Ritzy Travel Guide

A month to go, and we'll be sailing out of Rome, Italy, for the inaugural cruise on the brand new Legend of the Seas.

The World's biggest and newest ship from Royal Caribbean.

We don't tend to go on Maiden sailings, for the simple reason: they often go wrong!

No matter which cruise line, which ship, it's a race to get everything working smoothly, all problems ironed out, and the systems up to speed, before the first paying guests go aboard.

All credit to them, Royal Caribbean is normally very good at being ready.

We have our dining booked, shows locked in, and earplugs packed! Megaships are absolutely not our go-to, preferred cruise experience....but I talked to Mrs Ritzy, we discussed it over a glass of wine, and said 'why not!'

Italy at this time of year is gorgeous, we'll be in Europe the anyway, let's book ourselves on the inaugural, enjoy the Sailaway, and hope for the best!

Let's see if this will be an absolute hoot....or calamity at sea!

Do follow along with us, as we will be posting live each day from the ship, bringing all the action and gossip!

1 month and counting!

All around Asia the past couple of days it has been Vesak, one of the holiest days in the Buddhist calendar.

Observed across countries such as Thailand, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Singapore and many others, temples are decorated with flowers and lanterns, devotees gather to pray, offer food to monks, and perform acts of kindness and charity. The atmosphere is often both celebratory and reflective.

During our travels through Asia, we have seen first hand how important this occasion is. From bustling city temples to quiet local shrines, people have been gathering to pay their respects.

It is one of those moments that reminds you that travel is about much more than simply seeing new places. It is also about understanding the traditions, beliefs and cultures that shape the lives of the people who live there.

Today we joined the devotees to take part in this splendid tradition

Bill & Mrs Ritzy

Thank you everyone for following along with us the past 12 nights on Celebrity Millennium, from Tokyo to Seoul, South Korea.

We've had a blast. The itinerary has been astonishing, the ship a beautiful haven to view it from, and we met so many genuine, friendly people aboard.

To those considering a cruise around Japan, and a mini visit to Korea, we can whole heartedly recommend it.

Videos out in a few weeks. We have so much to show you. The ship itself, the ports of call, and why we feel an Asian Cruise makes so much sense.

Our journeys continue: we are in Asia for a couple more weeks, before hitting the Mediterranean, for some touring and sailing there.

Welcome to our final Cruise Diary, number 8, aboard Celebrity Millennium, as we arrive in Incheon, South Korea, bringing our incredible journey from Tokyo to Seoul to a close.

And honestly? This itinerary exceeded our expectations.

This was not a lazy “sit by the pool for 12 days” kind of cruise. It was port intensive, active, beautiful and immersive. Almost every single stop brought something completely different: futuristic cities, tranquil onsens, a volcano, historic streets, dramatic coastlines, incredible food culture and some genuinely unforgettable locations.

Not every port was a home run, but the vast majority absolutely were. Many were astonishing.

One thing that really surprised us was the type of passenger this cruise attracted. Senior in age, yes, but more active than many traditional Cruises, and that's due to the itinerary. Most ranges from their 40s through to 70s. But regardless of age, people here wanted experiences. Early mornings. Busy shore days. Walking tours. Trains. Food markets. Coastal hikes.

This was very much a “doing” holiday rather than a floating resort vacation.

As for timing, mid May turned out to be perfect. We had pleasant weather throughout, temperatures were comfortable for exploring all day, and while destinations were busy, they never felt overwhelmingly crowded.

If we returned, autumn would probably be our second choice thanks to the colours and pleasant temperatures.

And then there’s the ship itself.

Celebrity Millennium may be Celebrity’s oldest ship, but she has aged well. The 2019 refurbishment clearly made a huge difference. Throughout the cruise, the ship felt elegant and stylish, while retaining a more intimate atmosphere, than some of today’s giant mega ships. We like her.

Food overall was good, although not consistently excellent every single day. There were some standout meals and memorable dining experiences, but also a few misses in both the Main Dining Room & Buffet, that prevented the experience from feeling truly top tier throughout.

We’ll go into much more detail about that very soon.

