Buzz’s comments on his Cruise from
Yokohama, Japan to Vancouver, B.C. on the Seabourn Quest April to May 2025
The ship
was almost completely sold out; only a couple of Ocean View cabins were
empty. On this cruise I was joined by a
couple of good friends that I met on my first Seabourn cruise. It was a very smooth crossing that was
unusual for the north Pacific. The string of 6 consecutive days losing an hour
was a little rough. With 10 sea days
there was no Bridge instructor and that had about 30 passengers disappointed
despite the efforts of the Cruise Director and Entertainment Manager to try to
break the news gently. The ports were interesting but not spectacular. Other than that, a good trip on Seabourn -
good food, many hosted tables, interesting conversations and great
entertainment!
TUE 22 Apr-25 – WED 23 APR Four Points by
Sheraton Philadelphia Airport. Nice room
with refrigerator, in-room coffee and a safe.
I took free public transportation to the airport and used Marriott
points to avoid an early morning UBER.
Free airport shuttle runs every 20 minutes.
WED 23-Apr-25 Philadelphia
to Toronto Air Canada 8931 9:00 AM 10:34 AM.
Pleasant on flight with a good breakfast in business class and despite a
55 minute ground hold, there was still plenty of time
to visit the business class lounge in the international transit portion of the
airport.
Toronto to
Tokyo (NRT) Air Canada 009 13:25 PM to 24-Apr-05 3:45 PM. Nice flight on time with lay flat seats in
business class and good meals. Air
Canada gave us a fast pass coupon that avoided the very long line to enter the
country.
THU 24-Apr-25 to 27-Apr-25 Yokohama, Japan. I stayed at the Tokyo Marriott after a
pleasant and inexpensive trip on the airport limousine bus from Narita airport
to the hotel. Nice room that had a
refrigerator stocked as a mini bar, free Wi-Fi, and in-room coffee and a
safe. My lifetime Titanium status got
me free breakfast and free access to the executive lounge for evening drinks
and food.
SUN 27-Apr-25 Sail
from Yokohama, Japan. I shared an UBER
to get to the ship. After unpacking, I
went to Cruise Director introductions and the Solo Travelers Get Together. I ate dinner at a hosted table with Jenn
Higson, the Entertainment Manager.
MON 28-Apr-25 Sea
Day. I went to the Port Briefing and
Tour Talk for the ports of call in Japan, the Conversation with Terry Breen:
“Observations of a First Time Visitor”, the Conversation with Terry Greenberg:
“Japan Behind the Mask”, the Captain’s Welcome Rounds, and the Show: Silverscreen. I had the formal night dinner with some
friends at Earth and Ocean. I played Team Trivia.
TUE 29-Apr-25 Miyako,
Japan. Raining morning so I had limited my time in port to the afternoon.
It was Golden Week
so many businesses were closed. I went to the conversation with Terry
Greenberg: “Japanese Culture on the Surface” and the show featuring Irina Guskova, Violinist.
I had dinner at a hosted table with Grace Warren, one of the Seabourn Six entertainers and Jenn
Higson, the Entertainment Manager.
WED 30-Apr-25 Hakodate,
Japan. I walked around the port and
visited the Hokadate Morning Market, the Roman
Catholic Church and, the Russian Orthodox Church (outside only since it is
closed for renovation) and the Red Brick Warehouses (where I bought gifts). I
played social bridge. I went to the Mamma Mia Caviar Sailaway
and the conversation with Jennifer
Eremeeva: “An Introduction to Japanese Cuisine” and the show featuring Leanne Mitchell,
Vocalist. I had dinner at a hosted table
with Grace Conte, Band Vocalist.
THU 1-May-25 Kushiro,
Japan. I walked around the port. I played social bridge. I went to the conversation with Terry
Greenberg: “Japanese Cuisine”. I had
dinner at a hosted table with Kate Pentek and Shay
Lachman, two of the Seabourn Six entertainers.
FRI 2-May-25 Sea
Day. I went to have coffee with the
Officers and the Block party (an event to meet other passengers with cabins
near mine). I played team trivia. I went to the show “Live & Wired”.
SAT 3-May-25 Sea
Day. I went to conversations with Terry
Greenberg: “The Japanese Aesthetic”, to the conversation with Terry Breen:
“Tea”, and to the conversation with Jennifer Eremeeva: “Beyond the Horizon –
Voyages of Exploration. I played team
trivia. I went to the show featuring Irina Guskova, Violinist.
SUN 4-May-25 Sea
Day. I played team trivia and social
bridge. I had dinner at a hosted table
with Aimee Lake, Cruise Director.
SUN 4-May-25 after crossing the date line. Sea Day.
I went to the Solo Travelers Get Together. I went to conversations with Terry Greenberg:
“The Forgotten War “and Jennifer Eremeeva: “Flotsam and Jetsam – The origins of
Popular Nautical Sayings”. I played team
trivia and social bridge. I went to the
show “Earth Song”. I had dinner at a hosted table with Jennifer Eremeeva, Guest
Conversationalist.
MON 5-May-25 Sea
Day. I went to
the conversation with Terry Greenberg: “Pacific Northwest Coastal Natives”
and the show featuring Leanne
Mitchell, Vocalist. I played team
trivia and social bridge. I had dinner
at Solice with the Staff Captain.
