Windstar's Wind Surf "Degrees of Difference"

If you've sailed aboard Windstar's Wind Surf and found you loved it but wished you could have booked a larger stateroom – ideal for entertaining – your wish has been granted. The ship spent five weeks undergoing several million-dollars worth of renovations and upgrades to accomplish the companies "Degrees of Difference" agenda.

What's new? Two 500-square-feet Bridge Suites, aptly located (where else?) on the bridge deck. The layout consists of a living and dining area, separate bedroom with walk-in closet and a marble bathroom decked out with a whirlpool tub and separate shower. Upgraded services – like an unpacking service, laundry and pressing, evening appetizers, complimentary bottled water, chilled champagne upon arrival, and additional L'Occitane bath supplies – are included. Bridge Suite guests also snag an invitation to dine with the Captain.

Even if you don't book a Bridge Suite on the Wind Surf, you'll benefit from the recent work: all staterooms and bathrooms have been refurbished. You'll find new fixtures, granite countertops, porcelain sinks, glass shelves, a magnifying mirror, Egyptian cotton towels and L'Occitane bath goodies.

The library is another major area of the ship that was overhauled in a major fashion. It's been replaced with the Yacht Club, the hub for socializing with other guests. It's got a comfortable coffeehouse vibe and offers plenty of seating, an espresso bar, eight computers with Internet access (you can also use your own laptop via wireless access). There's a large flatscreen TV, plus a library outfitted with the latest books, CDs and DVDs... all available for checkout.

Restaurants also got a bit of a facelift. The Bistro has been renamed Degrees. It's menu rotates between a steak house and cuisine from Northern Italy, France and Indonesia. The Veranda, were you'll head for breakfast and lunch, has benefited from a new awning, allowing for additional covered seating.

Two other points of interest: Balinese sun beds are to be installed on the Star deck and cooling mist sprays will be added to both pool areas. Can't wait!

Broder, McFarlane & Schieffer on Seabourn

Three Washington insiders will cruise with Seabourn in 2007 as part of the Dress Circle enrichment program. They'll speak with guests and provide firsthand insights into the inner workings of public policy in Washington, as well as the news media.

David S. Broder is a Pulitzer Prize-winning correspondent for the Washington Post; a syndicated columnist whose insights are carried in over 300 newspapers nationwide, the author of half a dozen books on U.S. politics and a regular commentator on NBC’s Meet the Press; PBS’s Washington Week in Review and CNN’s Inside Politics. He will sail aboard Seabourn Pride’s 13-day cruise of “Rio & the Amazon” departing Rio de Janeiro on February 18, 2007.

Robert C. McFarlane is intimately familiar with the corridors of power, having served as national security advisor to President Reagan and in key White House posts in the Ford and Nixon administrations. As founder of Global Energy Systems and a director of the Washington Institute for Near East Studies, he is uniquely suited to join Seabourn Spirit’s 16-day voyage to “Arabia, India & Orchid Isles” departing Dubai on November 20, 2007.

Bob Schieffer was the popular anchor of the CBS Evening News in 2005 and 2006, but his exemplary career as a broadcast journalist includes 20 years as anchor of the Saturday CBS Evening News, 15 years as moderator of the network’s Sunday staple Face the Nation, and much more. As CBS chief Washington correspondent, he has covered presidential campaigns since 1972. He will be on board Seabourn Spirit’s 14-day cruise of “Asian Capitals & Vietnam” departing Singapore on December 6, 2007.

For more information, talk with your travel agent or contact Seabourn at (800) 929-9391 or Seabourn.com.

Photo courtesy of Seabourn Cruise Line.

Libya a No-Go for Seabourn

Seabourn Cruise Line announced today that it has cancelled its calls in Libya scheduled for two cruises in 2007:

May 7, 2007 – Seabourn Spirit from Alexandria, Egypt to Rome, Italy
Instead of two days at Tripoli and one day at Derna, Libya, calls will be made at Kusadasi, Turkey (for Ephesus), Mykonos, Greece and Itea, Greece (near the Delphi ruins).

October 27, 2007 – Seabourn Legend from Rome, Italy to Lisbon, Portugal
Two days in Tripoli will be replaced with Naples (Italy), Palermo (Sicily) and Valletta (Malta).

Seabourn's president Pamela C. Conover said, "We regret the need to change any itinerary, but we have repeatedly petitioned the Libyan authorities to allow all of our guests into their country and they have shown no indication that they will do so. Fortunately, there are very attractive alternatives available, and we have added several."

