chips were delicious, followed with bread pudding for dessert. Turned in early to watch TV and read. Another time change so now six hours behind home time.

(October 6, 2024 – Sunday/Day 7 – International Date Line)
This day disappears and we become a day ahead of home, plus there’s the time change difference.

October 7, 2024 – Monday/Day 8 – Cruising
Sunrise presented fog and rain. At one point we were in very dense fog and the ship blew it’s fog horn every two minutes for about an hour! The day continued with various shades of gray and an occasional glimpse of blue sky. We were in the lounge very early for a short time, then moved up to the Solarium where we ate breakfast and stayed until around 2:00 reading and napping. We watched some TV in the afternoon, and headed to Vintages about 6:00. Tonight we dined in the dining room before going to the theater to see “Oh What a Night!” – a musical tribute to Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons. The group was very entertaining. Back to the room with our 7th time change. Now we are one day ahead of home and 7 hours behind time wise.

October 8, 2024 – Tuesday/Day 9 – Cruising
Another lovely day with rain, wind, and fog. We didn’t leave the room until after 8:00 as the Internet was acting up and Laurie was working on it. He took a break to have breakfast in Windjammer and we read/nap in the Solarium for a couple hours, our view obscured by rain on the windows and fog outside. Back to the room again to work on things. Unfortunately Laurie has not been able to get his computer and router working. Maybe being in port tomorrow will help. The Vintage Wine Bar once again was where we spent our Happy Hour until it was time for dinner in the dining room. We turned in a bit early. It’s amazing how doing so little can make one so tired! Tonight is our last time change. Yay! Maybe being on a set time will help ease some of the tiredness. We are 17 hours ahead of home timewise.

October 9, 2024 – Wednesday/Day 10 – Cruising
No rain or fog today but still almost entirely overcast. Had coffee in the Crown Lounge then got comfortable in a lounger in the Solarium for the morning. Pat got breakfast from the Solarium Bistro and Laurie brought his back from Windjammer since the bistro doesn’t have oatmeal. Then back to the room to catch up news and other things. The captain made an announcement that we would be slowing down to avoid inclement weather in our path and thus would be arriving in port 3 hours late tomorrow. Vintages and Ilano provided a very happy Happy Hour. Not only is he making full-glass singles, but he also is not charging our card for every drink! Afterwards, we made our way up to Windjammer for a yummy Italian night before turning in. No more time changes.

October 10, 2024 – Thursday/Day 11 – Sapporo (Muroran), Japan
Our first port and we have sunshine (which we haven’t seen much of since the day we left Seattle)! By noon it did turn to hazy sunshine, though. It’s also in the mid-60’s so it’s warmer as well. After our early coffee in the lounge we went to the Solarium to watch the ship docking. Pat had breakfast here then we went to our room until about 11:15 when we headed off the ship.

Our walk started along the waterfront. There’s hardly any signage in English and a lot of the area was not maintained. We did a short walk off the main road where we had a chance to say hello and try to communicate with a local man. Besides saying hello, he didn’t speak any English but he understood that we were from the cruise ship. Along the way to the Shukutsu Park Observation Deck, we passed the Muroran Public Aquarium which was a very sad, run down place geared toward children. Through the fence we saw a lonesome sea lion in a small, dirty pool with a low water level. Can’t stop thinking about the poor thing. As we continued on we took some steep, winding roads up to the observation deck. The view around the area was gorgeous with the highlights being our ship and the Hakucho Bridge. After walking about six miles we had a well-earned rest when we returned to the ship. We had a short Happy Hour before going to Wonderland for a unique and delicious dinner. We were stuffed afterwards and ready to turn in after an active day.

