Luxury Cruise Bible

Regent Mariner's Grand Asia Pacific Voyage

Submitted by: Andrea M. Rotondo, Luxury Cruise Bible editor from New Jersey, USA

Cruise Details

• Cruise line: Regent Seven Seas Cruises
• Ship: Seven Seas Mariner
• Date of sailing: 9/20/2006
• Number of nights: 13
• Embarkation point: Whittier, Alaska
• Debarkation point: Tokyo, Japan
• Ports of call: Kodiak (Alaska), Dutch Harbor (Alaska), Petropavlovsk / Kamchatka (Russia), Otaru (Japan), Hakodate (Japan), Sendai (Japan)
• Stateroom category: Penthouse B
• How did you book your cruise? Direct through cruise line

Segment 2

Ratings

• Overall Rating 4
• Ship Condition 4
• Public Rooms 4
• Stateroom 5
• Food & Wine 2
• Spa, Gym, and Salon 4
• Entertainment 3
• Enrichment Program 4
• Internet & Phone Service 4
• Excursions 5
• Service 5
• Value 4

Every fall the Regent Mariner begins its Grand Asia Pacific voyage with a repositioning cruise from Alaska to Asia. In 2006, we booked this 13-day cruise because the ports were really intriguing:

• Whittier (Anchorage), Alaska
• Kodiak, Alaska
• Cruise the Shelikof Strait
• Dutch Harbor, Aleutian Islands, Alaska (Unalaska)
• Cruise the Aleutian Islands
• Cross the International Dateline
• Petropavlovsk / Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia
• Cruise the Kuril Islands
• Cruise the Sea of Okhotsk
• Otaru (Sapporo), Japan
• Hakodate, Japan
• Sendai, Japan
• Tokyo, Japan

Note: Segment 2 of the 2009 Grand Asia Pacific voyage embarks from Seward, Alaska instead of Whittier. The Japan ports include Hakodate, Sendai, Tokyo, and Osaka. For 2010, the extended 18-night voyage includes the Japanese ports of Hakodate, Sendai, Yokohama, Nagoya, and Kyoto (Kobe) before debarkation in Beijing, China.

A Night in Anchorage and a Train Ride to Whittier

After a long day of air travel from the Northeast, we were in the mood for a good dinner and headed to the Glacier Brewhouse (at 5th Avenue and H Street, directly across the street form the hotel). Don’t miss the king crab and homemade cream soda!

We then settled into our room at the Westmark Hotel in Anchorage. This property is actually owned by Holland America. Since we visited at the beginning of off-season, the hotel was very quiet and we got a terrific king room on a high floor for $89/night. The rate included high-speed Internet access.

Hilton Anchorage is Regent’s recommended hotel in town and is the place guests meet to transfer by bus to Alaska Railroad’s Grandview Train ride to Whittier.

The train trip began with a welcome champagne toast given by Brian O’Brien, the Mariner’s cruise consultant. Then someone from the Travel Concierge desk came through the car with shore excursion information. We were served several types of cookies while we enjoyed the gorgeous views. We did see some wildlife… mainly eagles and other birds and some Dahl sheep high up on the mountain ledges above us. The ride was a quick two hours and by 2:00 pm, we were at the Whittier Passenger Terminal. We lucked out with the weather… it was sunny and warm (about 70 degrees). All the locals kept telling us how unusual this was for the end of the season.

We boarded the ship, were greeted with champagne, and headed to our suite. After exploring a bit, we staked out a spot on Deck 12 to take photos as we sailed out of Prince William Sound. The scenery was stunning and gave us just a hint of what we could expect on this two-week adventure.

We had booked a Penthouse B suite on Deck 10 (376 square feet with a 73-square-foot balcony). The sleeping area with a king bed is set off from the living room with heavy blackout curtains that tie back during the day so you can sit on the bed and gaze out the sliding-glass doors to the balcony. The sitting area is outfitted with a L-shape sofa, chair, TV/DVD, writing desk/chair and mini-fridge.

