Author Archives: LBcruiseshipblogger

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About LBcruiseshipblogger

MyCruiseStories blog tells stories about adventures in cruising on ships big and small. Things to do onboard and in port. Anything connected to cruising. Also food, travel, recipes, towel animals, and the occasional random blog.

The Seven Hells of Beppu

Posted on November 29, 2019 by LBcruiseshipblogger

Beppu, Japan, known as the city that steams, is home to numerous hot springs and other geothermal features. Steam rises from thermal pools, steam vents, and sometimes even storm drains. There are steam baths called Onsens (thermal spas) all throughout … Continue reading →

Posted in Holland America, Japan, Pacific Ocean & Islands, Port Cities, Ports of Call, Westerdam | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Hiking the Dungeness Spit

Posted on November 28, 2019 by LBcruiseshipblogger

On the north coast of Washington State’s Olympic Peninsula, Dungeness Park near Sequim is divided into two sections. (Sequim is pronounced Squim – rhymes with swim.)The recreation area is a county park and has hiking trails and a campground where … Continue reading →

Posted in Day Trips, USA, Washington | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Cruising Gluten Free

Posted on November 22, 2019 by LBcruiseshipblogger

Cruise ships have come a long way from the time people had to arrange for every gluten free item they might eat on a voyage in advance of the cruise. Now gluten free selections are often available to anyone at … Continue reading →

Posted in Cruise Food, Princess, Royal Princess, Shipboard Life | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Beppu Monkey Park

Posted on November 15, 2019 by LBcruiseshipblogger

We started our port stop from Holland America Westerdam in Beppu, Japan with a visit to Takasakiyama Monkey Park. This park sits at the base of Mt. Takasaki, and is populated by wild macaque monkeys. A sign at the entrance … Continue reading →

Posted in Holland America, Japan, Pacific Ocean & Islands, Port Cities, Ports of Call, Westerdam | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Surviving 22 Days On A Cruise Ship With No Guest Laundries

Posted on November 8, 2019 by LBcruiseshipblogger

Some cruise lines have self-serve guest laundries on all their ships. Some have them on some of their ships. Others never have any laundry facilities for the passengers on any of their ships. On any major cruise ship you can … Continue reading →

Posted in Explorer of the Seas, Royal Caribbean, Shipboard Life | Tagged , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Beppu, Japan Cruise Port

Posted on November 1, 2019 by LBcruiseshipblogger

Beppu, Japan is a city of steam, best known for its multitude of natural hot springs and thermal pools. Some are used as day spas or resorts. Some are even used to steam food. Its 8 major geothermal hot spots … Continue reading →

Posted in Holland America, Japan, Pacific Ocean & Islands, Port Cities, Ports of Call, Westerdam | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

How to Fold a Towel Spider

Posted on October 31, 2019 by LBcruiseshipblogger

Supplies Needed to Make a Towel Spider 3 Bath Towels Eyes Rolled Cotton How to Make Towel Spider Legs Legs for the towel spider are made from two standard towel bodies. Start with one bath towel. Roll both ends to … Continue reading →

Posted in Towel Animals | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

San Diego Trolley Tour

Posted on October 25, 2019 by LBcruiseshipblogger

Before our cruise on the Royal Princess we had a ship’s excursion booked in San Diego, California. It was supposed to be a ghosts and gravestones tour in San Diego’s old town area on a hop-on hop-off trolley. We never … Continue reading →

Posted in Port Cities, Ports of Call, Princess, Royal Princess, USA | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Osaka Aquarium and Giant Ferris Wheel

Posted on October 18, 2019 by LBcruiseshipblogger

Cruising into the Tempozan Passenger Terminal in Osaka means you don’t even have to leave the pier to find things to do. Directly across from the cruise ship terminal sits Tempozan Marketplace Mall. This large plaza contains the expected shops … Continue reading →

Posted in Holland America, Japan, Pacific Ocean & Islands, Port Cities, Ports of Call, Westerdam | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Maré Natural Aquarium

Posted on October 11, 2019 by LBcruiseshipblogger

When stopping in Maré, New Caledonia, most cruise ship passengers opt to buy tickets for the shuttle to Yejele Beach. Royal Caribbean Explorer of the Seas promoted that shuttle quite heavily, encouraging everyone to buy tickets ahead of time so … Continue reading →

Posted in Explorer of the Seas, Pacific Ocean & Islands, Ports of Call, Royal Caribbean | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments