Trip Index
- Days 1-2 in Tokyo: Planning, JAL business class, Hyatt Regency, Meiji Shrine, Tokyu Food Hall, Don Quixote
- Days 3-4 in Tokyo: Asakusa, Tokyo National Museum, Imperial Palace, Robot Restaurant, conveyor belt sushi/ramen/blowfish
- Day 5 in Tokyo: Mt. Fuji Shibazakura Festival, Standing Sushi Bar
- Days 1-2 of Celebrity Millennium transpacific cruise: Embarkation, day at sea
- Days 3-4 of Celebrity Millennium transpacific cruise: Hakodate, day at sea
- Days 5-6 of Celebrity Millennium transpacific cruise: Bridge tour, Petropavlovsk (Siberia)
- Days 7-13 of Celebrity Millennium transpacific cruise: crossing the Bering Sea, two May 4ths, Qsine
- Days 14-15 of Celebrity Millennium transpacific cruise: Victoria, disembarkation, Miku; Ruby Princess 1-night cruise Vancouver to Seattle
***
One of the reasons why I wanted to take a transpacific cruise was to experience sailing in the Bering Sea. Would there be rough waters? Would we go crazy being on the boat for seven days straight without a port call? It would also be our first time crossing the International Date Line by ocean, with May 4th repeated!
Celebrity Millennium had departed Russia, heading towards the great wide open ocean. That night, it was what anyone would expect - rolling waves. I could hear the cabin walls and ceiling creak and the crashing of waves against the side of the ship; earplugs would be helpful in this situation. I almost fell out of bed at one point. In the morning, there weren't a lot of people in the buffet; the ship was still moving a lot. Stacks of small white paper bags (similar to ones you find in airplane seat back pockets) could be found in public areas. Fortunately, we didn't need them or saw anyone grab one. It was like this for the first couple of nights, then the sea would calm a bit as the ship sailed along the Aleutian island chain.
Most of our sea days would start with a workout around noon to avoid the crowds. It was challenging to use the treadmill while the ship was swaying. Then lunch in the buffet, followed by a hot drink/snack at Cafe al Bacio (got to max out non-alcoholic beverage package). If there was anything of interest in the daily planner, we'd go to it, but it was a rare occasion. But I did make it to 4pm trivia every sea day to meet up with my aunt's friend Judy to play for fun. There was a competition which started on the first sea day, cumulative until the last sea day, that many teams participated in, but we had already missed a couple of days and wouldn't be able to keep up. Daily, our team would score in the middle of the pack.
Tonight was "evening chic" dress code. Kaleb and I peeked inside the theater for the pre-dinner show, but we didn't find it to our taste; in fact, we didn't go to any all cruise. Since we were able to hook up our devices to the cabin's TV, having downloaded content before leaving home, we kept ourselves entertained.
Prior to dinner, we ran into Judy and her sister Tammy in one of the lounges and did a little dancing.
1 minute clip of Judy and Tammy dancing (click here if you cannot see the preview below):
In the main dining room, our wine steward Jelena had a bottle of red wine on special for $25 so Kaleb partook. It lasted for a few dinners - if you don't finish it, it gets stored until your next meal.
We ended up striking up a conversation with an elderly couple seated next to us. The husband told us about their harrowing experience last night, that he had wanted to get a bit of fresh air late last night and opened his balcony door - big mistake! He could not slide it shut due to the howling winds and had to call housekeeping for help. Our balcony door had been vibrating from the wind and the thought of opening it didn't even cross my mind. After hearing his story, I couldn't help but conjure up images of people, sheets, papers being blown out to sea.
We got to experience May 4th twice. Interesting to find that the pictures I took those two days were all jumbled together since the date was the same. The first night of the 4th, we had dinner at the specialty restaurant Qsine. Earlier that day, at the entrance to the Oceanside Cafe, staff were actively selling reservations to all of the specialty dining. I inquired about a discount to Qsine and was offered the price of $25 per person, instead of the usual $45. I hesitated just for a second, then said yes.
Dinner at Qsine was whimsically themed and most of the courses were tasty.
