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Best Things to Do in Melbourne, Australia

Best Things to do in Melbourne: View of the Yarra River that divides the city
Best Things to do in Melbourne: View of the Yarra River that divides the city

I visited Melbourne in October – spring in Australia – and found tons of things to do for foodies, culture buffs, and animal lovers. The best things to do in Melbourne usually don’t involve much history. Rather, they concentrate on more of what is unique to the city and the surrounding area.

We stayed at the Langham, in Southbank, right across the Yarra River from downtown. Our booked tours either picked us up at, or close to, our hotel or were within walking distance.

Book a Tour to See the Little Penguins

Best Things to Do in Melbourne: a Little Blue Penguin before the sun sets
Best Things to Do in Melbourne: a Little Blue Penguin before the sun sets

No one should leave Melbourne without seeing the foot-high Little Penguins come ashore on Philip Island just after sunset. Yes, I know that my top thing to do while in Melbourne is something outside the city. You can book a penguin tour to get there, with stops along the way. (See below.) The later the sunset, the longer you’ll have to wait for the penguins to arrive and the later you’ll get back to the city. Although you aren’t allowed to take photos or even glance at your phone once the sun sets, the penguins that have stayed on land sometimes come out of their burrows beforehand.

Fortunately, the penguin viewing area is illuminated by special lights so that you can see them marching in small groups, shoulder to shoulder, across the sand toward land. The real show comes when they reach their burrows, also lit by the special lights. Then, you can watch them, just a few feet away, from the boardwalk. When we were there, the penguins immediately started mating, fighting, and making a racket. We even saw a bandicoot and a brushy-tailed possum in their midst.

Keep in mind that you will have a long day on this tour. You will sit on bleachers waiting for the penguins, and it can get cold. Dress warmly! On this tour, you not only get to see penguins but you also stop at other sights along the way. Expect to see wild wallabies alongside the road. Below you’ll find descriptions of the other stops.

Because a penguin tour is my number one thing to do, the following three sections, all on the same tour, are found outside the city.

Brighton Bathing Boxes

Best Things to Do in Melbourne: The row of bathing boxes on Brighton Beach
Best Things to Do in Melbourne: The row of bathing boxes on Brighton Beach

The iconic, colorful Brighton Bathing Boxes stand roof-to-roof along the beach. Even without electricity and plumbing, these cabanas sell for hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Moonlit Sanctuary Wildlife Conservation Park

Best Things to Do in Melbourne: A koala at the Moonlit Sanctuary
Best Things to Do in Melbourne: A koala at the Moonlit Sanctuary

The Moonlit Sanctuary has koalas, wombats, kangaroos, wallabies, dingoes, emus, kookaburras, parrots, and more. All animals are native to Australia. For an extra fee, you can even feed the kangaroos and wallabies or hold a koala. I especially enjoyed watching a wombat eating a giant carrot and seeing the keeper take two dingoes for a walk on leashes. You can get amazingly close to all the animals.

Even though the website says that bookings are required, your admission ticket comes with the purchase of the penguin tour. The guide divides the group into those who want to purchase the special animal interactions.

The Nobbies, Philip Island

Best Things to Do in Melbourne: The view at The Nobbies on Philip Island
Best Things to Do in Melbourne: The view at The Nobbies on Philip Island

Once on Philip Island, we stopped at The Nobbies, a gorgeous view of the ocean and another home for Little Penguins. If you’re lucky, you might see a penguin peeking out of its burrow, but, if you don’t, don’t worry because you’ll be seeing tons of them later, down the road. Take in the breathtaking scenery.

Best Things to Do in Melbourne: More views from The Nojbbies
Best Things to Do in Melbourne: More views from The Nojbbies

Take a Food Tour. Or Two.

I booked two foodie tours on this trip, one for a general Melbourne walking tour and the other for the famous Queen Victoria Market. If you book one or both of the below, arrive hungry. The amount of food will fill you up quickly, even if the pace is leisurely.

Melbourne Foodie Discovery Walking Tour

Best Things to Do in Melbourne: A restaurant-lined street
Best Things to Do in Melbourne: A restaurant-lined street

Even though the emphasis on this walking tour was on food, our guide provided bits of history and cultural commentary as our small group moved from one venue to the next. Because many immigrants call Melbourne home, we tasted innternational dishes: Vietnamese banh mi, Chinese dumplings, French macarons, Australian drinking chocolate, Italian gelato, and, of course given Melbourn’s coffee culture, excellent espresso-based coffee.

Queen Victoria Market Food Tour

Best Things to Do in Melbourne: A foodie tour of Victoria Market
Best Things to Do in Melbourne: A foodie tour of Victoria Market

I booked the Queen Victoria Market Ultimate Foodie Tour – and “ultimate” proved to be an apt description. Rather than getting a walking tour of parts of the city as we did in our first foodie tour, we stayed entirely within the Queen Victoria Market’s food stalls. Again, because immigrants and their descendants put down their roots in Melbourne, we tried a variety of international cuisines. If I had to book only one tour for the quantity and quality of the food, I would choose this one.

