Waiting at Narita Airport -check in in 2.5 hoursThe plan had been to purchase locker suitcases and leave the airport and go to shopping mall we had been told of. The lockers held one suitcase and were 500 Yen, the chappie who had a storage shop was full up. So we have a front row seat looking out at the action. The shopping mall here is amazing - you dont need to go to town to shop. Cecille is reading and John has wandered off to have a look around, Cecille and I...

The last night on the ship was the grand parade for the Baked Alaska. This day and age they dance around with plastic cakes that have a battery operated candle in them. It is a good chance to thank the chefs and waiters. At 10pm the crew put on a talent show in one of the theatres, it was really good. This morning we berthed in Yokohama at the end of the cruise at 6.30am. We take a coach through to Tokyo at around 10.00am and the AirNz flight leaves at 6.30pm. Pr...

Friday 30th our tour was to the Toba Aquarium and a rice storage house. The temperature today is 23degrees and it has been raining off and on. The tour guide said that this is a very wet and windy part of Japan. I could see that as the tall trees are all on a lean - much like some in Wellington.The aquarium was mainly jelly fish and you can see one pictured. We tried an ice cream containing jelly fish - very tasty. From there we went to a park and it was raining ...

Thursday 29thThis morning it was pouring with rain and didn't look great for an excursion dayNever the less you have booked so you go. The bus left at 9.00 am for Shirakawago and Gokayama Villages - it was 1.30hours to drive. to Gokayama to a Washi paper making factory. We all made ourselves 3 postcards and there was lots of shopping happening at the store. It was a very nice surprise for everyone. Then the bus left around the hills rather than the expressway t...

Berthed this morning at 8.00am. This port is very much a container port. It is also stacked with wood and piles of chips etc. At 6.30am I decided I need to do a walk around the promenade so off I went 2.5 times and I completed 2,500 steps before breakfast.As we had cruised across from Korea we needed to go through Japanese Customs and Immigration on the port before joining the excursion. I was in the queue that had the slowest man or most particular man checking ...