For more information, discuss the itinerary change with your travel agent or contact Seabourn at (800) 929-9391 or Seabourn.com.

Photo of Seabourn Spirit courtesy of Seabourn Cruise Line.

More Scuba Options in the Caribbean from Windstar

If you love scuba diving, you'll be happy to hear that Windstar's Wind Surf has expanded its diving options in the Caribbean with double-tank dive sites in Dominica, Grenada and St. Martin.

Many cruisers have long thought that the Wind Surf, Windstar's 312-guest motor sailing yacht, offers some of the best diving adventures in the Caribbean.

According to Diane Moore, Windstar's vice president of marketing and sales, "Sailing on the Wind Surf is an ideal opportunity to combine the adventure of diving with relaxation on a luxury ship. If one-half of a couple isn't interested in diving, there is plenty to entertain them while their partner enjoys the diving excursions."

The shores of Dominica are well-known for excellent diving and the ship's stop in Roseau allows for two dives in the Scottshead Marine Reserve. The first dive at L'Abym takes divers to a vertical wall dropping to more than 800-feet in some places and teems with schooling reef fish. The second dive site, called Champagne, is located in a freshwater hot spring offering a unique experience diving with geo-thermal vents pumping up air bubbles and hot water.

In Grenada, two dives in Flamingo Bay center around impressive rocks covered in rock fans, gorgonian bushes, barrel sponges, and coral fingers ending in a sandy white bottom. Divers may see a great variety of marine life here including sergeant majors, yellow stripe grunts, goatfish, lobster, eels and small octopus.

At the Wind Surf's stop in St. Martin, divers will transfer over to the Dutch side of the island where a local dive operator will choose two dive sites. Divers will descend down a mooring line onto the top of the reef. Diving in this area is known for close encounters with reef sharks, nurse sharks, hawksbill turtles, stingrays and possibly dolphins.

Scuba diving enthusiasts can take advantage of Windstar's "Dive the Five" package offered at $350 for five one-tank dives. A Discover Scuba Diving program, as well as a PADI Advanced Open Water Course and Adventures in Diving program are also offered.

The Wind Surf's southbound itinerary roundtrip from Bridgetown, Barbados visits Bequia, Grenadines; Roseau, Dominica; Pigeon Island, St. Lucia; Mayreau, Grenadines; St. Georges, Grenada; and Tobago. The northbound itinerary roundtrip from Barbados visits Charlestown, Nevis; St. Martin; St. Barthelemy; Basse-Terre, Guadeloupe; Iles des Saintes; and Pigeon Island, St. Lucia. The two itineraries are ideal for combining into a two-week cruising vacation.

Windstar's scuba diving program is also offered on the msy Wind Star in Costa Rica and the msy Wind Spirit sailing out of St. Thomas in the Caribbean.

As part of the line's Degrees of Difference initiative, another multi-million dollar investment will be made in all three ships from 2006 and 2007. For the Caribbean season, the Wind Surf will be fresh from a five-week work period in the fall with remodeled bathrooms in all staterooms, two new deluxe suites and the Yacht Club, the new hub of the ship with computers, Internet, espresso bar, books and movies, flatscreen TV and comfortable seating.

Photos courtesy of Windstar Cruises

Pamela Conover Takes Helm of Seabourn

After the sad and untimely death of Seabourn Cruise Line's past president Deborah L. Natansohn (who suffered a fatal heart attack on October 22), the line knew it needed to find an extraordinary replacement. Natansohn had a long-term vision for Seabourn and aggressive plans, including the addition of two new ships.

Micky Arison, chairman of Carnival Corporation selected cruise industry veteran Pamela C. Conover to fill Natansohn's shoes as president and CEO of Seabourn. Conover has a history with the brand and was promoted from her post as vice president of shared services at Carnival. She has served as president for three cruise lines: Orient Line, Cunard and Seabourn (from 2001-2004).

A sketch of the newly commissioned Seabourn yachts.

Conover is looking forward to this new challenge. "I am extremely gratified to be offered the helm at Seabourn at this exciting juncture," Conover noted. "Seabourn's two new, state-of-the-art ships will represent the next evolution of the ultra luxury segment, and except for the tragic circumstances I couldn't be happier about returning."