We tasted fresh oysters, British sausage roll, Italian charcuterie, Indian chai, fresh fruit, “American” jelly doughnuts, traditional Australian vanilla slice, and more. We even sampled kangaroo, which was more tender and delicious than I expected. The charcuterie platter alone let us try a variety of foods, from smoked mussels to stuffed pepperdews.

Stroll the Royal Botanic Gardens

Best Things to Do in Melbourne: Stroll the Royal Botanic Gardens
Best Things to Do in Melbourne: Stroll the Royal Botanic Gardens

I have roamed through botanical gardens throughout the world, and the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria in Melbourne ranks among the best. Even in October, early spring, the gardens bloomed throughout. The best part of the gardens, though, is the sense of serenity and the ability to walk through acres of different kinds of habitats. You will encounter waterfalls, streams, ponds, mini forests, open spaces, and plants from all over the world. We even saw a tree with hanging flying foxes (fruit bats.)

Explore the Yarra Valley Wine Country

Best Things to Do in Melbourne: Oakridge Wines' Vineyards in the Yarra Valley
Best Things to Do in Melbourne: Oakridge Wines’ Vineyards in the Yarra Valley

The cool but temperate climate of the Yarra Valley produces high-quality still and sparkling wines. Although the wines aren’t as powerful as those from the Barossa region, they have their own honored place in Australian viniculture. From Melbourne, you can be in wine country in 30 minutes or so.

Best Things to Do in Melbourne: Tasting room at De Bortoli Wines
Best Things to Do in Melbourne: Tasting room at De Bortoli Wines

We chose a small group tour of the Yarra Valley wine country that picked us up mere steps from our hotel. Because so few of us had booked the wine tour – we were five in total – the operator combined us with six other guests who had signed up for a combined wine and animal park tour. They got dropped off at their first stop while we visited three wineries. For lunch, we joined up with them for a gourmet meal at Yering Station. Afterward, we all embarked on three more tastings. On the way back to Melbourne, our guide pointed out wild kangaroos relaxing under a tree.

Visit the National Gallery of Victoria

Best Thins to Do in Melbourne: The National Art Gallery of Victoria
Best Thins to Do in Melbourne: The National Art Gallery of Victoria

The National Gallery of Victoria houses a broad range of first-rate art. Admission is free, so if you don’t have time to take in all the art, you can return at your leisure.

See a Play or Concert at the Arts Centre

Best Things to Do in Melbourne: The Spire and the Arts complex
Best Things to Do in Melbourne: The Spire and the Arts complex

The Arts Centre Melbourne, home to concert halls, theaters, and the iconic Spire, offers performances for a wide range of tastes. Next to the National Gallery and across the street from the Royal Botanic Gardens, you can easily reach it by foot if you stay on Southbank or the center of the city. We watched a new play in The Show Room, a small theater on a lower level well-suited to experimental works.

Stroll Down the Hosier Laneway

Best Things to Do in Melbourne: The art on part of Hosier Laneway
Best Things to Do in Melbourne: The art on part of Hosier Laneway

The famous (infamous?) Hosier Laneway attracts tourists for its vibrant and ever-changing street art. Although some, including one of our tour guides, claim that graffiti is legal along this short street, most of it is not. Look up and around corners as you stroll from one end to the other.

The Verdict

While Melbourne cannot compete with the history you find in European and Asian cities due to its relative youth, it still offers a lot to do, especially if you use it as a base to see sights out of the city. If you have several weeks, combine it with cities such as Sydney, The Gold Coast, Brisbane, and Perth. When you book, remember that the seasons are reversed from those in the Northern hemisphere and that the south is colder than the north. Even so, Melbourne’s winter, though often rainy, does not have the bite one might expect. Pack warm clothes, but don’t expect snow. The best part of a winter trip? The smaller crowds.

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Melbourne Street Art

Hosier Lane in Melbourne, Australia

October 21, 2024

Melbourne street art and graffiti can be found through the Australian city, but Hosier Lane hosts the most intense display. Although some people claim that street artists can legally paint on buildings there, my research suggests otherwise. Unlike most street art in Montreal and the murals of La Jolla, most, if not all, of the street art on Hosier Lane appears overnight, painted furtively. Regardless of its legality, the short alley attracts tourists and locals alike.

Because street art, by its nature and location, can easily be replaced with something painted on top of it, the following gallery reflects a single day in Melbourne, October 21, 2024.

Due to their size, intricacy, and location, the following two images most likely are legal, perhaps even commissioned, artwork.

Melbourne Street Art: Most Likely a Legal Painting
Most likely a commissioned mural
Melbourne Street Art: An intricate, probably commissioned, image
An intricate, probably commissioned, image

The images below have the hallmarks of more traditionally painted graffiti.

Melbourse Street Art: "Jailed" portrait
Melbourse Street Art: “Jailed” portrait

Street Art Elsewhere in Melbourne

Even though Hosier Street displays the greatest number of images, you can find street art throughout Melbourne. I loved discovering it around corners, by looking up, or simply encountering them in surprising places.