One of the most fascinating parts of this sailing was the sheer mix of nationalities onboard. This may have been one of the most internationally diverse passenger groups we’ve ever cruised with. Guests from North America, Europe, Australia and across Asia all drawn together by one thing: Japan. There is absolutely no question that Japan is now one of the world’s hottest travel destinations, and after this trip, it’s very easy to understand why.

Over the coming weeks, I’ll be releasing two major videos from this adventure.

The first will be my full Celebrity Millennium ship review. I’ll properly discuss the cabins, food, entertainment, service, atmosphere and the big question many of you keep asking us: do we actually prefer this older Millennium Class experience, or Celebrity’s newer Edge Class ships? They are so different.

The second video will be our full cinematic Cruise Diary series, covering day to day life aboard, the fun we got up to and the destinations themselves, including all the ports we visited across Japan and Korea. And trust me, some of these locations were absolutely stunning.

We’ve filmed everything. The beautiful moments, the surprises, the challenges, the food, the transport chaos, and the hidden gems!

If you’ve been following along during these daily diaries, thank you so much for joining us. This itinerary deserves to be very high on your list, and you'll see why in the upcoming videos!

Our next cruise begins, in 7 weeks. More info on that later.

Our next Youtube video release in 2 weeks will be the disastrous Disney Adventure cruise, we're it all went wrong, for numerous reasons! Make sure you're subscribed to our YouTube channel for that!

Bill & Mrs Ritzy

Welcome to Diary 7, of our Asian Cruise aboard Celebrity Millennium from Tokyo Japan, to Seoul Korea!

Today we crossed the Korean Strait from Fukuoka to Busan.

For our day ashore, instead of heading into Busan downtown, we decided instead to discover the beach side suburb of Haeundae. And what a delight that turned out to be.

Our first stop was the famous Haeundae Blueline Park. Vintage colourful sky capsules and retro beach trains slowly glided above the shoreline. It is like a page out of a colouring book. The little capsules glide above your head, and the trains trundle along the tracks. We went 5 stops along the line. Beautiful, thoroughly recommended. We sat at a 5th floor cafe, for cappuccino and a glorious wrap round view, watching the world go by.

Haeundae and this part of Busan is renowned for its iconic white sand, luxury resorts, and vibrant nightlife. As well as street food. We tucked into some authentic fare!

There's a beach sand art expo on at the moment. Amazing structures!

If you visit Busan, I would encourage you to spend the morning, or indeed the entire day in the Haeundae suburb. It has a great vibe.

Back on ship, and it was our final formal night, or what Celebrity call 'Chic Night.'

Dinner in the main dining room, followed by Cocktails and music in the Martini Bar.

The 8 o'clock bar tender show is always a crowd pleaser!

Tomorrow is a sea day, and we end the cruise in Incheon, outside Seoul.

In my final Blog tomorrow, I'll give you my full verdict on the Celebrity Millennium, the cruise, the itinerary, and whether it has been all that we expected. I'll have the low down and all the gossip.

Join us for that tomorrow!

Bill and Mrs Ritzy

Welcome to Diary 6, aboard the Celebrity Millennium, sailing round Southern Japan.

Today we arrived in Fukuoka, a port in the deep South. On getting ashore, we experienced something as symbolic, and cultural as you can get... an authentic Japanese Onsen!

An Onsen is a hot spring bath, fed by naturally heated geothermal water from deep underground. The water is rich in minerals such as sulfur, iron, and magnesium, and people visit onsens for both relaxation and therapeutic benefits.

As is traditional, you bathe completely 'de-robed', au natural. No clothes at all.

There's a choice of communal, or private. With all modesty, we opted for a private onsen!

What greeted us was a delightful, tropical oasis, surrounded in bamboo, with a private hot airing fed pool, and piping hot water. It was surreal.

For many Japanese people, visiting an onsen is not just about bathing. It is a calming ritual focused on wellness, stress relief, quiet reflection, and a connection with nature.

It was all as magical and relaxing as the pictures show.

Afterwards we strolled along the Canals in the historic Hakata District.

For lunch we dined at a traditional tea house, sampling Mitarashi Dango! Also known as Mochi, they are little skewered dumplings, and you char them over a personal grill until they’re perfectly caramelized, then dip them in a sweet soy glaze. It’s smoky, and it’s sweet!