Photos courtesy of Seabourn Cruise Line

Windstar Changes Its Tipping Policy

Windstar fans who've booked a cruise for this winter/spring have been receiving word from the cruise line regarding a change to their tipping policy. Here is an e-mail that Windstar has been circulating:

"We are changing our policy. Our crew works very hard to make sure that every aspect of your cruise meets the highest standards. This includes those crewmembers who serve you directly, such as wait staff, beverage servers and the stewards who service your stateroom each day. There are also many others who support their efforts whom you may never meet, such as galley and laundry staff. To ensure that the efforts of all of our crewmembers are recognized and rewarded, a Hotel Service Charge of $11 per passenger is automatically added to each guest’s shipboard account on a daily basis. If our service exceeds or fails to meet your expectations, you are free to adjust this amount at the end of the cruise. In addition, a 15% Beverage Service Charge is automatically added to bar charges and dining room wine purchases. These charges are paid entirely to Windstar crewmembers, and represent an important part of their compensation.

In terminals, airports, ports of call and on shore excursions, we suggest that you extend gratuities consistent with customary local practices.

Implementation of this policy takes place on the Wind Spirit and Wind Star December 9, 2006 and the Wind Surf December 16, 2006."

Crystal Syphony's $23 Million Dry Dock Refurb

Ah, to be a fly on the wall aboard Crystal Cruises Symphony during her nine-day, $23 million dry dock refurbishment at BAE Systems Norfolk Shop Repair on the Elizabeth River in Virginia!

In less than two weeks, a team of 1,295 people (750 contractors and 545 Crystal crew from 40 different countries) will renovate 411 staterooms, create an entirely new nightclub and casino, redesign the shopping boutiques, update the Bistro Cafe, and install new computers and wireless Internet access in the ship's Computer University@Sea. It's a whopper of a job, and that's not even taking into account all of the technical tweaks being made to the ship's hull, rudders and propellers.

These upgrades are part of Crystal's long-term plan to keep the Symphony an exciting and relevant option for cruisers. Remember, the line spent nearly $35 million refurbishing the Symphony over the past few years. Now add another $23 million and you've got one stunning ship!

The last round of upgrades two years ago included the creation of a Feng Shui-styled spa, the Vintage Room, an expansion of the ship's Computer University@Sea, redesign of the specialty restaurants and a complete refurbishment of all penthouse staterooms and suites.

Symphony's November 2006 dry dock tackles the following improvements:

• Refurbishment of 411 staterooms with new Murano glass bedside lamps, Rubelli fabrics, leather headboards, LED reading lights, new 20-inch flat-screen TVs, and newly designed bathrooms with contemporary oval glass sinks and granite countertops. It takes workers about two days to reinvigorate each stateroom and every day the crew should complete about 40 cabins.

• Complete overhaul and redesign of the Tiffany Deck (deck 6), the main entertainment area on the Symphony. You'll find new color schemes and lighting that will help guests shift moods as the day moves to night.

The Tiffany Deck includes...

• the new Starlite Club with an open environment, Swarovski crystal-studded walls and panoramic sea views.

• the new black and silver motif Crystal Casino with black jack, roulette, baccarat, Texas Hold-em and slots.

• Luxe, a sophisticated nightclub with polished aluminum Phillipe Stark bar stools and glass Bizzaza mosaics.

• new boutiques and shops.

• the recreated Bistro Cafe with new decorative tiles, wall finishings and upholstery in warm earth tones.

• new computers and wireless Internet service in Symphony's Computer University@Sea.


Crystal Cruises vice president of marine operations, Knut Aune, oversaw the complex dry dock operations. "The whole thing here is planning, planning, planning," Aune told The Virginian-Pilot. "To prepare for this has been months." And, indeed, Crystal Cruises jump-started the Symphony's makeover on October 20 when contracted workers boarded the ship in New York to begin work on stateroom upgrades on Deck 7. The Symphony's New England cruise for that week was purposely undersold so work could begin without impacting guests in a negative way.

Waiting in Virginia were 140 shipping containers packed with the materials for the changeover, including lamps and mirrors, carpet, and more.

It's truly amazing what will be accomplished aboard the Symphony in a mere nine days! I look forward to sailing her soon to see the improvements in person!

Photo courtesy of Crystal Cruises

Seabourn's President Deborah L. Natansohn - RIP

Shocking and sad news for the luxury cruise industry today. Deborah L. Natansohn, president of Seabourn Cruise Line, passed away after suffering a heart attack on Sunday, October 22. She was only 53.