The Verdict

No one can legitimately equate the street art in Melbourne with the impressive art found in the National Gallery of Victoria, but one also should not dismiss the talent of some of these street artists. especially since they must paint furtively, in the dark. Images can be witty or satiric or profane. As with the graffiti in Montréal, tagging can be annoying since it defaces better work, but that also comes with the genre.

Debbie Lee Wesselmann

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Review of the Haven on the Norwegian Viva

The Haven on the Norwegian Viva: Photo of the ship's bow
The Haven on the Norwegian Viva: Photo of the ship’s bow

By now, readers should know that I’m a huge fan of Norwegian Cruise Lines. Each trip and each ship is different, but I always get impeccable service no matter the cabin class. After a while, you begin to learn the differences, some subtle and some not, among the ships and their staterooms.

In January, we booked The Haven on the Norwegian Viva, sailing out of San Juan, Puerto Rico and into the Eastern Caribbean.

Review of the Haven on the Norwegian Viva: Model of the Viva
Review of the Haven on the Norwegian Viva: Model of the Viva

The Haven on the Viva

Unlike some 0f the older and smaller ships, the newly-commissioned Viva has a real Haven, with its own lounge, restaurant, and elevators. The Haven is located aft in a bulbous portion of the ship.

Because Norwegian has shifted toward offering more high-end experiences on its newest ships (the Viva, the Prima, and eventually the Aqua), the Haven section is much larger than on older ships. More suites equals more people. For this reason, the bar can get crowded, although the restaurant always had seats when we wanted them.

The Haven Stateroom

Review of the Haven on the Norwegian Viva: King-size bed in the stateroom
Review of the Haven on the Norwegian Viva: King-size bed in the stateroom

The Viva Haven’s staterooms feel more like real, luxury hotel rooms than they do ship cabins. Our king-size bed was so comfortable that I wanted to find out the mattress brand and how to get one in place of my home mattress. (The answer: Bliss Bed Collection by Norwegian, and far too pricy for my budget.)

Review of the Haven on the Norwegian Viva: Seating area within the stateroom
Review of the Haven on the Norwegian Viva: Seating area within the stateroom

We had adequate seating both inside and outside on our balcony. Every afternoon, the butler brought snacks and placed them on the bistro table. This Haven service is consistent across Norwegian Cruise Line ships, even if the attentiveness of your butler may vary.

Review of the Haven on the Norwegian Viva: Stateroom balcony
Review of the Haven on the Norwegian Viva: Stateroom balcony

The shower and sink had luxury apppointments, although they lacked much space to place toiletries. I loved the larger-than-average bath towels. I also liked it better when Norwegian offered individual toiletries in the Haven instead of the wall-mounted ones on the Viva.

Review of the Haven on the Norwegian Viva: Stateroom sink and shower
Review of the Haven on the Norwegian Viva: Stateroom sink and shower

The in-room Nespresso coffee machine allows you to make espresso and larger lungo at any time of the day. Ours remained well-stocked throughout the trip. In-room glassware, plates, and utensils come in handy.

The one drawback of The Haven stateroom on the Viva is the complicated light switches. It took us the entire week to figure out the sequence we needed to set the lights where we wanted them and how to open the curtains. The controls did not always respond the way we expected.

The Haven Lounge and Bar

Review of the Haven on the Norwegian Viva:  The bar before opening
Review of the Haven on the Norwegian Viva: The bar before opening

You cannot get better drinks and service elsewhere on the ship than you can in The Haven Bar and Lounge. Too many people who book The Haven don’t know how special it is. You might figure that you can get the same drinks anywhere. While it’s true that Norwegian’s wine and spirit inventory remains steady across the ship, the touches you find at The Haven Bar exceed all others. For example, The Haven is the only bar where you can get a smoked Old-Fashioned or a smoked Manhattan.

If you’ve upgraded to the Premium Plus beverage package, you can order just about any premium spirit that the ship stocks. Elsewhere on the Viva, you have to find the bar that pours your favorite.

The Haven on the Norwegian Viva" Bartender preparing a smoked Old-Fashioned
The Haven on the Norwegian Viva” Bartender preparing a smoked Old-Fashioned

The bar also has Luxardo cognac cherries for garnish as well as Bespoke bitters that the bartender will gladly tell you about. Because the bartenders are also the best on the ship, they will create just about any drink to your liking.

If you’d prefer not to sit at the bar or can’t find a space at it, the lounge offers ample and comfortable seating.

Review of the Haven on the Norwegian Viva:  The Haven lounge, adjacent to the bar
Review of the Haven on the Norwegian Viva: The Haven lounge, adjacent to the bar

The Haven Restaurant

Even though all Norwegian Cruise Lines Havens share the same menu, not all kitchens perform equally well. You’ll always find the best servers and managers on the ship in The Haven, although that doesn’t mean you won’t find their equals elsewhereon the ship. It just means that the best tend to be concentrated in The Haven. Your booking includes complimentary meals — all three of them, if you want — in this specialty restaurant. The one drawback is that the menus never change.

The Haven on the Norwegian Viva: Dinner menu at the restaurant
Review of the Haven on the Norwegian Viva: Dinner menu at the Haven restaurant

One of my favorite aspects of the Haven Restaurant is the ability to customize your order. For example, instead of ordering the Surf and Turf with a filet and lobster tail, I ordered two lobster tails in place of the beef. I met another guest who ordered three lobster tails for dinner.

The distinction between the Viva’s Haven restaurant and those on other ships lies in the ability to deliver meals as described or with better presentation. For instance, the spaghetti squash with marinara sauce at lunch arrived — surprise! — as actually spaghetti squash rather than the julienned winter squash I found on other ships’ Haven/Suite restaurants. The breakfast waffles came not from a square iron but rather one with a prettier design.

Exterior Spaces in The Haven

Review of the Haven on the Norwegian Viva:  Private Haven sundeck
Review of the Haven on the Norwegian Viva: Private Haven sundeck

In general, the Viva emphasizes exterior spaces over interior ones, and you can see this as well in The Haven. I never had trouble finding a spot on the pool deck as I’ve had in other Havens.

The Haven infinity pool overlooks the stern of the ship, and I loved watching us pull away from ports while cooling off in it. Due to its small size, the pool is more of a stand-around-and-socialize pool than a swimming one.

Review of the Haven on the Norwegian Viva:  The Haven infinity pool
Review of the Haven on the Norwegian Viva: The Haven infinity pool

Other Perks in the Haven

Norwegian curates its staff so only the best work in the Haven. You will have an assigned butler to deliver snacks, arrange requested room service, restock coffee, and attend to other questions and needs. Your steward takes care of everything within the room. Depending on the size of the ship, you will have either one or a staff of dedicated concierges to handle entertainment, excursions, restaurant reservations, and communications with other parts of the ship.

Despite the cool idea of having a butler (believe me, it’s not like Upstairs/Downstairs), the most valuable asset on the Viva was the dedicated concierge desk. The concierge staff escorts Haven guests on and off the ship during busy times, from embarkation to disembarkation and everything in-between. For theater performances, you get preferred seating and an escort into the theater as long as you arrive 15 minutes prior to start. When we had issues with our excursions, one of the concierges fixed it. We didn’t have to wait in line at the main excursion desk.

The Viva has tucked-away elevators that go directly to the Haven floors. Your access is activated by your card key.

The Verdict

The Haven on the Viva is one of the better ones in Norwegian’s fleet, but it isn’t perfect. The staterooms try too hard to be modern with complicated light controls and a beautiful bathroom sink with no place to put toiletries. Still, the mattress is indeed Bliss-ful, and you get plenty of room to spread out. I would have liked more easy to organize storage, but we still had enough space to empty two mid-size suitcases.

I would book the Viva Haven again in a heartbeat. The accommodations are luxurious, especially for a cruise ship.

More to Explore

See my past reviews of the Norwegian Jade, the Haven on the Norwegian Joy, and the inaugural cruise of the Joy, with a mini-suite with balcony stateroom.

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Best Things to Do in Tokyo

Best Things to Do in Tokyo: The city as seen from the Tokyo Sky Tree
Best Things to Do in Tokyo: The city as seen from the Tokyo Sky Tree

I have been to Japan many times. My list of the best things to do in Tokyo combines both must-see sites and some more unusual ones. This last time, I stayed at The Celestine Ginza in the famous high-end district. Although we could walk to many places, we used the easy-to-use subway system for more far-flung destinations. Taxis make a reliable, safe, and clean option, even if they cost more.

Read more: Best Things to Do in Tokyo

Lately I’ve taken to booking a comprehensive tour on my first day in a city to get my bearings. I then plan to visit places either not included on such a tour or that entice me back for a more in-depth look. Given what I was able to see and do, I was especially glad this time to have booked a tour via coach bus.

One-Day Tokyo Bus Tour

This comprehensive bus tour may have taken all day, but it also hit so many highlights, without my ever feeling rushed, that I would recommend this for anyone. Especially if you don’t have much time, this is the way to go. The tour started at a little after 7 am and ended at about 5:30 pm. The price even included lunch, with various dietary restrictions accommodated. Our coach bus had air-conditioning and comfortable seating, with large windows to see out.

I recommend all the stops on this tour, even if you plan your own itinerary instead of booking it. The ability to get to a wide range of high-value sights without having to figure out transportation decided it for us. If we saw everything individually, we might not have been able to fit it all in.

Tokyo Skytree

Our tour not only included seeing The Tokyo Skytree but also skip-the-line admission to the observation deck where we could see the whole city sprawled underneath us, with 360 degree views. We had plenty of time to wander around before we needed to return to the bus. We even had time to grab a Starbucks at the adjoining mall.

Best Things to Do in Tokyo: The Tokyo Sky Tree observation deck
Best Things to Do in Tokyo: The Tokyo Sky Tree observation deck

Meiji Jingu (Shinto Shrine)

Best Things to Do in Tokyo: Meiji Jingo
Best Things to Do in Tokyo: Meiji Jingo

Talk about serene! The wide, shady paths leading to the Meiji shrine felt like a refuge from the busy city we had just driven through. Our guide gave us a brief description of the Shinto religion before leading us to the shrine buildings. Don’t miss the empty sake and French wine barrels just outside the torii (gate.) The sake barrels represent gifts to the Gods made at the shrine. The French wine barrels were presented to the shrine as a gesture of friendship.