This stateroom category comes with the services of a butler. We really didn’t need the extra assistance since we’re the type of people who like to take care of things ourselves (restaurant reservations, laundry, etc.).

However, Laxmesh was terrific and it was nice to talk with him each day. Every afternoon he brought a tray of hors d’oeuvres around 5:00 pm and he was available via phone anytime we needed anything. Some of the evening appetizers included tuna sashimi, shrimp cocktail, a cheese platter, antipasto, caviar, and foie gras.

Our stateroom was just around the corner from the elevator and stairs, and across the entry hallway to the laundry room. This was a fantastic location because it really didn’t take any time to get from our room to any other location on the ship. It was especially convenient to get to the Constellation Theater on Deck 5, the Observation Lounge on Deck 12, as well as the Coffee Corner, library, Internet café, and Stars nightclub, all on Deck 6.

I would have loved our cabin to be a few decks lower, however. We did encounter some rough weather as we left Kodiak, Alaska and another night sailing the Sea of Okhotsk. We never got sea sick (maybe thanks to our Sea-Band wrist bands and Bonine… which we used religiously), but it was still rocky. One night it was really difficult to sleep, so we just got up and watched some DVDs we checked out from the library earlier. The Mariner really responds well in rough seas though. During most of our voyage, we could barely feel the ship moving.

The bed in our suite was amazing (albeit a bit high for my five-foot frame). It was incredibly comfortable and, combined with the gentle rocking of the ship, I felt like a baby bear nestled in for a long winter’s hibernation!

The balcony was terrific and we used it quite a bit; we were blessed with many days of smooth seas and warmer-than-expected temperatures.

The suite was incredibly quiet, but that may have to do with the fact that this leg of the cruise was underbooked. I don’t think there were any guests in the rooms next to us. From what we heard, many more people were joining the Grand Asia Pacific voyage when the ship docked in Tokyo (our debarkation port).

Day 2: Kodiak, Alaska and the Rain

Today’s port of call was Kodiak, Alaska. Kodiak is actually an archipelago that covers about 5,000 square miles. Glaciers carved out these islands thousands of years ago. Native inhabitants are said to have lived here for over 8,000 years. Russian explorers joined them in the late 1700s.

Kodiak is nicknamed the Emerald Isle and you’ll understand why when you visit. The islands are covered with trees and grasses and moss and everything is such a vivid green! It’s gorgeous! In addition to the plant life, this is an animal lover’s haven as its home to Kodiak brown bear, red fox, weasel, black-tailed deer, beaver and more. You’ll see all over 200 species of birds here and other creatures, such as sea otters and whales.

We had really looked forward to this stop because my husband is a photographer and we had plans to rent a car, do some hiking in the Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge, and capture nature on film (or more accurately, in digital pixels). Unfortunately, it rained and rained and rained… really, a total downpour. We took it in stride though; we know the weather in Alaska is unpredictable, especially this time of year.

We put on our rain gear and walked around Kodiak on our own. Other guests either took one of Regent’s shore excursions or hailed a cab for a tour of their own.

Many guests were restless due to the rain but the crew and social staff, including cruise director Barry Hopkins, planned many activities to make sure everyone enjoyed the day despite the rain. Afternoon tea was served in the Horizon Lounge and many enjoyed the before-dinner caviar bar in the Observation Lounge.

Departing from Kodiak was quite interesting. By this time, the weather was very bad. The storm was blowing in with a vengeance, so Captain Philippe Fichet Delavault had to make the decision to leave port a bit early and try to outrun the worst of it. He also changed our route so we’d sail north of Kodiak and take refuge between the mainland and the island. We watched as the local port captain tried repeatedly to jump back onto the pilot boat so he could return to Kodiak after helping Captain Philippe sail the Mariner out of port. After many, many nail-biting tries, the Captain Philippe decided it was too dangerous and the Mariner backtracked and sailed back into Kodiak harbor. The pilot boat captain was then able to jump back onto his own boat and the Mariner turned and left the harbor on its own.

At this point, the ship was rocking and rolling. We had never experienced such heavy seas, so we really weren’t sure if this was going to be a big deal or not. However, when we saw the crew shrink-wrapping a curio cabinet to a support column on Deck 5, take art off the walls, and remove all chairs and tables from the balconies and decks, we sort of had a hint that things could get funky.

This evening we were invited to a cocktail party to celebrate the beginning of our participation in Le Cordon Bleu cooking workshop. The party was held in the Connoisseur Club on Deck 6. Despite the rocky seas, we went and enjoyed meeting all our new “classmates.” The Connoisseur Club is a lovely room, complete with a fireplace and humidor. It’s quite homey and definitely a great place to curl up in one of the armchairs to read a good book.

Regent’s Le Cordon Bleu Workshop

Regent Seven Seas is the only cruise line to offer hands-on cooking classes from the famed Le Cordon Bleu of Paris. These “Classe Culinaire des Croisieres” workshops are offered on select Regent sailings. It’s truly an entertaining way to fill a few hours during your sea days.

My husband and I both signed up for the course and we had a wonderful time meeting other food-loving cruisers and getting to know our Le Cordon Bleu chef, Franck Jeandon.

When we boarded the Mariner in Whittier, Alaska, an invitation and course schedule was already in our room. About 16 passengers had signed up for Le Cordon Bleu at Sea and we were split into two groups of eight. The entire group met together for some activities, such as cooking demonstrations and shore excursions. For the actual hands-on cooking classes, each subgroup of eight got together at Latitudes restaurant.

Hands-On Cooking Classes

Each class began with a demonstration by Chef Franck. Two cooking stations were set up in Latitudes (the Mariner’s Indochine restaurant) and our group of eight watched him prepare a dish. We could walk around to get a closer look, take photos and ask questions. Once he completed his lesson, we broke up into groups of two and prepared the recipe on our own.

We enjoyed four cooking classes. The recipes we learned included:

• Quatrologie of Salmon (smoked salmon, gravlax salmon, grilled salmon and marined salmon)
• Smoked and Fresh Salmon Rillettes with Tomato Crostini
• Medallion of Lamb Roasted with Provencal Spinach Tian
• Chocolate Souflee with Pistachio Sauce

As part of our training, we received several Le Cordon Bleu-logo’d items: a toque (chef’s hat), tea towel, and cooking apron.

We loved the hands-on portion of these classes. After we’d made our recipes, we’d sit together at a table and eat, drink, and discuss cooking and the world.

Cooking Demonstrations

We also had one combined class that was strictly a demonstration, no hands-on cooking. The recipe that day was Seared Halibut and Smoked Salmon Raviolis with Lobster Sauce.

Private Galley and Provision Tour

This was a lot of fun! Regent’s Chef Quinn led our group through the galley and provision area and told us exactly what it takes to run the kitchens on the Mariner.

Group Dinners at Signatures

Two group dinners were held at Signatures, the Mariner’s restaurant under the auspices of Le Cordon Bleu. The first dinner on the evening of September 26 was actually a test run for the new menu. Various executive crewmembers joined us for dinner. The second dinner was actually our graduation ceremony. We received two 8×10 group photos (taken earlier during our classes), a huge Le Cordon Bleu cookbook, and a graduation certificate for framing. These dinners were actually held on evenings when the restaurant was closed to the public so we had the venue all to ourselves… a nice little treat.

At the time we booked the class, it was $395 per person and worth every penny. We’ll definitely sign up for these classes again on our next Regent Seven Seas cruise.

Sea Days and Skipping Dutch Harbor

We enjoyed several sea days as we sailed from Kodiak toward the Aleutian Islands. Sadly, the Mariner was experiencing a pod problem at the time and couldn’t reach her maximum speed. That meant a cancellation of the Dutch Harbor port. Everyone was disappointed, but life went on.

Day 7: Kamchatka Peninsula in Eastern Russia

Kamchatkia ended up being one of my favorite ports. This part of Russia was everything and nothing like I’d expected.