For those who follow the cruise business, you already know what an extraordinary person Deborah was. She was the first female appointed president of any cruise line when she earned that post at Orient Lines in 1998. Over the years, she also resided as president at Cunard and was instrumental in launching the Queen Mary 2. She became president of Seabourn in 2004.

Deborah had refined Seabourn's operation and found great success... so much so that the company just signed letters of intent for two new ultra luxury ships to debut in 2009 and 2010.

She was from New York and earned her BA in English Literature and Journalism at the State University of New York, Albany. She also attended Harvard Business School. She entered the workforce as an editor at Travel Trade magazine and then segued into travel marketing.

Deborah always gave back to the community and was a member of several mentor programs. She had so many plans and it's heartbreaking that she won't see them to fruition.

My thoughts are with Deborah's family, friends and colleagues.

Mark Your Calendar: Two New Ships from Seabourn

If you're a fan of cruising with Seabourn, mark your calendar for spring 2009 and 2010. That's when the line's two new ultra-luxury ships will join the existing fleet. Italian shipbuilder T. Mariotti S.p.A. of Genoa was tapped to build the ships at a cost of $250 million each.

The move will double Seabourn's current fleet capacity of 624 staterooms, since each new vessel will house 225 suites, 90 percent with balconies.

"Our brand has been experiencing more demand in the marketplace than we could fulfill for quite some time now," said Deborah L. Natansohn, president of Seabourn. " The new ships will allow us to bring the unique Seabourn experience to a larger number of people, particularly the highly affluent and active baby boomer generation just now heading towards the more leisurely years of their lives."

According to Natansohn, the vessels "will be spacious, with the sleek lines and relaxed, personal feel of an oversized yacht. We've essentially taken the signature elements of our existing yachts and added some exciting new features that the larger hulls will allow."

I'm sure we'll be hearing more about these ships in the months to come.

Our Impressions of the Regent Seven Seas Mariner

General information about our Regent Seven Seas Mariner (Alaska to Russia to Japan) cruise.

Regent Seven Seas Mariner docked in Otaru, Japan.

The Regent Seven Seas Mariner is a gorgeous ship and we really enjoyed our cruise! We first saw her docked in Whittier, Alaska. It was a perfect, warm, sunny day and she really was stunning against the backdrop of both water and mountains. The vision made an excellent first impression on us.

As we boarded and started to explore, we warmed to the Mariner even more. For us, she's just the right size with a capacity for 700 guests in all-suite, all-balcony accommodations. There are plenty of people to meet and socialize with during your voyage, but there's still ample room for peace and quiet and romantic moments for two. In fact, Regent is proud that its passenger space ratio is among the highest at sea when compared with other cruise lines.

Though the ship was launched in 2001, it's in excellent shape, from the public rooms to the suites. We are having a slight problem with one of the Mermaid pods on this cruise but the Mariner will go into dry dock in December for a tune up, as well as some upgrades and tweaks to keep the ship in tip-top condition.

This is the sight that greets you when you first board the Regent Mariner. It's the lobby on Deck 5.

A bank of three glass elevators whisk guests to their destinations. When the seas are very rough, the Captain turns off two elevators but leaves the center unit in service.

The lobby atrium is a great spot for taking photos.

Sculptures adorn the atrium walls.

All-Inclusive Policy
As of 2007, Regent is going to an all-inclusive policy. This means all gratuities and select wines and spirits are included in your cruise fare.

Service
The service aboard the Mariner was superb! Everyone on the crew seemed to truly enjoy working for Regent and took pride in their work. The crew was friendly and efficient while not being intrusive. In fact, the crew to passenger ratio is 1:1.6. No wonder the service is so good!

Staterooms
Every room on the Mariner is called a suite and each has a balcony. In my opinion, that's a real plus! Once you've had a stateroom with a balcony, there's really no going back. It adds an additional layer of luxury and comfort to your vacation. It's so worth it!

Suites range from 301 square feet (including a 49-square-foot balcony) to the 2,002-square-foot Mariner Suite that's fitted with two bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths, a 727-square-foot balcony and a 71-square-foot side balcony.