Best Things to Do in Tokyo: The torii leading to the Meiji shrine
Best Things to Do in Tokyo: The torii leading to the Meiji shrine
Best Things to Do in Tokyo: Sake bottles signifying gifts to the gods
Best Things to Do in Tokyo: Sake bottles signifying gifts to the gods

Sensoji Buddhist Temple and Pagoda

Best Things to Do in Tokyo: Sensory Buddhist temple
Best Things to Do in Tokyo: Sensory Buddhist temple

After having visited the Meiji Shrine and learning about the Shinto religion, we headed to Sensoji, a Buddhist temple, for a quick lesson in Buddhism. Unlike the Meiji shrine, Sensoji bustled with people and had none of the serenity. Still, the visit was well worth it.

We had ample time to stroll the paths, visit the main temple and outbuildings, shop at the stalls, and relax. The grounds include an impressive pagoda.

Best Things to Do in Tokyo: Pagoda at the Senjoji temple
Best Things to Do in Tokyo: Pagoda at the Senjoji temple

The Imperial Palace

Best Things to Do in Tokyo: The moat surrounding the Imperial Palace
Best Things to Do in Tokyo: The moat surrounding the Imperial Palace

You cannot enter the inner Imperial grounds; however, you can walk around the outside. To get views of the moat and its bridge, we crossed a park where an impressive statue of a shogun on horseback dominates. Our guide gave us a historical overview of the palace and the role of the Emperor as we walked.

Best Things to Do in Tokyo: Statue of a shogun
Best Things to Do in Tokyo: Statue of a shogun

Asakusa (and Lunch)

Best Things to Do in Tokyo:  Asakusa
Best Things to Do in Tokyo: Asakusa

We walked through the bustling Asakusa area, where we did the “Green Tea Experience.” Our guide gave us the choice of either matcha beer or ice cream. Even though it was right before lunch, we chose the ice cream. It came topped with an adorable bear cookie.

Best Things to Do in Tokyo: Matcha ice cream
Best Things to Do in Tokyo: Matcha ice cream

Then it was off to a restaurant for a prepared lunch of chicken and accompaniments.

Best Things to Do in Tokyo: Lunch restaurant on bus tour
Best Things to Do in Tokyo: Lunch restaurant on bus tour

Tokyo Bay Cruise

Best Things to Do in Tokyo: View of Tokyo Bay from the cruise boat
Best Things to Do in Tokyo: View of Tokyo Bay from the cruise boat

Amazingly, we still had more to see. We went on a Tokyo Bay “cruise” that involved a boat going out on the water, turning around slowly so that we could see everything, and then returning to the dock. I found this last stop the least interesting part of the day, although with everything else we did, it rounded out the day’s activities.

Fish Market Food Tour

Best Things to Do in Tokyo: Tsukijii Fish Market Food Tour
Best Things to Do in Tokyo: Tsukijii Fish Market Food Tour

One of the best things to do in Tokyo — and one of the most unusual — is to book a tour of Tsukijii, the old fish market. Although the famous tuna auctions no longer occur there, Tsukijii captures the essence of a traditional Japanese fish market. We found that a tour enabled us to sample foods without being overwhelmed by the choices.

Our guide and his assistant provided excellent commentary and food selections. We had only four people on our tour, which made the whole experience more personalized. Plus, we could stay together more easily in the crowded market.

We sampled everything from dried fish to ramen to sushi to mochi.

teamLab Planets Tokyo

Best Things to Do in Tokyo: teamLab Planets
Best Things to Do in Tokyo: teamLab Planets

Probably one of the most unusual things to do in Tokyo involves a visit to teamLab Planets, a “digital art museum.” The immersive, interactive experience changes every few months, so what I encountered wouldn’t be anything like what you might. That makes the experience full of surprises. You never know how the individual rooms will be set up. Whatever the particular exhibit, you will see virtual reality images such as swimming koi or blooming flowers.

Best Things to Do in Tokyo: Wading pool room with virtual koi (streaks)
Best Things to Do in Tokyo: Wading pool room with virtual koi

TeamLab offers some helpful, pre-visit tips. Three of the most important notes help you plan what to wear that day: you will be barefoot; you will wade up to your knees in water; and you shouldn’t wear skirts or dresses. For the last, you may encouter mirrored floors that will allow an “up-skirt” view. Free lockers are provided for shoes, purses, and other belongings. Given its popularity, reserve tickets for specific time slots well in advance.

Best Things to Do in Tokyo: Mirrored orchid room in teamLab Planets
Best Things to Do in Tokyo: Mirrored orchid room in teamLab Planets

Shopping Under Tokyo Station

Best Things to Do in Tokyo: Beneath Tokyo Station
Best Things to Do in Tokyo: Beneath Tokyo Station

For the ultimate Japanese experience, you should venture under Tokyo Station to shop and eat. From comic alley, where you can find boutiques dedicated to manga and anime characters, to the iconic Tokyo banana store, it’s tons of fun to wander around.

