Four Excursionless Days of Relaxation from Fukuoka (Hakata), Japan to Osaka, Japan

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Tour Day 126, Cruise Day 24 – Fukuoka (Hakata), Japan – One of the first non-travel events to land on my planning spreadsheet was the Superbowl. A time-zone calculation meant the GAME should start shortly after breakfast. When I began to incorporate and examine the shore excursions, it was nice to see that there was nothing appealing in Fukuoka. Unfortunately, a couple of days before game day, I began to develop a cold and/or allergies had struck. Although the Superbowl was on the TV in my cabin and on the big screen in the Rock and Roll Lounge, I lazed away the morning dozing off periodically until my stomach won the battle. The score indicates that I missed a good game. Congrats to KC!

Tour Day 127, Cruise Day 25 – Scenic Cruising Kanmon Strait –Japan has 14,125 islands (approximately 260 are inhabited) many of which are quite scenic; however, the highlight of the scenic day of cruising Kanmon Strait was a submarine. Yes, a surfaced submarine drove (or whatever submarines do to navigate) past our ship during lunch hour. Pretty cool!

Tour Day 128, Cruise Day 26 – Himeji, Japan – There were two shore excursions that grabbed my interest on the face; however, the description of both the “Himeji Castle & Garden” and the “Himeji Castle & Sake Brewery” lauded the grounds and exterior of the castle but neither mentioned a tour of the castle’s interior. The “port talk” presentation confirmed my logic – an additional fee was charged for admission. For $109.95, I want to see the guts without an additional fee! I considered going into town for a looky-see. The Himeji Shuttle was offered that would take me from the pier to Himeji (railway) Station (approximately 20 minutes) for $25.00. A 20-minute TAXI ride for $25, I get it, but this is a bus carrying 40 people! I don’t mind paying a REASONABLE premium for the convenience of door-to-door service, but refuse to be used AND abused simultaneously, so I stayed on the ship.

Tour Day 129, Cruise Day 27 – Osaka, Japan – Again, there were no shore excursions that tripped my trigger for this stop in Osaka; however, the third two-week leg of this cruise, Yokohama (Tokyo), Japan to Hong Kong, China, makes an overnight stop in Osaka when the “Panoramic Osaka” shore excursion, that begins at 1900 (7 PM) the day of our arrival, should be an interesting festival of lights. I awoke to find threatening skies and rain in the forecast so Uncle Larry decided to wait for the second day of our southbound journey (hopefully a nicer day) to visit the “world’s largest aquarium” and to ride the wheel, both of which are adjacent to the pier.

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Photos

From Aboard ms Westerdam
Out at Sea on Our Scenic Cruising Day – It Must Be Old and Diesel–Powered

From Aboard ms Westerdam
Just Before Departing Himeji, Japan, We Were Serenaded by a Group of Very Energetic Japanese Drummers

Aboard ms Westerdam
The Day Before Valentine Day, "Cake Me Away" Was Displayed and Consumed at the Lido Market on Deck 9

Aboard ms Westerdam
A Very Talented Bakery

Aboard ms Westerdam
For an Early Pick of the Litter – I'll Wait an Hour!

Aboard ms Westerdam
Yup, Uncle Larry Got the (Mighty Tasty) Runt

From Aboard ms Westerdam
The Area Around the Pier at Himeji, Japan Was Not Conducive to Pedestrian Traffic

From Aboard ms Westerdam
Another View of the Harbor at Himeji, Japan

From Aboard ms Westerdam
The Wheel in Osaka, Japan as Seen from My Breakfast Table at the Deck 9 Lido Market

From Aboard ms Westerdam
Another View of the Harbor at Osaka, Japan

From Aboard ms Westerdam
Another View of the Harbor at Osaka, Japan

From Aboard ms Westerdam
We Weren't Going Anywhere

From Aboard ms Westerdam
The Wheel and the Aquarium in Osaka, Japan from the Walking Deck, Deck 3

From Aboard ms Westerdam
"Welcome to Osaka"