Suites are incredibly comfortable. We loved the European king bed – which can also be configured as two twins – with down pillows and Egyptian cotten linens. You'll find a nice-size walk-in closet with a digital safe, bathroom with marble accents and a shower and tub combo (a few suites have a shower and no tub), cotton bathrobes and slippers, a hair dryer, flat-screen TV with CD/DVD player, a mini fridge stocked with soft drinks and an in-suite bar setup. (You can indicate your preferences prior to sailing using Regent's online reservation system.)

There are six wheelchair accessible suites with roll-in showers: suites 828, 829, 918, 919, 1012 and 1013.

We booked a Penthouse B suite. There's another blog entry devoted to that room category. Check it out for more information. We really loved the additional space and we'd definitely book this category, or a Penthouse C, again. Penthouse categories A and B include butler service. Penthouse C suites do not benefit from a butler. Depending on your needs, you may or may not need the additional service.

What does a butler do? He can press your clothes, shine your shoes, make dinner reservations, arrange for a private tour of the galley, set up a private in-suite party, refresh your fruit bowl on a daily basis, bring canapes to your room before dinner and assist you in many other ways.

Butler suites also receive a quantity of personalized stationery, complimentary newspaper delivered to your room each day (major papers are on the list but not our paper of record, the New York Times) and an iPod music system with Bose speakers (top three suite categories only).

There was no iPod in our Penthouse B suite, but the docking station was there with the Bose speakers. That was perfect since we had our on iPod with us anyway. It's so nice to be able to listen to your favorite music while cruising into port!

During our cruise, several suites were open for us to view. I believe this is one of the Seven Seas Aft suites.

Dining

There are four restaurants – Compass Rose, La Veranda, Signatures and Latitudes – aboard the Mariner, plus the Pool Grill and 24-hour room service. According to Passages the daily cruise newsletter, not all restaurants will be open every evening. For example, if Latitudes is open tonight, Signatures will be closed. When Signatures is open, Latitudes may be closed.

This is the shared lobby area for Compass Rose and Latitudes.

You can read all about the restaurants on Regent's website so I'll just give you the highlights here...

Compass Rose – This is the Mariner's main restaurant, serving continental and regional fare. Since our cruise started in Alaska, many of the specials have incorporated local king crab and salmon. So far, this is my favorite restaurant onboard. We enjoyed a tasty grilled venison dinner, broiled salmon and a very good veal scallopini. The dining room is decorated in muted tones and is quite large. Dinner service does take some time, especially if you wish to indulge in all of the courses. However, service was friendly and efficient and we almost always could get a table for two at dinner. I don't drink alcohol so it took a few meals before our waiter made sure to always bring ice tea or diet Coke as an alternative. The sommelier was very accessible and made sure glasses were filled at all times. As mentioned in another entry, the wine selection was not as inspired as my husband would have hoped, but after talking with the sommelier, good alternatives were available.

La Veranda – This is the Mariner's more casual restaurant. It offers a buffet breakfast and lunch and then transforms into an Italian trattoria in the evening. There's a nice antipasto bar in addition to the a la carte menu. Dessert is also buffet-style. On some evenings, the menu was that of a Tuscan steakhouse. There's both indoor and outdoor seating. La Veranda was a great option for dinner when we didn't want multiple courses. We'd enjoy some antipasto and an entree or some dessert.

Signatures – There are two "specialty" reservations-only restaurants, one of which is Signatures. The cuisine is French and its managed by Le Cordon Bleu. We dined here four times, twice with our Le Cordon Bleu classmates. The first meal here was terrific. The other nights, we were a bit disappointed. The preparations were good, the menu inventive. However, the quality of some of the ingredients could have been better. For example, one evening, dessert included a roasted pineapple option. The chef used canned pineapple. It was a turn off. I couldn't figure out why this was done since La Veranda offers fresh pineapple as part of its buffet breakfast each morning. There were some highlights at Signatures. Their soup course is uniformly good and the pastry chef also performed well.

Latitudes – The second reservations-only restaurant is the Asian fusion-inspired Latitudes. We've dined here once. It was a nice meal but not knock-out spectacular. One thing to note is that Regent tries to make a large crosssection of its guests happy with its menu. To do this, the chefs often need to go light on the herbs and spices. We happen to enjoy bold flavors, so dishes sometimes seemed flat because they were missing some additional flair in the spice area. Going light on the spices was definitely noticable at Latitudes. The food was good, presentation was excellent but the taste lacked some umph.