I would order the treseviche, M's Favorites (who's M?), chocolate tombstone, and silver bullet again, and try the other selections on a future visit. Our server offered us a discount for Sunday seafood lunch at Qsine for $20 per person, so we said yes.
We peeked into the theater again as the Elysium show sounded interesting, but the audio quality was poor, so we ducked out.
There was an International Date Line celebration and balloon drop at 11pm, but we didn't attend.
Then it was May 4th again! Wouldn't it be great if it was your birthday? Same activities, different dinner.
The calendar continued forward into May 5.
Kaleb and I went to Qsine for seafood lunch. One dish was selected from starter, main, and dessert. Our server surprised us with a plate of paella to share. So much food!
It was a nice meal, though I would prefer Qsine dinner instead, especially at the $25 per person price point.
Since we were so full from lunch, we went to the buffet for a light dinner (ironic?). I had noticed earlier in the cruise that the stir-fry station was very popular, so I stood in line to find out why. There were two electric woks being used, not high powered as I could never hear a satisfying sizzle - perhaps for fire safety? Without a hot wok, stir-fry becomes too slow, especially if there are thick items to cook, which was why the line was so long. The ingredient and flavor options were limited; I saw a guest bring extra vegetables from the salad bar. I don't recommend the stir-fry station unless you have time to spare and were wanting something warm and bland to fill your stomach.
May 6th was a cold, foggy day.
We received an invitation for a galley tour the next day.
Tonight's dinner:
On Tuesday May 7, Kaleb and I attended the complimentary galley tour for concierge class guests.
I've been on galley tours before (like the one included with the Chef's Table on Carnival). It would have more interesting if food was actively being prepared, but since there were hordes of guests coming through, it was understandable that there would not be much of that going on.
It was now our 6th day at sea. With ample entertainment, it didn't feel terribly long without a port stop, but the limited food variety was a significant clue. Anything that was previously frozen or lasted a very long time in the refrigerator was being served in the buffet. Chicken drumsticks were the main protein, prepared in every way possible (whole, chopped into sections, etc.). Salad greens were mostly romaine or iceberg. Steamed vegetables were either carrots or cabbage, though sometimes the cooks scrounged a head or two of broccoli and cauliflower. Staples such as hamburgers, hot dogs, rice, potatoes, and pasta were readily available. A "white fish" was also available, either broiled or fried.
Tonight's dinner:
Wednesday May 8 was our last day at sea before Victoria. The sun was shining, even though the ocean was still restless with whitecaps. Tonight's dress code was evening chic; I suspect all the "good ingredients" were saved for dinner as the buffet was a bit lacking, though they did break out the chocolate fountain for dessert.
Since it was warm enough now, we opened up our welcome bottle of champagne (after leaving it outside overnight to chill) and enjoyed hors d'oeuvres on our balcony.
Lobster was on the menu tonight in the main dining room. The restaurant and kitchen staff did a little parade, but no baked Alaska in their hands (as seasoned cruisers are used to admiring), though it was a selection on the dessert menu.
33 second clip of the staff coming down the staircase (click here if you cannot see the preview below):
Good job reader - you survived scrolling through seven straight days at sea! Tomorrow, we dock in Victoria, BC and visit Butchart Gardens - stay tuned!
(Missed reading about our last port in Siberia? Click here! What about earlier entries of our trip? Click on the Trip Index links at the top of this page. Feel free to click here to sign up for updates straight into your inbox...opt out anytime!)
If you came here from a Facebook or Twitter link, thanks for clicking the "Facebook Like" button at the top of the page or retweeting!
Don't miss a blog entry! Sign up for updates direct to your inbox here or add the blog to your RSS feed.
Getting excited reading about these trips and want to go? Contact me at yellowdogtravel at gmail d0t com with your ideas and I can help you plan it! Or if you've already put a deposit on a cruise through the cruise line, contact me to get more information on transferring the reservation to me to get bonuses like extra onboard credit or gifts. I have lots of happy returning clients - references always available.
Come check out my other blog "What in the world is Kat Kong doing now?", documenting things other than traveling...sign up for blog updates direct to your inbox here!
