Our journey began with a direct Qantas flight from Brisbane to Narita. It was my lucky day, with a spare seat beside me giving me plenty of room. The crew were very attentive and the highlight was seeing Mount Fuji at sunset as we descended into Narita.
I had pre-booked a private transfer and our driver, who had contacted us via WhatsApp the day before, was waiting to meet us. I highly recommend having WhatsApp when travelling, particularly for confirming the finer details of transfers and tours.
For our pre-cruise stay, I chose the Grand Nikko Tokyo Daiba to be close to Tokyo International Cruise Terminal and avoid a long transfer on embarkation morning. The hotel is lovely and well located in Tokyo's Daiba area, with shopping centres and the distinctive Fuji TV building nearby. We took the monorail one stop, followed by a walk of around 10 minutes to the terminal, although taxis were also available.
Boarding Celebrity Millennium was quick and efficient. This was my first experience in an inside cabin and I was pleasantly surprised. It was cosy, well equipped with everything we needed and had excellent air conditioning. I enjoyed some of the best sleeps of the trip!
Millennium may not be the newest ship in the Celebrity fleet, but she is very comfortable, with plenty of public spaces. Even with everyone on board, the ship rarely felt crowded.
We soon met fellow travellers from Australia and New Zealand. For dinner, we chose Celebrity Select Dining because we enjoy the flexibility. Occasionally there was a short wait, but we were given a pager and could relax in a nearby lounge until our table was ready.
At other times, we ate at the Oceanview Café or Pool Grill. We also treated ourselves to dinner at Tuscan Grille and Le Petit Chef, which we loved. I recommend checking the menu when booking, as the offerings can change.
The Pool Bar became our regular meeting place with new friends to share stories of our shore adventures. Our bar attendant, Komang, was outstanding. He remembered everyone's preferences and always had a suggestion if we couldn't decide what to order. Our Classic Beverage Package and Wi-Fi were included, with the option to upgrade to a Premium package.
There was no shortage of entertainment, including trivia, game shows, lectures, live music, casino activities and Broadway-style productions with live bands. The ship also offered a basketball court, gym, spa, kids' club, movies and swimming pools. There really was something for everyone.Our 12-day itinerary was port intensive, which suited us perfectly. At many terminals, local volunteers were on hand with sightseeing suggestions, while some ports offered shuttle services. The local farewells were a lovely touch. In Kagoshima, high school students introduced us to Japanese traditions such as origami and calligraphy. As we departed Osaka, we were treated to an energetic Japanese taiko drumming performance.
With an overnight stay in the Kyoto area, we took the Shinkansen bullet train to Osaka for the day. The journey took just 13 minutes, although I would recommend a longer, straighter route if you want to experience the train at its highest speeds. We also visited the famous Golden Pavilion and saw traditional geisha teahouses, known as ochaya, lining the river.
My favourite shore excursion combined Miyajima Island with Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park. Miyajima was beautiful, with its Itsukushima Shrine, freely roaming deer and delicious barbecued oysters. Visiting the Peace Memorial Park was deeply moving and an experience I would highly recommend.
In Nagasaki, we bought a tram day pass and explored at our own pace, visiting the war museum and stopping at other points of interest. In Busan, South Korea, a shuttle was provided and we also used the local rail network to visit the fish markets and Chinatown.
Unfortunately, the weather was poor when we called at Shimizu, so Mount Fuji remained hidden. We took a local boat tour, but the overcast skies made it impossible to see the mountain. We had better luck in Kagoshima, where Sakurajima, one of the world's most active volcanoes, was clearly visible.
After disembarking, we spent two nights at Keio Plaza Hotel in Shinjuku. Tokyo is enormous, so we explored on a hop-on, hop-off bus. If you have the time, I recommend a two-day pass to make the most of the city's many neighbourhoods and attractions.
Our hotel room overlooked the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building and its spectacular nightly light show. The building also has an observation deck, where Mount Fuji can be seen on a clear day. We spent part of our final day enjoying coffee and the views before catching the airport limousine bus to Narita for our flight home.
A few practical tips made travelling in Japan easier. Learning simple Japanese greetings such as konnichiwa (hello) and arigatou (thank you) goes a long way, and a translation app is handy when you're stuck. WhatsApp was invaluable for tour and transfer arrangements, while the beverage and Wi-Fi package made life on board simpler. The currency conversion feature in the iPhone calculator was also useful for working out yen prices in Australian dollars, even without an internet connection.
We travelled in August, at the height of the Japanese summer. I'd love to return in the cooler spring weather, perhaps in time for the cherry blossoms. Japan has so much to offer, from its history, temples and shrines to its natural beauty, quirky attractions, theme parks and, of course, the food!
We loved every minute and look forward to visiting again. Cruising with Celebrity took much of the guesswork out of discovering Japan, giving us the freedom to explore while always having a comfortable ship to return to.