Pool Grill – The Pool Grill was perfect for casual lunches or afternoon snacks. This spot, between the pool and the entrance to La Veranda, is also used for special events like BBQs, taco fests, fish frys, etc. You can get terrific burgers here, including a special bleu cheese burger that we loved! Other offerings included grilled shrimp, pasta salad, a regular salad bar, soups, sandwiches and sweets (ice cream, cookies, cakes, etc.). It was a bit chilly during a few of our sea days but you could always order from the Pool Grill and eat inside La Veranda.

In-Room Dining – There's a 24-hour menu, plus entrees from Compass Rose. (Menus are posted daily on the closed-circuit TV station.) To be honest, we had a few problems with room service that we believe stemmed from a languge problem. Just be specific when you call in your order and ask the crewmember to read back your request before hanging up and you should be fine.

Lounges

There are several lounges on the Mariner – all are terrific for conversation and a glass of wine before or after dinner. We especially liked the Observation Lounge (quiet and wonderful views) and the Horizons Lounge (which includes a good-size outdoor balcony area, in addition to indoor seating). The Connoisseur Club is the place to go to smoke a cigar or snag a snifter of brandy.

Horizons Lounge during a traditional Japanese tea ceremony.

Here's the Mariner Lounge on Deck 5, next to Compass Rose.

The Connoisseur Club on Deck 6.

The fireplace in the Connoisseur Club.

Pool, Whirlpools and Deck 12

It was a little too cold for swimming in the pool during our cruise, but it was available for those who could brave it. The two whirlpools were almost always available and the warmer was nice and warm.

On Deck 12, that rings above the pool area of Deck 11, you can walk or jog.

Library, Club.com, Coffee Corner & The Garden Promenade

On Deck 6 you'll find the library (books and DVDs), Club.com (outfitted with Internet-ready computers), the Coffee Corner with a cappucinno maker (and wireless Internet access) and the Garden Promenade (that offers board games and puzzles).

The library on Deck 6 is a great place to hang out and relax.

The DVD library is fairly extensive.

The Regent Seven Seas Mariner is a spectacular ship and we hope to sail with her again in the future!

Two Days in Tokyo & Bon Voyage to the Mariner

Day 13 aboard the Regent Seven Seas Mariner (Alaska to Russia to Japan).

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.

Regent's Mariner sails into Tokyo on October 2, 2006.

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. Try it the next time you’re in Japan!

It took us a few tries, but we eventually figured out how to buy our subway passes at this machine.

If you’re from New York City like we are, you’ll be amazed to see that people actually line up and patiently wait for the subway to arrive! There’s no pushing and shoving when the doors open: Commuters file off the train and other passengers calmly move in when the coast is clear. I don’t think I’ll ever see that in the states; I wish we would! The lines are organized well and very clean. It was a pleasure traveling around Tokyo via subway.

As you can see, the tracks are cleaner than clean. (If you don't live in a major city, this probably seems like no big deal. However, if you've ever waited for the subway in Manhattan during the middle of a heatwave, you'll understand why we think a clean subway system is a fantastic subway system!)

Check this out, the underground subway passages are lined with potted plants!

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.

When we visited the Meiji Shrine, we were lucky enough to see guests arriving for a traditional Japanese wedding ceremonies. These girls were adorable!

• 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 continues on to Hiroshima, Japan before making its way to China’s Dalian, Tianjin (Beijing), Shanghai and Hong Kong.

We got back to our room and chatted with our butler Laxmesh for a while as we packed our things. We then drifted off for another restful night’s sleep. (I really love the beds aboard the Mariner! So comfortable!)

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. More on the Four Seasons later.

Not to sound like one of those glossy travel brochure, but our Regent cruise was so much more than a vacation… it really was a journey. We experienced so much and met so many fantastic people. I’ve got a lot more comments about the cruise experience overall. Look for those in another blog entry soon.


Photos by Leonard Hospidor

Beautiful and Sacred Sendai, Japan

Day 12 aboard the Regent Seven Seas Mariner (Alaska to Russia to Japan).

Sendai – the 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, crew members 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!

Map of Sendai courtesy of the Sendai Tourism & Convention Bureau.

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.

Pictured above is the Godai-do Temple which sits on one of Matsushima's 180 islands.
Photo courtesy of the Sendai Matsushima Tourist Guide.

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

To get to the temple, you must transverse one of two bridges.

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.

The carvings on the eaves of the temple actually depict the 12 Chinese zodiac symbols.

• 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.

Photos by Leonard Hospidor unless noted otherwise.