Another disclaimer: The intention of this blog was to remind Future Me in full detail about where I went and what I did. I could have made it private, but I frequently get questions from family, friends and internet folks about how I planned things, got deals, etc., so instead of repeating the story over and over, I direct them here. If you are offended by anything I say or do, save yourself the discomfort and kindly click away from my blog. Thanks for reading and have a wonderful day!
Celebrity Millennium had departed Russia, heading towards the great wide open ocean. That night, it was what anyone would expect - rolling waves. I could hear the cabin walls and ceiling creak and the crashing of waves against the side of the ship; earplugs would be helpful in this situation. I almost fell out of bed at one point. In the morning, there weren't a lot of people in the buffet; the ship was still moving a lot. Stacks of small white paper bags (similar to ones you find in airplane seat back pockets) could be found in public areas. Fortunately, we didn't need them or saw anyone grab one. It was like this for the first couple of nights, then the sea would calm a bit as the ship sailed along the Aleutian island chain.
|
|
|
|
 |  |
Most of our sea days would start with a workout around noon to avoid the crowds. It was challenging to use the treadmill while the ship was swaying. Then lunch in the buffet, followed by a hot drink/snack at Cafe al Bacio (got to max out non-alcoholic beverage package). If there was anything of interest in the daily planner, we'd go to it, but it was a rare occasion. But I did make it to 4pm trivia every sea day to meet up with my aunt's friend Judy to play for fun. There was a competition which started on the first sea day, cumulative until the last sea day, that many teams participated in, but we had already missed a couple of days and wouldn't be able to keep up. Daily, our team would score in the middle of the pack.
|
|
Tonight was "evening chic" dress code. Kaleb and I peeked inside the theater for the pre-dinner show, but we didn't find it to our taste; in fact, we didn't go to any all cruise. Since we were able to hook up our devices to the cabin's TV, having downloaded content before leaving home, we kept ourselves entertained.
 |
| one-man show |
Prior to dinner, we ran into Judy and her sister Tammy in one of the lounges and did a little dancing.
 |  |
1 minute clip of Judy and Tammy dancing (click here if you cannot see the preview below):
In the main dining room, our wine steward Jelena had a bottle of red wine on special for $25 so Kaleb partook. It lasted for a few dinners - if you don't finish it, it gets stored until your next meal.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
We ended up striking up a conversation with an elderly couple seated next to us. The husband told us about their harrowing experience last night, that he had wanted to get a bit of fresh air late last night and opened his balcony door - big mistake! He could not slide it shut due to the howling winds and had to call housekeeping for help. Our balcony door had been vibrating from the wind and the thought of opening it didn't even cross my mind. After hearing his story, I couldn't help but conjure up images of people, sheets, papers being blown out to sea.
We got to experience May 4th twice. Interesting to find that the pictures I took those two days were all jumbled together since the date was the same. The first night of the 4th, we had dinner at the specialty restaurant Qsine. Earlier that day, at the entrance to the Oceanside Cafe, staff were actively selling reservations to all of the specialty dining. I inquired about a discount to Qsine and was offered the price of $25 per person, instead of the usual $45. I hesitated just for a second, then said yes.
|
|
|
|
 |  |
 |  |
 |
| most days like this: cold and windy |
Dinner at Qsine was whimsically themed and most of the courses were tasty.
 |  |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
I would order the treseviche, M's Favorites (who's M?), chocolate tombstone, and silver bullet again, and try the other selections on a future visit. Our server offered us a discount for Sunday seafood lunch at Qsine for $20 per person, so we said yes.
We peeked into the theater again as the Elysium show sounded interesting, but the audio quality was poor, so we ducked out.
There was an International Date Line celebration and balloon drop at 11pm, but we didn't attend.
 |
| balloons at the ready |
Then it was May 4th again! Wouldn't it be great if it was your birthday? Same activities, different dinner.
|
|
|
|
 |  |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
| chocolate lava cake |
The calendar continued forward into May 5.
|
|
|
|
 |  |
Kaleb and I went to Qsine for seafood lunch. One dish was selected from starter, main, and dessert. Our server surprised us with a plate of paella to share. So much food!