October 11, 2024 – Friday/Day 12 – Hakodate, Japan
A sunny, pleasant day. Early coffee in the lounge and then up to the Solarium to relax, eat breakfast, and watch the ship dock. People started getting off the ship shortly after 9:00. By 10:15 we thought the initial rush would be done. Wrong! We followed a long line through the Esplanade, down stairs, through the casino, down more stairs, and finally out the door. Then the line continued outside to get on a complimentary shuttle bus. The process took almost an hour! The drive to the Hakodate Train Station where we were let off was another 20 minutes. The area was nice – very clean and lots of beautiful flowers. We walked to the Hakodate Morning Market which is a large street market / area of booths/shops selling a huge variety of fresh, dried, and jarred seafood along with a little bit of other items like fruit, cookies, and souvenirs. Tanks packed with crabs and packages of roe were the predominant items. Plus there was an abundance of Japanese style “fast food” places. Most food items we couldn’t identify. It was jam packed with people. We sampled some dried squid and scallops which were tasty. It was easier to get on a shuttle for the drive back to the ship where we rested in the room.

Since Yom Kippur starts at 4:48 and Windjammer is only open until 3:00 (and doesn’t open again until 5:30) we went there for a late lunch to fill up until sundown tomorrow. When we set sail about 6:15 we had a sendoff from the locals onshore with a lot of waving lights from the pier. Our evening was spent in the room watching TV rather than Happy Hour and dinner.

October 12, 2024 – Saturday/Day 13 – Akita, Japan
Yom Kippur – so no food or drink until sundown at 5:04. We still met in the Crown Lounge for a little bit to read then went back to our room. It’s a beautiful, warm, almost cloudless day. About 7:00 a welcome show was performed down on the pier which we could see from our balcony in between the lifeboats. First up were several drummers and a man playing a Japanese flute. Next up were women in traditional dress playing a stringed instrument, a percussion instrument, and singing. We went out early to do the one km walk to Selion Tower just down the street. It’s highlight is a 360 degree observation 100 meters up. It gave us a great view of the surrounding area including our ship and all the lazily turning wind turbines standing guard around the water. At the base of the tower was a store offering a variety of packaged foods and beverages, souvenirs, and a bit of fresh produce.

Back onboard we found a 2-person lounger where we could relax and read. It was slightly chilly so we went out on deck to soak in some sun before going back to our room. Sundown was at 5:04 and so ended Yom Kippur. Soon after we went to the lounge to have a little nosh, then went up to our usual Vintages for Happy Hour, followed by ending our day with dinner in the dining room.

October 13, 2024 – Sunday/Day 14 – Cruising
Our last day “sea day”. We can’t be too sad since we’ll be on another cruise in less than two weeks. It was another sunny day, warm (70 degrees) in the sun but still a bit of chill in the air. We did our usual lounge followed by the Solarium, then we stopped by Windjammer at lunchtime for a nibble, ice cream and cupcakes they were serving, and to pick up cookies to take off the ship with us. Then it was time to relax in the room for the afternoon. We had a short Happy Hour before we went to the dining room for yummy lobster! Our waiter even brought us a second lobster! After a delicious meal we stopped by to pick up photos we had ordered before crashing for the night.

October 14, 2024 – Monday/Day 15 – Mt. Fuji (Shimizu), Japan
Early coffee then relaxing and breakfast in the Solarium. As we got closer to the port we could see Mt. Fuji looming in the distance. There was no snow on top and it was kind of hazy so today at least it wasn’t as impressive as Mt. Rainier back home, but still majestic towering over the harbor area. It was a sunny day wth the temperature nearing 80. The city of Shimizu was extremely welcoming with a whole day of events planned on the pier just for the arrival of Quantum. There were multiple Japanese music performances and dancing, as well as other performances and workshops. Surrounding the performance area were food trucks and booths with local Japanese foods and drinks, along with art and clothing. A couple of local women offered Pat their seats on a bench. It ended up one sat back down and started chatting. She now lives in Shimizu and takes care of her mother, but had lived in New York for 20 years as well as 9 years in India to study yoga. It was an interesting conversation. Then we went to nearby S-Pulse Dream Plaza which is a shopping center, movie theater complex, and amusement park. There were seemingly endless places to buy various Japanese fast food as well as packaged food. From there we walked around the surrounding area visiting the Suijinja Shrine, a shrine to the Water God in Japanese mythology. Back at the pier a ceremony was taking place with the four top officers of the ship and some local dignitaries. Not only was this the first time Quantum visited Shimizu, but it is also the largest cruise ship that has visited here. The ceremony also included two women in traditional Geisha dress.

