ASIA to VANCOUVER (35 days)

on the DIAMOND PRINCESS Cruise Ship

April 15 – May 19, 2012

Singapore to Beijing

Beijing to Vancouver, Canada

This was an extensive cruise with many ports of call and we travelled 19233 km. Our cruise was very good with smooth seas, great food and very nice state rooms. We had a cabin on the 5^th deck with a outside window and near the front of the ship. The ship was huge and at times felt too large. Due to the size of the ship we had to dock in the commercial container ports which meant you would have to take a shuttle bus into the city (which was usually quite a distance from the dock) or be on a tour. On smaller ships we enjoyed just walking off the dock into town, but in this case we were unable to walk away from the ship due to security with the port.

Visas were required for China. Vladivostok is the only Russian port that you do not require a visa to visit on your own. The ship did the paper work for the Vietnam visa and charged us – which was easy.

All the destinations were a breeze to enter except one. The Japanese boarded officials 3 days before we were to land and cleared the passports. They then gave us a copy of our passports with the official stamp which we were to use when exiting the ship. The only country that was horrible to enter was the USA. We had 8 hours in Seward, Alaska and 4 hours involved getting through US customs. People (including US citizens) were outraged at this waste of time and unable to enjoy the port. This was our first port after 6 days at sea and it was not a welcoming experience.

Enjoy the following pictures and the comments.  Double click each picture to view it large and use the arrow to return to the main page of the blog.

Leaving Singapore

Pattaya, Thailand

Trucks using propane instead of diesel fuel, Thailand

Sunrise over Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

A fancy bus rest stop along highway, Vietnam

local fruit transportation

local boat with 3 boys on board

Welcome to Na Trang, Vietnam

Street scene, Na Trang, Vietnam

Street vendor

Local market, Na Trang, Vietnam

Chris with local women in market - note that they sit right by the produce

 

Lovely beach front drive, Na Trang, Vietnam

Taking Tender to the ship

Approaching Hong Kong

Welcome party - Hong Kong

Kowloon

 

Hong Kong from Kowloon

panorama of Hong Kong - double click to get full view

With new friends

Panorama of Hong Kong

Panorama of Shanghai

A house boat Shanghai, China

 

Transporting furniture

 

Maglev Train, Shanghai, China

Our top speed of 423 km/hour

 

Looking down from the top down the center of Hyatt Hotel from the inside of Mao Tower

Nanjin Pedestrian Street, Shanghai

Nanjin Street

 

Nagasaki, Japan

Peace Park, Nagasaki, Japan

Peace Monument

Memorial to the Atomic Bomb explosion location with Canadian Wreath

Nagasaki Tall Ship Festival

Tall Ships in dock

Panorama of Nagasaki, Japan

Sail away from Nagasaki - the kids kept waving until we were out of sight

 

Busan, South Korea

A pensive beauty

A working clock garden, Busan, South Korea

Busan walking street

Street scene, Busan, South Korea

One of many bronze statues, Busan

Chris and friends, Busan, South Korea

Our Sail Away from Busan, South Korea

Tianjin, China Cruise Port

Dalian China

The old old motorcycle used for trucking freight, Dalian, China

Panorama of Dalian, China harbor

 

Vladivostok, Russia

Bike Rally, Vladivostok, Russia

A light weight bike

Historic Train Station, Vladivostok, Russia

A room in the train station

Russian Submarine in outdoor Museum

 

Teaching kite making, Muroran, Japan

Teaching flower presentations, Muroran, Japan

Sail Away fromd Muroran, Japan

Seward, Alaska

Back in the USA

Historical Bar

With friend?

Juneau, Alaska

 

Ketchikan, Alaska - a pretty town

Docked in Vancouver, Canada

View of Mt. Baker, Washington - taken on flight home to Winnipeg