Afterward, stop up above the station for a Hitachino Nest Beer Lab break, where you can sip craft beer and purchase a snack to go with it.

Best Things to Do in Tokyo: Beer and nuts at the Hitachino Nest Beer Lab
Best Things to Do in Tokyo: Beer and nuts at the Hitachino Nest Beer Lab

Ueno Zoological Gardens

Best Things to Do in Tokyo: Ueno Zoological Gardens
Best Things to Do in Tokyo: Ueno Zoological Gardens

Whether you bring along the kids or visit as a couple as we did, a trip to the Ueno zoo offers a different kind of experience. The range of animals and the size of the zoo are impressive.

A lot of people come to see the pandas, although actually seeing them can be a challenge. They have two separate enclosures, and it’s not easy to figure out where they are at a given point. We thought that we wouldn’t be able to see them due to a long line in front of the exhibit, only to stumble upon them, with no lines, at the other side of the zoo.

Best Things to Do in Tokyo: Panda at the Ueno Zoo
Best Things to Do in Tokyo: Panda at the Ueno Zoo

Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden

Best Things to Do in Tokyo: Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden
Best Things to Do in Tokyo: Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden

The Japanese love their gardens and the nature they reflect. I found the Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden another delightful way of escaping the noise of the city. Make sure you visit the rose garden, the greenhouse, and the Taiwan Pavilion.

The Verdict

Because of the sheer size of Tokyo, planning a visit can be daunting, especially if you have less than a week. We did a combination of booked tours and things planned on our own. The bus tour takes you to most of the iconic sites, freeing up days to explore other places. I highly recommend both the bus tour and the Tsukijii market tour since they give an excellent view of traditional and contemporary Japanese life.

Debbie Lee Wesselmann

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Review of the Norwegian Jade

Any review of the Norwegian Jade has to touch upon its history. Originally christened the Pride of Hawaii, Norwegian Cruise Lines bought the ship in 2008 and renamed it the Jade. That makes the Jade one of the oldest and smallest ships in the fleet with an awkward layout to match. Because the ship predates the company’s shift toward unique shipboard amenities, passengers tend to book for the itinerary, not for the onboard experience. The ship lacks distinctive bar spaces and most of the newer restaurants, although it does include the better-known specialty dining venues.

I booked an Aft-Facing Penthouse Suite. Below, you will find a review of that cabin.

Read more: Review of the Norwegian Jade

My experience aboard the Jade was colored in part by my stateroom level. Although the Jade has a small Haven area, it doesn’t include its own restaurant, one of the major reasons to book the Haven. We decided instead on an Aft Penthouse Suite, one level below The Haven. The room comes with many of the same perks but for a lesser cost. Once outside our cabin and beyond the perks that come with it, we also experienced the ship as it is for all passengers.

A General Review of the Jade

The ship’s size allows it to dock at smaller ports, enabling passengers to see things not possible on the larger ships. We did a cruise out of Athens that docked at Greek, Turkish, Israeli (before the war), and Cypriot ports.

If you want to walk through public spaces instead of down long stateroom corridors, the ship can be difficult to navigate. Especially because we stayed at the back of the ship, we had to learn how to maneuver to across it. Sometimes you’ll find that a public deck gets blocked midship by a restaurant. Or you’ll find you need to cross the Garden Café on deck 12 where they require you to wash your hands, even to walk straight through.

For better or worse, the Norwegian Jade doesn’t have as many kid-friendlyactivities as do some of the larger ships. Maybe because of this, the passengers skew older. Still the Jade has a Splash Academy and pools.

Aft-Facing Penthouse Suite

The jump between a Norwegian Cruise Lines mini-suite to a full suite (sometimes called a “family suite” or a “penthouse”) is enormous. The size of our room was the equivalent of any Haven room we’ve stayed in. It also comes with personalized concierge and butler service — more on that later. You also get a pre-cruise concierge available by phone or email, just as you would if you had booked The Haven.

I appreciated the café table and three chairs since it had plenty of room even after the butler delivered the daily snacks.

Although our suite was roomy and comfortable, we probably wouldn’t book an aft-facing room of any class again. This is our second time in an aft-facing penthouse, but we booked this one before we had stayed in the other. When the captain backs into a port, you get a lot of shuddering and noise, often at 4 am. Plus, on the Jade, the aft-tilted smoke stacks spew small globs of grease or oil that can end up on the balcony furniture. It’s pretty disgusting and probably a sign of an older ship despite refurbishment.

Our particular suite included a “large balcony.” I loved ours. Especially in the morning and evening, we enjoyed sittng there and sipping coffee or wine. It’s too bad that our chairs were often spotted with oil. We learned to flip up the cushions when we weren’t using them.

Bed and Linens

The high king-sized bed is comfortable and soft. The white comforter and sheet feel cozy and look pristine. You also get four down pillows. If you have an allergy to feathers, you may ask the pre-cruise concierge or, once on ship, your butler, to exchange them for a non-down alternative.

