CRUISING ON THE DIAMOND PRINCESS

Haven't said much about the Diamond Princess.  

• The bed is single, and thus, too small.  However, I've found a way to sleep comfortably through the night.
• We are having visa problems so could miss getting off the ship for Vietnam tours.  

• 
  The itinerary of our ship is such that it will at some point intersect with an ocean storm, which was called Typhoon Koto.  
• However, there was a weakening back to tropical storm status today.  
• Tropical Storm Koto is expected to make landfall over Nha Trang on December 3 or 4.  
• However, the Diamond Princess will be in that general area during that period, with a stop scheduled for Phu My (Ho Chi Minh City, the former Saigon) on December 5.
• We make our first stop in Singapore on December 7, but remain on the ship as it reverses courses and heads back up the coast of Malaysia, Thailand....and back to Vietnam on December 15, with stops in Cam Ranh, Cal Lan, Halong Bay, Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City, finally returning to Singapore on December 23.

Otherwise, this Diamond Princess cruise is so much superior to previous journeys.  Here are three prime reasons why.  First, the vast improvement in WiFi services.

• The Diamond Princess has been upgraded with advanced internet access, which includes Starlink 5G technology.  

• 
  This service is known as MedallionNet.
• There is a faster tier called MedallionNet Max, which allows use of You Tube and Netflix.
• This service uses a combination of Low Earth Orbit, MEO, GEO satellite constellations, and 5G terrestrial networks to provide high-speed, reliable connectivity virtually everywhere on board.

• 
  This new capability is designed to support high-bandwidth activities, allowing guests to stream movies and shows, video chat and post photos and videos to social media with ease.  
• I can now use You Tube to include videos in my blog.
• It turns out that we purchased the Princess Premier package, so this includes MedallionNet Max.

The first time we were on the Diamond Princess, we did not purchase any beverage package.  The second cruise, we paid for the middle level package, called Princess Plus.  This time we went to the max, and purchased the Premier Package.

• You can read the details here.
• Here is what the Princess Premier Package covers.
• Well, first, the cost is $100/person/day.  (The Plus costs $65/pertson/day, with lower benefits.)
• Unlimited drinks that cost up to $20 each.
• Can request up to 12 500 ml bottles of water/day.  If you don't have either package, normal cruisers need to pay for bottled water.  Of course, you can drink the tap water in your cabin.  This is the water used in restaurants.
• Unlimited served dining meals.
• Unlimited award-winning, multi-course meals, including hand-cut steaks and premium seafood.
• No fees for room delivery or dish delivery from another restaurant on board.
• Four WiFi devices per guest.
• Shore excursion credit up to $300/guest.
• All tips to crew.
• Unlimited digital images taken by onboard photographers, plus 3 prints.
• Reserved theater seating.

In our first Diamond Princess cruise, we had the traditional card, the kind you get when you check into a hotel to enter your room.  This time there is something called a Medallion.  There are two shown to the right.  Here is what Google AI says:

The Princess Cruises "Medallion" is a wearable technology device that functions as a key, payment method, and personal concierge on Princess MedallionClass ships. It replaces traditional key cards, unlocking staterooms, and enabling touchless payments for food, drinks, and more onboard purchases. The device also helps guests navigate the ship, locate friends and family, and facilitates the OceanNow service for ordering food and beverages.  

• Contactless access: Unlocks your stateroom door automatically when you approach. 
• Onboard payments: Used for all purchases, including food, drinks, and other amenities, through a touch-free process called MedallionPay™. 
• Navigation: Helps you find your way around the ship using the OceanCompass app or interactive portals. 
• Personalized service: Allows crew to know who you are and what you like, leading to more personalized service. 
Location tracking: You can find friends and family on board through the app, and it enables the delivery of food and drinks to your location via the OceanNow service. 
Entertainment: Features family-friendly games and allows you to bookmark events. 
MedallionNet® Wi-Fi: Provides fast and reliable internet access throughout the ship. 

Here is what Princess Cruise says.  Some bullets, I don't know what they mean.

• Faster boarding
• Best Wi-Fi at sea
• Finding your way around the ship
• Whatever you need, delivered
• Locating friends & family on board
• Bookmarking events
• Easy stateroom entry
• Family-friendly games
• Still confused?  Watch this video.

The color also means something:

• Blue: First-time cruiser
• Gold: Second-time cruiser -- this is the one we have.  There is no other color for third-time cruisers.
• Ruby (red): After completing 3 cruises or 30 cruise days
• Platinum (silver): After completing 5 cruises or 50 cruise days
• Elite (black): After completing 15 cruises or 150 cruise days

Other colors and features can have different meanings, often related to specific packages or check-in processes:

• Pink/Salmon: This color indicates that the guest has purchased access to the Sanctuary area on board.  This costs a lot more than the Premier Package.
• Blue Lane vs. Green Lane (Pre-Cruise Check-in): These colors relate to the embarkation process lanes at the port. The green lane is for guests who have completed online check-in and received their medallion by mail, while the blue lane is for those who need to pick up their medallion at the port terminal.
• Colored Medallion Holders: The color of the holder (lanyard, clip, etc.) may be used by the crew to quickly identify guests with specific packages, such as the Princess Premier or Plus drink packages, for faster service. 
• For more details on the loyalty program benefits, you can visit the Princess Captain's Circle website. 

• Use it to board and disembark the ship.
• Use it to unlock your stateroom door.
• You can use it instead of carrying around a credit card to charge items like drinks and souvenirs to your onboard account.
• See a customized view of your cruise if you are near a screen around the ship.
• If you're part of the Princess Cruises Sanctuary Collection, it's your key to access exclusive areas.
• It can become an accessory or piece of cruise gear you can have fun accessorizing.
• Use it as a magnet after your cruise.

They provide a lanyard (something you wear around your neck to hold the Medallion).  Or, if you want fancier option

• Bracelet in gold: $54
• Lanyard strap: $9 (this is a different strap than what comes with it – it’s blue and thicker than the thin white one you automatically get)
• Ocean Medallion Clip (clips onto a shirt or your jeans): $8
• Sustainable clip made from 100% ocean-recycled plastic: $15 
• Ocean Medallion Pendant – silver or gold: $44 
• Ocean Medallion Sports band (purple, black, pink, or blue): $12 
• *Ocean Medallion Sustainable band: $19 (says “Special Edition” under it)

Well, that's a lot more than you would want to know.  Tomorrow, doings on the Diamond Princess.

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DIAMOND PRINCESS AT SEA FROM TOBA TO OSAKA

Welcome champagned on Formal Night.

Then dinner at Sabbatini's.

Frescobaldi wine from Tuscany was featured.  But we instead had Bertani Amarone from the Valpolicella region of Verona, Italy.

With white wine and gin martini.

Appetizers.

My  grand soup.

A misti assortment.

A couple of shrimp dishes,

My dinner of mushroom risotto and ossobuco.

Panna Cotta dessert.

On to karaoke.

Final stop at Skywalker's Night Club

Only 3126 steps on Day 2 of cruise.

We arrived in the Port of Osaka the morning of Day 3.  We are berthed almost alongside the largest aquarium in the World, Kaiyukan.  I've been to Osaka at least 50 times.  Here is my posting of almost exactly two years ago, which described this city, and showed a photo of whale sharks in this aquarium.  They are today called Kai and Yu

Went early for lunch, so breakfast was still being served.  A concoction of rice, miso soup. hash, sunny side egg and natto. to start, with a Bloody Mary.

Second course of ramen, etc., with a beer.

We of course spent two days this past spring in Osaka for their world's fair.  Day One and Day Two.  We stayed at the Marriott Miyako Hotel, located near the top of the Abeno Harukas 300 meter (984 feet) building, which was the tallest skyscraper in Japan until the Azabudai Hills Mori JP Tower was completed in 2023 at 1067 feet in Tokyo.  Two photos, with the shiny Abeno Harukas in the photo to the left and a sunset view from the top.

Tomorrow, our departure from Osaka for Taipei, Taiwan.

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TOBA, JAPAN

I asked Google AI what are the top things to do in Toba?

• Visit Toba Aquarium: See an impressive collection of over 30,000 creatures, including the unique dugong, which can only be found here in Japan.

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  Explore Mikimoto Pearl Island: Learn about the history of pearl cultivation and watch demonstrations by the traditional female divers known as ama.

• See the views from Toba Observatory: Located 163 meters above sea level, this is the best spot to watch the sunrise and, on clear days, you can even see Mt. Fuji.

• 
  Tour the Toba Sea-Folk Museum: This museum is dedicated to preserving the history and traditions of Toba's fishing culture and the sea-faring lifestyle.

• 
  Visit Ise Jingu: While technically in the nearby city of Ise, this is one of Japan's most important and sacred shrines, with the Outer Sanctuary, Toyouke Daijingu, located in Toba.

• 
  Stroll through Toba Marché: This market is a great place to sample and buy local specialties, including fresh seafood harvested by the ama divers.

• 
  Discover the Toba Castle Ruins: Explore the historical remnants of the former castle, which is a significant landmark in the city's history.

• 
  Experience the Ama Hut "Hachiman Kamado": Get an authentic look at the traditional lifestyle of the ama divers, who are known for their free-diving abilities to harvest seafood.

• 
  Take a boat trip to a nearby island: Take a ferry to one of the beautiful islands in the area, such as Kamishima Island, Toshijima Island, or Sugashima Island.
• 
  Visit Shinmei Shrine: This shrine is known for its distinctive dragon carvings on the main torii gate. 

Life of Doing provided 14 incredible things to do in Toba.

• #1:  take a photo of the Heart Toba sign at the Toba Castle Ruins located in Shiroyama Park.

• #2:  then wander through the castle ruins.
• #3:  see ocean animals and marine life at Toba Aquarium.

• #4  find a Pokemon manhole cover at Sadahama East Park, also called the Dolphin Park.

• Learn about pearl harvesting at Mikimoto Pearl Island.

One of my postings from the past said the following:

A few years ago, Takeo Kondo, a colleague from Nihon University, who was advising the mayor of the city of Ago in Japan, Chihiro Takeuchi, arranged for me to give a talk on colored pearls to his community. The situation was ideal, for Kokichi Mikimoto, (left) nearly a century earlier, had experimented on cultured pearls in the waters next to the hotel in Ago where I stayed. I learned that while this region was at one time the largest pearl producer, growth conditions were declining and the current owners were beginning to abandon the field. My recommendation was to bring deep ocean waters into their estuaries and initiate a new product, colored pearls.

• 
  You can read the rest of the 14 things here.

We were all set to tour much of the above, but Toba has no port for cruise ships, and winds were up to 50 MPH, so the ship never stopped here.  Was that a problem?  Not for me, as I must stopped through this area at least a half dozen times.  Been to all those attractions.  Read my posting of 21August2008:  RAINBOW PEARLS, INTERNATIONAL (Part 2):

• 
  Anyway, it occurred to me that, as we could regulate the growth conditions, why not try to produce colored pearls. Not only white and black, but what about Chinese Red and Kelly Green? Someday, perhaps, the Royal Hawaiian Rainbow Pearl Necklace could reach the marketplace.
• I thus formed an international team of marine biotechnologists and marketers. Grant Burgess of Heriot-Watt University, associate editor of the Journal of Marine Biotechnology (JMB), began searching for marine algae which could provide the range of colors. Next to his office was the Scotch Professor of the country and on the other side was a biologist who held membership in the Royal and Ancient Club, which supervised over the Saint Andrews golf course structure. We usually held annual meetings in late August (the only period when the weather is halfway tolerable there) when the world’s largest arts festival is held in Edinburg. Unfortunately, Grant, who grew up in Edinburg, just moved to Newcastle, where they are allowed to do human cloning, not an interest of his, but, nevertheless intriguing with respect to Chapter 2 of SIMPLE SOLUTIONS for Humanity. Aside from coal, what else is there in Newcastle?
• 
  Anyway, that's the beginning of my story about Rainbow Pearls, and why I spent so much time
  where Mikimoto first began cultivating pearls.  I stayed at a hotel in view of Ago Bay where he initially did his work in 1893.  He first began selling white pearls in 1905.

So on the Diamond Princess we had lunch, for me, a Caymus Chardonnay and Silverado Cabernet Sauvignon.

Corn chowder.  The 15 Craigside version is superior.

Cobb Salad with blue cheese.

Fried chicken.

Spaghetti aglio e olio.

Ended lunch with a cappuccino.  Tomorrow, our adventure continues, as we head for Osaka.

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