Japan Apr 2025 Ep 5: Embarkation Day Aboard Holland America’s Noordam

Japan Apr 2025 Ep 5: Embarkation Day Aboard Holland America’s Noordam

Good morning. It has been a busy morning. Getting breakfast, packing all the bags, making sure we don’t forget anything. But, I think it’s all done. We’re about to head downtown, down to the lobby. Catch a cab. It is finally ship day. Finally ship day is right and part 5 is our entire embarkation day. For a cruise so popular they even sent us a cancelation offer for a full refund. PLUS, 100% of the value in future cruise credits. But, since we were already in Tokyo and had been counting down for the last 16 months, there was no way we were giving this up. On the way to the pier. Headed to the cruise port. After a 45 minute drive from Maihama, around Tokyo Bay, through underground tunnels, and over the Yokohama bridge, we were about to get our first glimpse of Holland’s America’s Noordam, and the Yokohama International Cruise Port at the Osanbashi Pier, the oldest pier in the city. Noordam, Ok. It’s great because like, I’m used to that weather so I can totally walk around. Ahh, the little knobs. Welcome, this way please. Thank you.
Ok. Tagged, yes. We did it. We made it to Onabashi cruise port. We need the Passport. This is announcement for Noordam passengers. Thank you for waiting. Staff are committed to getting all those guests with priority boarding. Calling letters from A to E. Boarding letter from A to E. Please proceed to the loading area. To the line here sign. So, as soon as you get to Onabashi’s port you’re gonna wanna to get your passports out, and you’re gonna wanna get in line for the photo copy machine. Unless you do this before you go. We will do that next time. Unfortunately Holland did not send us the email until we were already in Tokyo and I don’t know. I’m sure there is a business center at the Sheraton but, we were too busy exploring and living it up in Tokyo so… Anyway, I’m in the line. Not a big deal. It’s not a big line. Almost there. Still in Tokyo, but it’s raining, it’s cold. We’re ready to blow this joint and see what else Japan has to offer. Tokyo, we’ll be back in about 2 weeks. I’m at the vending machines. Gonna try to film this for the vlog, you know, vlog stuff. But, everything here takes more than 1 hand so, it’s very anti blogger. No Japan isn’t anti blogger. But, you just have to bet very ambidextrious. I guess I get to make another selection. That’s nice ’cause I have multiple people to buy for. One of the things I needed to buy was water but, I’m a little reluctant to buy anything that is literally called sweat. I have plenty of that. Anyway, I guess Evian it is. Walking away, almost forgot my change. Let the month of cruising begin. Oh yeah. Can’t believe it. We navigated all the way from our bed in Juneau, Alaska and now, here we are at the cruise port in Tokyo about to board our ship. It’s great. Made it through Security. Got a little crazy but we made it through security. We did it! We’re about to board. How many are you sir?
Four.
Four? Yes four. Over here.
Oh, no photos, thank you. No we’re good. No thanks.
Okay. That darn papparazzi. *Laughing They’re always trying to get our pictures. Alright, gotta get the boarding passes out. Boarding passes are on the phone. Boarding time. It just locked up. I have the paper ones if you need me to get out the paper ones. You better getting the paper ones. Sorry. It worked just a second ago. Okay, there should be four of us here. You are staying in the same cabin, sir.
Yes, all four of us, same cabin. We’ll print uh, another one. Okay. This is blurred. It came up. Oh, thank you very much. I’m squished in the corner. Just like that we were on the ship. Heading straight to our Stateroom. Okay. Oh, cool it was even your card. Lights. Awesome. Here’s our room. Oooh, that’s a nice couch. And…we have a balcony. Ooh it’s locked. Hold on my hands are full. Here’s our view. We’re on board. What a trip so far. You know if you gotta leave Tokyo, today is not a bad day to do it. I am very appreciative of the rain though. It is keeping the temperature down. Which is… very appreciated. It has been very muggy, very hot. Standing in lines can get a little intense. Just with the sheer heat and amount of people. But now that its raining it’s actually not too bad. We set sail in just a few hours, and I think we’re gonna go get something to eat. Maybe up at lido and check it out. We’re excited to go see what it’s all about. They left us a little wine. Some tea. This time we get four beverages. I found my bag. Oh, you found your bag? It’s right here. Yeah. Can we take our bag if we see it?

That one is Shyla’s. Sure, which one is here? That one’s Shyla. Thank you. That’s all I see right now.

Okay. First task before we even go get something to eat, is going to be to go find our muster station and they’ll scan our key card. In emergency this is where you should go. If anything happens. Then, if you haven’t done so, please watch the safety video on your stateroom televisions. And, listen to the captain’s announcement before departure today. Okay.

And that’s it
.
Awesome.