We were up early, before dawn, and camped out in the Observation Lounge. As the sun rose, the sight before us really was stunning. The ship was already in Avacha Bay and we could see the Kamchatka Peninsula, home of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. Affectionately called the “city among the volcanoes,” there are 150 volcanoes here, 29 of them are still active. Several volcanoes were steaming during our visit. The city is named after the two small vessels that Vitus Bering sailed to Alaska from this very spot in 1739.

Today, three volcanoes—Avachinsky, Koryaksky, and Viluchinsky —watch over Petropavlovsk, as they have for thousands of years.

This part of Eastern Russia has always been remote and there is very little road travel. Instead, regional trips make use of planes, boats, and helicopters. In fact, many of the Regent shore excursions included a helicopter trip to a more remote area of Kamchatka.

The area is lush and gorgeous. If you love nature (think brown bears, snow ram, sable, wolverine, and Stellar eagles), you’ll love this Russian hideaway. If you’re into hiking, skiing, or fishing (up to a third of the world’s Pacific salmon population makes its home in Kamchatka), you’ll be in heaven here.

Despite the natural beauty of the area however, we could see right away what a difficult life these Russians have being somewhat isolated from the rest of their country. With our binoculars, we could see the industrial factories and housing complexes of Kamchatka. These weren’t deluxe condos by the bay, but rather barracks-style military housing.

Moored near the Mariner where many ships… some very old and in very poor condition. It was hard to believe some of the boats were still floating!

In the Cold War era, the Soviet Union tested its missiles often and used Kamchatka Peninsula as the target. The area has long been a military submarine base and, in 2005, one of Russia’s subs sank to the seafloor, requiring the help of the international community to rescue the crew.

Despite its utilitarian past, one look at the volcanoes here and you’ll see what a marvel of nature has been gifted to the Russians lucky enough to live here. We took a Regent shore excursion—Kamchatka Nature and Countryside—since you really are in the middle of nowhere. Without a tour, you won’t see all that much of the area. The town’s attractions include a museum, a statue of Lenin, an observation site atop Nikolskaya Hill, and a small outdoor market area (not too much in the way of souvenirs).

We opted to tour by bus and started with a stop atop Nikolskaya Hill. The view offers a terrific vantage point of Avacha Bay and a prime photo opportunity. We then drove to a nearby country area with views of Koryaksiy and Avacha volcanoes where sled dogs are housed and trained. (Now, I’m a true animal lover and have worked for the ASPCA here in the States. I was a bit bothered by how some of the dogs were treated, but it was basically a cultural difference. These are working animals and were treated as such. They were not family pets. The animals did seem healthy, even if they did yearn for more attention and affection.)

We cuddled we some puppies and roughhoused with some adult dogs. Then we were treated to a sledding demonstration. Wow! These dogs are super focused! It was fun and a nice photo opportunity. And, by this time, I was really missing my own two dogs. I really appreciated the chance to play with these Russian canines!

Lunch was served (wood-grilled salmon, mushroom soup, crepes with homemade jam, and bread) outside at picnic tables near the dachas (summer houses with attached gardens).

The drive to and from the country resort was an eye-opener. The area had some newer developments, such as the apartment complex our tour guide lives in. But, for the most part, this area seems to have been forgotten by the Russian government. The streets and buildings are in disrepair and there certainly is nothing modern about Petropavlovsk (except for the Olympic training facility and stadium).

The bus itself was what you’d expect in Russia. Do not visit Siberia thinking you’ll get the same type of transportation options as you would in America, Germany, or Japan. You won’t. All the vehicles we encountered, while a bit worse for wear, were comfortable enough and got us where we needed to go (despite some rough terrain).

(We did speak with someone who took one of the helicopter tours to Kurilskoye Lake. That tour actually got to see some bears and lots of otters. It sounded like a once-in-a-lifetime experience. He highly recommended it, despite his initial misgivings about the transportation. We had wanted to do that tour but I just couldn’t stomach getting in an aging Russian-made helicopter.)

On the way back from the country, our guide had the bus pull over so we could shop in the town’s department store. There really wasn’t too much in the way of souvenirs. At that point, some travelers took the bus back to the Mariner and others, like us, walked back through the town so we could take pictures at Lenin’s statue and see a local fair that was going on by the bay.

We give Regent’s shore excursion five stars. Our guide was very personable and knowledgeable, spoke very good English, and was quick to customize the adventure for our group.

Day 10: Otaru’s Market & Meiji-era Historic Canal on Hakkaido

After two more sea days, we were anxious to get to Japan. We docked in a fairly industrial area of Otaru Canal (Otaru Unga) on the island of Hokkaido. With our binoculars we could see quite a bit of the city and the surrounding hillside. After spending a day here, we decided that it’s a lovely little town, even if there isn’t too much to do.

We started the morning with a tour of an indoor market with Quinn McMahon (executive chef of the Mariner) and the Le Cordon Bleu chef and teacher, Frank Jeandon. This was a terrific bonus offered to the participants of the Le Cordon Bleu cooking class and their spouses. Private taxis (watch those automatic doors!) took us from the dock to the market and waited while we were inside.

If you’re in Japan, you must visit one of these spectacular markets! We were amazed at the wide variety of foods and the just-caught freshness of all the seafood. You know the smell of an American fish market? It sometimes smells, well, fishy or fishy with a hint of bleach. That was not the case here. In fact, there was no scent at all other than the hint of sweetness from cut flowers and the bread in the bakery! So fresh!

Hokkaido is known for crab and you’ll definitely find it at this market! There were dozens of kiosks with row upon row of crab! It was a sight to behold! The market offered dozens of types of fish and shellfish, as well as fish eggs, seaweed, fresh fruit and vegetables, bakery items, sweets, and other items I couldn’t identify.

We purchased several sweet bean cakes, skewered meats, and rice balls. Our group then stopped for lunch at the sushi counter. (I’m not much of a raw fish eater but my husband raved about the quality and freshness of the sweet shrimp, tuna, eel, scallops, and other items we were served.)

We then piled back into the taxi and asked the white-gloved driver to drop us off near the Sakai-machi Street Historic District so we could do our own thing for the rest of the day.

Once a busy port known for its herring trade, the highlight of Otaru is now its Meiji-era canal and brick warehouses which have been converted to gift shops and restaurants. This historic (i.e., tourist) area is outfitted with tree-lined cobblestone streets, brick buildings and old-fashion gas lamps. While we explored, we saw several strolling violinists and horse-drawn carriages were available to ferry tourists around town.

Unique gifts to be had in Otaru include music boxes (you’ll find several stores offering ready-made and customizable music boxes) and hand-blown glass items.

We spent our day eating, shopping, and walking through the canal area. (Don’t miss the chocolates filled with melon wine sold throughout the city and the ale at the Otaru Brewery, both specialties of the area.)

Other highlights in the area include Goblin Hall, a small museum filled with tengu (long-nose goblin masks); Aoyama Villa with intricately painted sliding doors and lacquered floors; the Herring Mansion (Nishin Goten), the 1897 home of a fishery boss which now contains memorabilia of the herring boom time; and the Otaru Aquarium.

Regent offered several shore excursions in Otaru and also one to Sapporo, the capital of Hokkaido. That tour included quite a long bus ride so we were glad we decided to tour this port independently.

Back on the Mariner, we were treated to an authentic tea ceremony in the Horizon Lounge and some local folklore entertainment from The Yosakoi Soran Team. This local troupe of children, teens and adults were dressed in traditional Japanese costumes.

Later as the Mariner prepared to leave Otaru, The Yosakoi Soran Team raced along the pier, waving, to bide us a fond farewell. What a fantastic day!

Day 11: Hakodate and Our Best Meal in Japan

The next port of call was Hakodate at the southwestern tip of Hokkaido island. This was a major fishing and trade port during the Meiji-era and is still a bustling, important city for Japan. In fact, it’s home to the north end of the Seikkan Tunnel where trains pass to and from the main islands. It’s too far for daily commuter train traffic to Tokyo, but it’s still the major transportation method the Japanese now use to get around.