The suite includes a chair-and-a-half that can be pulled out into a single bed. Heavy curtains can be pulled around the king bed for privacy, but it also cuts off the bathroom for whoever is sleeping on the pull-out.

Bathroom

The bathroom, while much better than those in smaller cabins, falls short of The Haven bathrooms on Norwegian’s newest ships. It has a single sink with modest counter space around it.

Based on my experience in The Haven and suites on more recent ships, Norwegian has swapped out individual toiletries for wall-mounted ones. I dislike this change since individual toiletries make staterooms seem more like luxury hotel rooms. At least they still use L’Occitane products.

Bathtub and shower

The bathtub/shower combo drove me crazy because the tub was so high. I had a hip problem, and it wasn’t easy getting in and out of it. Getting in posed less of a problem because the shower wall had a bar to steady me in case I ran into trouble. Getting out was more dangerous, especially since the floor was lower than the bathtub bottom. (If you have hip or knee problems, you probably understand why a high tub with a shower door runner on the edge could cause issues.)

Other Stateroom Furnishings

As with The Haven, you will have a Nespresso machine with as many capsules as you want. You see free movies on the large screen television, although as is the case with many of the smaller ships, you don’t have movies on demand. You see what is available, even if the film is halfway through.

The Aft-Facing Penthouse included a small, round table with three chairs; a built-in desk with an ottoman-like chair; and two small bedside tables with shelves underneath.

In one of the more unique touches, Norwegian squeezed in a vanity between the bathroom and the closets, with a stool. The three drawers next to the stool opening provide invaluable storage.

Electrical Outlets

All outlets were American, not European, and 110 volts. Regardless, you should take an adapter, just in case.

One of my pet peeves in hotel room is a lack of outlets for two people to charge multiple devices. Our suite on the Jade had the same problem. Although each bedside wall lamp has a USB port, most people will find it inadequate if they have both a smart watch and a phone they want next to the bed.

The desk had a single outlet that my husband used to plug in his laptop and his watch from there. I found an outlet in the corner, near the floor, that I could use for my tablet.

Steward, Butler, and Concierge

The steward, just as all the stewards across the ship, are the equivalent of hoursekeeping at a hotel. They take care of keeping the room clean, replacing towels and linens, and any maintenance problems.

The butler delivers daily snacks, ship invitations, and takes care of your general comfort. If you order room service, the butler will set up your table and deliver your meal. We always make a pre-cruise request to have M&Ms in our room, and the butler sees that they are there when we board. Butlers will take special requests for anything that has to do with your room. They do not wait on you exclusively but rather have several staterooms assigned to them.

The suite concierges help with excursions, reservations at entertainment venues, and dining reservations. They escort you to gangways at port and when you disembark so you don’t have to wait in line. They take care of anything that happens outside of your stateroom.

If you stay in a suite, either in the Haven or separately, as we did, you’ll have to bring lots of extra cash for tipping. While gratuitites are generally pre-paid at time of booking, the butler and concierge do not get a share of that pool. We generally give the butler $20/day, and the concierge(s) $10/day. Obviously, these gratuities can be adjusted up or down depending on service.

The Verdict

Even though the Jade is far from my favorite ship in the Norwegian fleet, we enjoyed our cruise nonetheless. If you can afford a true suite, then go for it. I suspect the even more expensive Haven rooms aren’t worth it, simply because the Jade does not have a dedicated restaurant and lounge. For a comparison of what a Haven stateroom looks like, click here for my experience on the Norwegian Joy.

For us, we chose the Jade because of the scheduled destinations. This smaller ship (it’s still not small!) allowed us to see things we would not have been able to see otherwise.

Debbie Lee Wesselmann

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Mediterranean Cruise Excursions

Booked via Norwegian Cruise Lines, The Epic
Mediterranean Cruise Excursions: Sunrise from the stern of the Norwegian Epic
Mediterranean Cruise Excursions: Sunrise from the stern of the Norwegian Epic

When we took a Mediterranean cruise on the Norwegian Epic, we found a dearth of reviews, in part because Norwegian strangely prevents cruisers from posting them. In many ways, we booked blind. We knew certain things we wanted to see, such as Pompeii, but others we guessed at. The following provides descriptions and short reviews of the excursions we took, by port: Naples, Livorno, Cannes, Palma de Majorca, and Ajaccio.

Note: Norwegian cancelled a couple of our tours while we were on the ship. In the case of Barcelona, we took a shuttle into the city to explore on our own. For Rome, we had to take an airport transfer directly to the airport, where we sat for a full day awaiting our flight. Thank goodness we planned to return to Rome in the fall. Both of these ports have unreliable tour schedules because people embark and disembark there. You may get on in Rome, but others board in Barcelona.

Read more: Mediterranean Cruise Excursions

Naples, Italy

Pompeii Excavations

Mediterranean Cruise Excursions: Pompeii as viewed from outside the ancient city
Mediterranean Cruise Excursions: Pompeii as viewed from outside the ancient city

Although we knew we wanted to see Pompeii — we had tried four times during the pandemic but all those vacations had been cancelled — but we didn’t know which Pompeii excursion to book. At the time, the cruise line offered three options, including one to explore on our own. In recent years, we’ve discovered the benefits (and drawbacks) of a guided tour, so we chose Pompeii Excavations. We wanted a tour solely dedicated to the ruins.