Awesome. Thank you

Thank you, very much.

See ya. Enjoy your cruise.

Muster station check in, done. Good ol’ Lido Deck. I’m hungry.

Ready to dig in. Before we sail today,

We need every guest to visit the muster station on deck 3. It’s important that you know where to go in the unlikely event of an emergency. From there, watch the safety update video that plays on your stateroom television. This will tell you what to do in the unlikely event of an emergency, as well as ways to stay safe and well on your voyage. Everyone must watch the safety video before we depart. The food is so good they gotta get in, any way they can. *Laughing At this time there are over 700 guests that still need to complete the mandatory safety checks in progress. If you are one of our 700 guests who have yet to complete this process, do note that it is mandatory and it must be completed before we can set sail. I wanna thank you for your cooperation and support in ensuring the safety of everyone onboard. It is our highest priority. Thank you. We’re glad you’re sailing with us, and we look forward to our time throughout Japan together. Thank you. Enjoy Japan. Alright. See the water trucks? We are not part of the 700 people who didn’t do what we were supposed to so, we’re in the clear, and we are super full. Ready to…. What are we gonna do next?

Waddle back. Probably go relax. I should be unpacking. If you know me, you know that I would be unpacking right now, but I’m pretty tired and pretty sore, And, I’m probably just gonna take a nap. Let’s see what happens. Good coffee. I don’t usually like a lot of things other than Heritage coffee but, The coffee onboard is delicious. I’m, quite happy with it, so.. He’s doing the princess wave. *Laughing Since no one’s swimming. I thought I’d get a video while no one was swimming so nobody feels weird about it. Spa services. Those cost extra. I’m taking the stairs because, 29 days onboard, eating like that… Yeah… We’re gonna need the exercise. Where’s our room? I gotta go 2 more floors down. I knew I was doing it wrong. Floor 6 is where we were at the hotel, not here. Sheesh. Five. One more. Yeah, so, on our 11 day cruise, I actually gained 12 pounds. Oh, it’s just me. Stair runner. Visit your assigned muster station. 2. Watch this safety video. 3. Listen to the Captain’s safety announcement. It’s also a good idea to read the placard on your stateroom door. It contains important information that we’ll review in this video. Check your door for the route to your muster station. Then, put on warm clothes, comfortable shoes, and sun protection. Gather a life jacket from your closet and wait inside your stateroom for further instructions. If it becomes necessary to evacuate the ship, you will be instructed to put on your life jacket and escorted to your designated life boat. It’s a good idea to practice putting on your life jacket now, in your stateroom. Now that you’ve watched this video, please visit your muster station, if you haven’t already. Please do not bring your life jacket when visiting your muster station, and if you have any questions, we’re here to help. Thanks for sailing with Holland America Line, and from all of us, once again, welcome on board. It’s disembarkation time. And, they didn’t give us a bottle opener in our room so, Normally we would be standing here with wine, for our photos but, obviously we don’t have any. So, we’re gonna have to do this and then, go hunt down a bottle opener. Because, we want our wine. We have an overnight sail to Shimizu so,
we’re about to pull out. Yokohama Bridge. Just me, braving the wind and rain. *shivering To get us going under the bridge. *shivering The things I do for this vlog. Somebody better subscribe for this. Anybody. Doing the impossible, fitting under the bridge. No problem, and you guys were worried. It was time to head to the dining room for our first onboard dinner, and we couldn’t wait. On our way to our first dinner. The seas are pretty rough so, gonna get sea legs under us. It’s a little bouncy. Enjoy your dinners.

Thank you. Chicken. What is it, roast beef?
Brisket.
Brisket. Back in the room. Showered. Watch a show with the family. Call it a night. We’re onboard the Noordam. Time to take it easy. In the next episode…. Look at that, no sooner than I sat down. *Laughing I turned around and there they are. I had a feeling if I messed around and took some photos they’d catch up to me. Apparently it is extremely rare to see Mt. Fuji so, we’re some of the lucky few and we didn’t even have to pay $300 for the tour like the other people did. Chasing Japanese butterflies around. It’s leaving. It’s staying. It’s leaving again.

Japan April 2025 Episode 5: Embarkation Day Aboard Holland America’s Noordam in Yokohama, Japan

In this episode, we board Holland America Line’s Noordam at the Yokohama International Cruise Port and begin our whirlwind, 2 week tour around Japan.

#epic #onceinalifetime #japan to #Alaska
#travel #vlog #series #family #adventure

Music Credits:
Paths of a Samurai by, Mandala Dreams
I Need More of You by, Hallman
What Goes Around Comes Back Around by, NIGHTCAP
Across the Sea of Japan by, Mandala Dreams

Courtesy of Epidemic Sound