TUE 6-May-25 Sea
Day. I went to conversations with Terry
Greenberg: “The Alaska and Klondike Gold Rushes” and the film Documentary:
“Report from the Aleutians”. I played
team trivia. I had dinner at a hosted table with Dustin Kerr, one of the Seabourn
Six.
WED 7-May-25 Dutch
Harbor, Alaska, USA. I went ashore and
visited the Museum of the Aleutians
and the World
War II National Historic Area Museum.
I went to conversation with Jennifer Eremeeva: The Origins of Nautical
Superstitions. I played social bridge I
went to the show “Songs and Stories” performed by Dustin Kerr. I had dinner at Solice.
THU 8-May-25 Sea
Day. I went to the Conversation with
Terry Breen: “Alaska the Final Frontier”.
I played team trivia and social bridge.
I went to the show “Skyline”. I went to dinner at Earth and Ocean.
FRI 9-May-25 Kodiak,
Alaska, USA. I did not book an
excursion. I walked around the port. I
went to the conversation with Terry Greenberg: “The Making of the Alaska
Panhandle and British Columbia”. I
played social bridge. I had dinner at a
hosted table with Jess Hunt, one of the Seabourn Six. I went to the Magic show performed by Blake Vogt.
SAT 10-May-25 Sea
Day. I went to the cooking demonstration
with Chef Christophe making Coq au Vin.
I played team trivia and social bridge.
I had the formal night dinner at a hosted table
with Jacco Schrijver, Future Cruise Consultant.
I went to the show “Soundtrack” performed by Roy Tan, pianist.
SUN 11-May-25 Glacier
Bay National Park. Two Park Rangers came on board to describe the trip up and
back to Magerie Glasier over the ship PA system. We were very lucky and had a sunny day which
only occurs about 10% of the time. I had an excellent dinner at Earth and
Ocean. with Justin Kerr, one of the Seabourn Six, and Roy Tan, Guest
Entertainer. I went to the show performed by Antionio Larosa, vocalist.
MON 12-May-25 Sitka,
Alaska, USA. I booked a 2.5 hour excursion: Sea Otter & Wildlife Quest:
A cruise on Sitka Sound was a mesmerizing spectacle offering a chance
to observe all sorts of wildlife -- sea otters, whales, sea lions, porpoises,
bald eagles and a variety of marine birds.
We boarded an Alaskan-built expedition vessel designed to navigate
Southeast Alaska's narrow island passages, allowing for wildlife viewing at
close range. The boat featured a warm cabin with enclosed seating, large
windows and a topside observation deck for photo opportunities. Along the way, an onboard naturalist
explained the workings of this remarkable ecosystem.
I went to
the conversation given by Terry Breen: “People of the Mist - Native Americans
of the Northwest Coast. I went to the
show Spotlight Moments performed by Aimee Lake and the magic show performed by
Blake Vogt. I had an excellent dinner at
Earth and Ocean.
TUE 13-May-25 Cruising
Sumner Strait - Ketchikan, Alaska, USA.
I booked a 4 hour excursion: Wilderness Cruise
& Silver King Lodge Seafood Feast. This was a true Alaskan experience. We left downtown Ketchikan for a 30 minute drive following the scenic coastline past a cannery, an old sawmill, totems and waterfalls. At George Inlet Lodge, we boarded
an enclosed 46-foot sightseeing vessel. On the cruise up the fjord,
we saw an eagle fishing. We viewed the Mahoney Glacial Cirque, with snow-capped
mountains. We did a 20
minute walking tour of the rainforest and saw some historic trees. Then we went back to the warm and inviting George Inlet Lodge for a delicious Dungeness
crab, claims, mussels, sausage, corn and potatoes meal. We relaxed amid the
rustic charm and the Alaskan hospitality of the lodge while we learned about
its origins as a cannery bunkhouse. Our banquet included a choice of soda,
coffee or tea. Dessert was a freshly
baked chocolate chip cookie. On the return, trip we saw a humpback whale. The bus dropped me off at Creek Street and I
bought a couple of gifts before walking back to the ship. I had an excellent dinner at Solice. I went to the conversation given by Terry
Greenberg: “Canada – Three Nations in One”.
I went to the show “Better Together”.
WED 14-May-25 Transit
the Seymour Narrows. I went to
conversations given by Terry Greenberg: “Canada is Cool” and Terry Breen:
“Devil beneath the Sea – The Story of Ripple Rock”. I played Team Trivia
and Social Bridge. I went to the show
“The Ten Fingers Orchestra” performed by Roy Tan.
THU 15-May-25 Nanaimo,
Vancouver Island, Canada. I was invited
and participated in a surprise 15 anniversary celebration for some good friends
who I met on my first Seabourn cruise.
It was a rainy day so I stayed on the
ship. I went to the Team members Salute
and the show performed by Antonio Larosa.
I had dinner at a hosted table with Debbie Macomber, Guest
Conversationalist.
FRI 16-May-25 Debark
Ship Vancouver, B.C., Canada
Vancouver to LAX AA 6303 1:30 PM
to 4:40 PM Vancouver
airport has both TSA Pre Check and Global Entry, easing the entry into the
US. AA does not have an Admiral’s club
in Vancouver or partnership with other business class clubs.
LAX to Philadelphia AA 2758 11:11 PM to 17 May 7:25
AM Entry into the nice Admirals club was provided due to
my international arrival flying business class.
For a complete description of all
the activities on board the ship click here.
More information on Seabourn Cruises click
here.
To return to my non-SCUBA
Vacations page click here
To return to the home page click here