As for the ship, the Celebrity Millennium continues to deliver. In a couple of days, at the end, I'll give you a full run down of what we think of it all, the facilities, the itinerary, and who your fellow passengers are. Asia, and particularly Japan, is a huge growth market for the cruise industry. Many Cruisers are curious, but not sure if it's for them, and how to go about it. I'll give you my insights.

We're really enjoying having you following along with us, virtually.

Overnight we'll be crossing the Korean Straits, leaving Japanese waters, and arriving in Busan, South Korea.

That will make for a totally different feel.

Join is for that!

Bill & Mrs Ritzy 

japan

Welcome to Cruise Diary 6, aboard the Celebrity Millennium, cruising Japan and Korea.

We knew when we booked this itinerary it would be poignant, memorable and impactful.   The port stops would include some of the most dynamic, vibrant and exciting destinations in Asia.  It would also include some cities that question what on earth history was thinking.

Today it was the latter, as we arrived in Nagasaki.  Famous for one of the most harrowing episodes in mankind.  The dropping of the 2nd atomic bomb.

When we stepped ashore, we enjoyed ourselves walking along the beautiful tree lined canals, stopping by Chinatown (there's a long history of trade between the two countries), and experiencing the historic trams that criss cross the city.  I love trams!

It was then time for the inevitable: stepping into the Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum.  Impactful, and deeply thought provoking. Tales of absolute devastation and pain.

I took a photo of some of the more moving exhibits: 

The Clock of Time, that iconic wall clock that was recovered from a home near the hypocenter. Its hands are permanently frozen at 11:02 AM, the exact moment the atomic bomb "Fat Man" detonated over Nagasaki on August 9, 1945.   

It is impossible not to pause and reflect.

And yet outside, life continues. The late spring sun shimmered across the city, locals smiled warmly, and everywhere we went we were met with extraordinary kindness. The Japanese people remain some of the most welcoming and courteous we have encountered anywhere in the world.  

Back on the ship, we enjoyed the sunset out of our Porthole Cabin. Then dinner, an aerialist show in the theatre, before succumbing to the most sinful chocolate fountain dessert counter at the buffet!

Cruising is full of contrasts: by day you step into another world, for a few fleeting hours. History, culture, food, people, and emotion. Then by evening, you watch the sunset as the ship quietly carries you away, to somewhere entirely new.

It's constantly varied, frequently thought inspiring, and with time to smile, dine, relax, and hold hands.

See you tomorrow,

Bill & Mrs Ritzy 

Welcome to Diary 5, on our Japan & Korea cruise aboard Celebrity Millennium!

Let me bring you up to speed for the past 2 days activities:

It's been one of those classic cruise combinations that somehow makes absolutely no sense… yet works perfectly...a relaxing sea day followed by a volcano.

Only on a cruise!

Yesterday began with Celebrity’s gloriously over the top American buffet lunch. Imagine a diner in Las Vegas having a nervous breakdown inside a rainbow factory. Burgers, hot dogs, outrageous desserts, neon colours everywhere… subtlety had officially left the ship for the afternoon.

Then by evening, Millennium transformed completely for Latin Night. Suddenly the ship was full of sizzling dancers, live music, sequins, and enough energy to keep everyone awake.

Somewhere between the salsa and the cocktails, we celebrated our wedding anniversary ❤️

A genuinely lovely moment tonight in the dining room, as the staff surprised us with a beautiful cake and romantic candle, at the table. One of those little cruise memories you know you’ll remember years later.

We’ve also spent time exploring more of Millennium today, including the theatre, Blu, and the beautiful observation lounge at the front of the ship. Easily one of the best spots onboard for watching Japan drift by.

But the real contrast came in Kagoshima today.
Just a short ferry ride away sits Sakurajima, one of the world's most active volcanos. In fact we weren't sure if we'd be allowed to visit as it erupted last week. We were just a few days too late!

We caught a really little cute ferry across from Kagoshima town to Sakurajima island. It was shrouded in mystical clouds.

At the foot of the volcano is a hot spring, which comes directly down. You can dip your legs and toes in!

Tomorrow: Nagasaki. And somehow, each day this voyage just keeps getting more interesting!

Keep following along with us!

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