The weather today was sunny and warm; perfect for exploring the area. After talking with some locals and visiting the outdoor morning market and Hakodate History Plaza, the city quickly became one of our favorite ports on this itinerary. We really had a great time here, mainly because the people are so nice and friendly.

Once again we decided to tour independently and took Regent’s complimentary shuttle bus to the center of town. From there we walked to the morning market where we watched families fishing for large squid in a tank. When a squid was caught, it was handed off to a knife-wielding woman who cleaned the squid, sliced it up and put it on a plate. The families then sat at picnic tables and ate the squid while it was still flopping around. I was not courageous enough to try any of the squid myself!

Another local delicacy is sea urchin. You cut them open and scoop out the innards. Again, I was not nearly brave enough to sample this gourmet treat, although we did run into Phil Butterworth, the Mariner’s Travel Concierge and he was enjoying a sea urchin snack. He said it’s definitely an acquired taste.

We then walked to the Hakodate History Plaza and Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse district. This is an area of old warehouses by the waterfront that have now been modernized and turned into a lovely shopping district. We bought some beautiful handmade wooden toys here and then had the best meal of our trip (soup, crab rolls, a braised venison dish, a curry dish, and seaweed ice cream).

We then walked for a bit near Hakodate-yama (Mount Hakodate). (Time prevented us from going up in the cable car, but it looked like you’d have a great view from the top.)

When we returned to the Mariner, we decided to sit on our balcony and have a few drinks. Our room overlooked the pier. While it was a very industrial area, there was a carnival of some sort going on in a nearby field and we were people watching with our binoculars.

As departure time approached, we settled back in our room to watch a DVD before dinner. As we curled up on the sofa, I thought I heard The Eagles. Yes, we definitely heard The Eagles’ “Hotel California” and it was getting louder and louder. What the…? We opened the sliding glass doors to our balcony and saw a crowd of Japanese families gathered on the dock. The local chamber of commerce had turned out to see the Mariner off and part of the entertainment included the playing of this particular Eagles song. For some reason, we found this so incredibly endearing!

When “Hotel California” ended, an MC took the mic and described a special song and dance the locals would perform for us. It turned out to be the official song of Hakodate. It was quite catchy and a troupe of dancers got everyone on the Mariner tapping their toes! The song was repeated several times and by the second go-round, all of us were dancing out on our balconies and waving to the crowd. It was wonderful seeing little children, their parents and grandparents all doing the Hakodate dance! Finally, the Mariner’s horn bellowed and we gently pulled away from the dock as the townspeople continued to sing and dance.

Day 12: Beautiful and Sacred Sendai, Japan

Sendai largest city between Sapporo and Tokyo—was spectacular today, despite the very heavy rain. Once again, we took Mother Nature’s curve ball in stride, put on our rain gear and anxiously waited for the all clear to go ashore. As we disembarked from the Mariner, crewmembers gave out large umbrellas to anyone who didn’t come prepared… a very nice touch. Without an umbrella or hat, you’d get drenched within seconds.

We booked a Regent-sponsored tour for Sendai and are so glad we did. This is a large, sprawling city (about one million people) and you really need to drive quite a distance to get to the best shrines and temples in the Matsushima area. We weren’t sure about the availability of taxis or public transportation, so the Regent tour really was the best option.

The city itself is quite modern. That’s because downtown Sendai was bombed extensively by the U.S. during World War II. So, what you see now is fairly recent construction.

For “The Many Sights of Sendai” excursion, we joined other passengers on a modern air-conditioned bus. The highlights on this excursion included:

• Zuganji Temple—This Zen temple was constructed in 1606 by Date Masamune to serve as his family’s house of worship. The temple contains many painted screens and carvings, along with Date family heirlooms.

• Godai-do Temple—Built near Zuganji, this is a tiny temple situated all alone on a pine-covered inlet.

The temple was built by the Order of Date Masamune and is only opened every 33 years. While we didn’t get to see the interior, the exterior of Godai-do was exquisite and well worth the trip.