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
| marscapone meringue |
It was a nice meal, though I would prefer Qsine dinner instead, especially at the $25 per person price point.
Since we were so full from lunch, we went to the buffet for a light dinner (ironic?). I had noticed earlier in the cruise that the stir-fry station was very popular, so I stood in line to find out why. There were two electric woks being used, not high powered as I could never hear a satisfying sizzle - perhaps for fire safety? Without a hot wok, stir-fry becomes too slow, especially if there are thick items to cook, which was why the line was so long. The ingredient and flavor options were limited; I saw a guest bring extra vegetables from the salad bar. I don't recommend the stir-fry station unless you have time to spare and were wanting something warm and bland to fill your stomach.
|
|
May 6th was a cold, foggy day.
|
|
|
|
 |  |
We received an invitation for a galley tour the next day.
Tonight's dinner:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
On Tuesday May 7, Kaleb and I attended the complimentary galley tour for concierge class guests.
|
|
|
|
 |  |
 |  |
|
|
|  |
 |  |
|
|
I've been on galley tours before (like the one included with the Chef's Table on Carnival). It would have more interesting if food was actively being prepared, but since there were hordes of guests coming through, it was understandable that there would not be much of that going on.
It was now our 6th day at sea. With ample entertainment, it didn't feel terribly long without a port stop, but the limited food variety was a significant clue. Anything that was previously frozen or lasted a very long time in the refrigerator was being served in the buffet. Chicken drumsticks were the main protein, prepared in every way possible (whole, chopped into sections, etc.). Salad greens were mostly romaine or iceberg. Steamed vegetables were either carrots or cabbage, though sometimes the cooks scrounged a head or two of broccoli and cauliflower. Staples such as hamburgers, hot dogs, rice, potatoes, and pasta were readily available. A "white fish" was also available, either broiled or fried.
 |
| chopped chicken drumstick, white fish, cabbage, pizza |
Tonight's dinner:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Wednesday May 8 was our last day at sea before Victoria. The sun was shining, even though the ocean was still restless with whitecaps. Tonight's dress code was evening chic; I suspect all the "good ingredients" were saved for dinner as the buffet was a bit lacking, though they did break out the chocolate fountain for dessert.
|
|
|
|
 |  |
 |  |
 |  |
Since it was warm enough now, we opened up our welcome bottle of champagne (after leaving it outside overnight to chill) and enjoyed hors d'oeuvres on our balcony.
 |  |
Lobster was on the menu tonight in the main dining room. The restaurant and kitchen staff did a little parade, but no baked Alaska in their hands (as seasoned cruisers are used to admiring), though it was a selection on the dessert menu.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
33 second clip of the staff coming down the staircase (click here if you cannot see the preview below):
Good job reader - you survived scrolling through seven straight days at sea! Tomorrow, we dock in Victoria, BC and visit Butchart Gardens - stay tuned!
(Missed reading about our last port in Siberia? Click here! What about earlier entries of our trip? Click on the Trip Index links at the top of this page. Feel free to click here to sign up for updates straight into your inbox...opt out anytime!)
***
If you came here from a Facebook or Twitter link, thanks for clicking the "Facebook Like" button at the top of the page or retweeting!
Don't miss a blog entry! Sign up for updates direct to your inbox here or add the blog to your RSS feed.
Getting excited reading about these trips and want to go? Contact me at yellowdogtravel at gmail d0t com with your ideas and I can help you plan it! Or if you've already put a deposit on a cruise through the cruise line, contact me to get more information on transferring the reservation to me to get bonuses like extra onboard credit or gifts. I have lots of happy returning clients - references always available.
Come check out my other blog "What in the world is Kat Kong doing now?", documenting things other than traveling...sign up for blog updates direct to your inbox here!
Another disclaimer: The intention of this blog was to remind Future Me in full detail about where I went and what I did. I could have made it private, but I frequently get questions from family, friends and internet folks about how I planned things, got deals, etc., so instead of repeating the story over and over, I direct them here. If you are offended by anything I say or do, save yourself the discomfort and kindly click away from my blog. Thanks for reading and have a wonderful day!