Hot and tired, we went back onboard visiting Windjammer for a nosh and cold beverages before relaxing on deck. Then  it was time to start packing. It went pretty quick, and since we are carrying our luggage off we can finish up in the morning. Time to relax again until our last Happy Hour in Vintages, at least for this cruise. We dined in Windjammer then turned in for the night.

October 15, 2024 – Tuesday/Day 16 – Tokyo (Yokohama), Japan / Yokohama Hilton
Up early as usual, Laurie went to the lounge and then brought Pat coffee to go with muffins we got yesterday at Windjammer. We’re walking our luggage off so after 7:00 we went to the gangway to get off the ship, go through immigration/customs, and get a taxi to our hotel. Everything went smooth except our non-English speaking driver didn’t know the way to the hotel even using his GPS. He spent a lot of time on the phone getting help. If he spoke English Laurie could have told him how to get there. About 40 minutes (and $50) later we arrived at the Yokohama Hilton, dropping off our luggage and getting information (check-in wasn’t until 3:00 pm). We headed out to get some coffee and ended up at McDonald’s where we communicated through a lot of pointing. They had outside tables by a riverfront so we sat there for a while enjoying the beautiful, warm, sunny morning. Back at the hotel we sat in the lobby reading and doing Sudoku. When our room was ready at noon we went up to check it out. It’s a very nice, large room with a king bed, a chaise lounge, a desk, dresser/open closet, and large TV with a storage cabinet underneath. There’s the usual pod coffee maker, a hot water kettle, and a steam iron with ironing board. The coffee dishes in the room were Noritake china! There were too many extras to mention in the room and in the fancy bathroom with a bidet and large tub with a huge rain shower head. We rested then went out to walk around the city and to the waterfront where we could see our cruise ship off in the distance. In the K-Arena nextdoor a show called “Mrs. Green Apple On Harmony” was the extremely popular spot to be heading in the afternoon judging from the crowds of mostly young people going in that direction. Time to rest some more. After 5:00 we went to the Yokohama Train Station (approx. a mile away) where just beyond, there are about 10 levels (2 below ground) of shopping and places to eat, not to mention the trains.

We found our online choice on level eight but, unfortunately, we had priced the place using lunch prices and dinners were very expensive. We headed to our second choice in the same complex which was on level B2 underground called Shabusen for Japanese shabu-shabu. There’s a pot of boiling broth for each of us and you cook thinly sliced meat, vegetables, noodles, and tofu in it. You make a sauce in a bowl with various ingredients and put the cooked food in that to mix up and eat. We first had some appetizers, and ended with dessert. Everything was delicious and it was fun. It was a bit over $70 for the two of us, which was less than half the price of the first place. The complex is HUGE and we wandered around a bit before we made our way out to the street and back to our hotel for the evening.

October 16, 2024 – Wednesday – Home
It’s was time to head home on a warm, mostly cloudy day. We had breakfast at the hotel’s extensive buffet of Japanese and American food, hot and cold, savory and sweet. Everything was very good and we filled up for our day. We took a comfortable limousine bus to Haneda Airport which first stopped at different hotels to do pickups. The ride took about 1 hour 15 minutes and cost about $9. We checked in and went through a short security line, but both of our suitcases were flagged by TSA. Laurie had a corkscrew which they confiscated. Pat had nail clippers (which they did not confiscate). We settled in at the gate for the 2-1/2 hour wait until boarding. Since we had no Delta status we were Group 6 to board but there was still plenty of space in the overhead bins by the time we boarded. It was a long but uneventful flight with good food and beverages. At SeaTac it was a very long walk from the gate to customs but then that went extremely quick. With Nexus there was no line and all we had to do is show our face to a machine to go through – no card. Then it was another long walk from the international terminal to catch the Light Rail to Lynnwood City Center where we then caught a bus home. It was wonderful to be home and see Daniel, who once again took good care of the house.