• Shiogama Shrine—We then drove up the coast to the fishing town of Shiogama where the seaside Shiogama Shrine sits amid cedar trees. There is a steep staircase of 202 steps leading to the 1,200-year-old shrine. It’s quite a sight, whether you’re looking up or down the stairs!

The god enshrined at Shiogama protects fisherman, seafarers and expectant mothers. We were also told it relates somehow to salt, but we’re unclear on the exact meaning of that statement. In the spring, we’re told that the area’s cherry trees blossom in a glorious fashion.

• Kanran-Tei Pavilion—Presented as a gift in the late 16th century to the Date family by Hideyoshi Toyotomi, this artful pavilion was used for moon viewing and tea ceremonies.

To get to the Pavilion, which was actually built in Kyoto and then moved to Sendai, you walk through a wooded park area that is quite stunning. Statues dating back thousands of years dot the landscape. There is also a modern museum on the property with additional Date family artifacts.

Despite the veritable downpour, we got some amazing photos in Sendai. It’s a beautiful place.

Day 13: Two Days in Tokyo & Bon Voyage to the Mariner

Tokyo was our last port of call. While we were sad that our cruise aboard the Mariner was coming to an end, we were very interested in getting to know the massive capital of Japan.

While we found very few people that spoke English, we had no trouble getting around and actually bought day passes for the subway system. You don’t need to know Japanese to navigate the subway because the signage is so good.

Tokyo is a huge city of 12 million people and it spans 55 miles east to west and 15 miles north to south. We’re from New York City, a place known for its hustle and bustle. Let me tell you, it’s a one-horse town compared to Tokyo! Wow!

We managed to cover a lot of ground in Tokyo—over eight miles in one day. (I couldn’t believe it either, but I wear a pedometer every day and was astounded to see that we walked that much.)

We spent a lot time just exploring the various sections of Tokyo… people watching, shopping, sampling food, etc. In addition, we visited the following sights:

• Imperial Palace East Gardens—You can’t get very close to the Imperial Palace but it is a must on your photo opportunities checklist. To be honest, we found the gardens to be less impressive so we didn’t spend as much time here as we had originally anticipated.

• Senso-ji Complex—Located in the Asakusa section of the city, this 17th century Shinto shrine and garden honors the goddess of Kannon. It’s a very busy spot with lots to see. After you’ve taken in the shrine, visit the nearby shopping kiosks and mom and pop restaurants.

• Meiji Shrine—Two 40-foot-tall torii gates (with a 56-foot span across the top) stand at the entrance of this gorgeous Shinto shrine. The gates were carved from 1,700-year-old Taiwanese cypress trees. Walking through the gates symbolizes that you are leaving the secular world in order to workship at the shrine within. This complex was built in honor of Emperor Meiji, who died in 1912. He was instrumental in putting Japan on the path to modernization.

• Ginza shopping area—Wow! Wow! Wow! We had so much fun walking through the Ginza, stopping at unique boutiques and department stores and sampling luscious treats from the area dessert shops. And, you can’t go to the Ginza without spending some time in the famous department stores, Mitsukoshi and Takashimaya.

After an exhausting day, we headed back to the Mariner around 10:00 pm so we could pack our bags and disembark the following morning. Sigh! We wished we could stay on for the next segment of the Grand Asian Pacific voyage that continued on to Hiroshima, Japan before making its way to China’s Dalian, Tianjin (Beijing), Shangha, and Hong Kong.

The next morning we were off the ship by 8:00 am. The process was quick and easy and within 10 minutes we were in a taxi on our way to the fantastic Four Seasons Tokyo at Chinzan-so.

We truly enjoyed the Regent Mariner and the voyage from Whittier to Tokyo. The ship was gorgeous and the service was impeccable. The one area of disappointment was the food and wine. (For a cruise line of this caliber, we thought the provisions should be of a higher quality.)

The Grand Asia Pacific Voyage offers the chance to visit many out-of-the-way ports of call. Don’t miss this opportunity to see the world!

For More Information…

…talk with your travel agent, call Regent Seven Seas Cruises at (877) 505-5370, or visit their website.