2 Days in Shanghai

ByTravelling Minion May 10, 2026 1 Comment
Our cruise stop in Shanghai is for two days instead of the customary one. Rather than taking the hour-long bus ride from the port to the city and back each day, we decide to stay overnight in town. After riding the bus from the port, we arrive in Shanghai and leisurely make our way towards the hotel, while taking in the first few glimpses of the city. Shanghai is Papa Minion's hometown so he's...

Busan

ByTravelling Minion May 3, 2026 1 Comment
Our cruise stops in Busan today! It will be our only South Korea stop but it's one we are all excited to explore since none of us have visited before. After disembarking our ship and clearing Korean customs and Immigration we hop into an uber and head to BIFF Square. It's a popular cultural street that celebrates Korea's film industry. It's also home to the Busan International Film Festival and...

Nagasaki

ByTravelling Minion April 26, 2026 1 Comment
Today our cruise takes us to Nagasaki. It's a place none of us have to before, so we are all looking forward to the visit. After our now-routine breakfast on board we disembark the boat and make our way through the pretty port of Nagasaki. As Nagasaki is the other nuclear bombing site, our family is curious to see how the event is memorialized here. We hop onboard one of the city trams and make...

Cruising the Kanmon Strait to Fukuoka

ByTravelling Minion April 19, 2026 1 Comment
Today is a day at sea without any ports as our boat sails from Hiroshima through the Kanmon Strait to Fukuoka. Since there isn't any port of call, the ship offers a few extra events and activities for its guests. One of which is a brunch in the main dining room. Our family decides to partake and head into the ship's dining room. We order several different dishes which includes a fresh fruit...

Hiroshima

ByTravelling Minion April 12, 2026 1 Comment
Today we are in Hiroshima. We've all been to Hiroshima before, so we decide to make our way to another area of Hiroshima first. We do our (now) customary breakfast aboard the boat before disembarking. From the port its a bus and tram ride into the city before taking a short walk to the park we intend to visit.  Mister Donut On our way to the park, we happen upon a Mister Donut store. It's a...

Osaka & Kochi

ByTravelling Minion April 6, 2026 1 Comment
Today we are in Osaka. It's a city that all of us have been through several times before. With this in mind we don't have a very big list of things to do. So the plan is to explore, try a few new things and perhaps return to the boat early if we feel like a rest. We have a leisurely breakfast onboard before heading out. One of the things I enjoy about Holland America is they serve congee for...