Pompeii blew me away. Having visited ancient ruins all over the world, I never expected to experience the city as it stood in AD 79, when Mount Vesuvius buried it in ash. When you are on the ground, looking down streets and into buildings, you get an idea of the thriving city it once was. Unlike elsewhere, you won’t find replicas and non-original materials to help tourists get a feeling of what once was. Photographs do not do it justice.

Mediterranean Cruise Excursions: Mount Vesuvius behind the huge Pompeii square
Mediterranean Cruise Excursions: Mount Vesuvius behind the huge Pompeii square

Next, our tour guide made all the difference. She showed us areas and building that we never would have found on our own. In excellent English, she described the significance of each, pointing out details. For instance, I never would have known that certain buildings had been stores if I had explored on my own. She provided access to special houses and even showed where we could best photograph Mount Vesuvius in the background.

Without doubt, this tour was the best one we took while on our cruise.

Livorno, Italy (“Florence/Pisa”)

Pisa and a Taste of Tuscany

Mediterranean Cruise Excursions: The famous Leaning Tower of Pisa
Mediterranean Cruise Excursions: The famous Leaning Tower of Pisa

Having already visited Florence several times, we knew it would be a long bus ride from Livorno to the interior city, with little time to explore it. Instead, we opted for a tour that took us to Pisa and a wine tasting. We love our Tuscan wines, and even though we knew we wouldn’t be treated to high-end ones, we thought it might be fun. As for Pisa, my husband had never been, and I figured it would be a great opportunity to see it. After all, the Field of Miracles is impressive.

Mediterranean Cruise Excursions: the Baptistry and part of the Cathedral
Mediterranean Cruise Excursions: the Baptistry and part of the Cathedral

Our tour guide led us from the bus parking lot to the Field of Miracles. She gave a brief description of the buildings, complete with historical background, and then advised us to stand in line to get free tickets to enter the Bapistry and Cathedral. Because tickets to the top of the Leaning Tower are mostly sold out in advance, she rightly told us not to try, especially with our limited time there.

Because of our guides advice, we were able to enter the Bapistry just before the security guard sang to demonstrate the acoustics. (He does it every half-four.) He sings only for a minute or so, making it essential to arrive beforehand. We then headed to the Cathedral. We had enough time for photos of all the buildings, including the Leaning Tower.

Next, we went to a family vineyard, Fattoria il Poggio. After a brief tour of the vineyard, we went inside their visitor center. There, we tried six of their wines, three white and three red. For lunch, they served us pasta — papparadelle with meat sauce — and bread. (They may have had vegetarian pasta upon request.) We sat at long tables in a brick-arched room, and at least one other tour bus joined us. Although no one guided us through the tasting, we did get cards that described each wine that you then poured for yourself.

Mediterranean Cruise Excursions: Vineyard at Fattorio il Poggio
Mediterranean Cruise Excursions: Vineyard at Fattorio il Poggio

I liked that this tour didn’t require hours of bus travel but that we were still able to see famous sites. The wine tasting, while delicious, was a little chaotic.

Cannes, France

Cannes Walk, Saint-Honorat, & Wine

Mediterranean Cruise Excursions: View from partway up the walk to the Cannes church
Mediterranean Cruise Excursions: View from partway up the walk to the Cannes church

I had already seen Monaco and hadn’t found anything particularly interesting about it. And I had spent a few days in Nice several years ago, so I had seen parts of the other tours as well. We settled on Cannes Walk, Saint-Honorat Island, and wine.

Our guide took us up a steep walk through the old section of Cannes until we reached a church perched on top of the hill. From there, we could see fantastic views of the city and the Mediterranean Sea beyond. We then walked back down through the narrow streets lined with shops. Our guide gave us time to explore the Cannes market, with time to buy food. (Lunch is not included.)

Mediterranean Cruise Excursions: The market in Cannes
Mediterranean Cruise Excursions: The market in Cannes

After exploring the market, we boarded a boat to Saint-Honorat Island. There, we had time to explore the island. Afterward, we visited the monastery and enjoyed an outdoor wine tasting in the vineyard. One of the winemakers guided us through the tasting, explaining each wine. Afterward, we had time to explore the island on our own before boarding the boat back to Cannes.

While this tour was low-key, I enjoyed it. Despite the heat, I thought the tasting in the vineyard added a memorable touch.

Majorca, Spain

Mediterranean Cruise Excursions: View of Palma and beyond
Mediterranean Cruise Excursions: View of Palma and beyond

Magical Majorca and Train to Soller

Mediterranean Cruise Excursions: A street in Soller
Mediterranean Cruise Excursions: A street in Soller

Again, I had visited Majorca (also known as Mallorca) before, but my husband had not. While I guided him somewhat when we chose our tour, I let him make the final decision. He chose Magical Majorca and the train to Soller in part because he loves trains. Of course, the description of the tour clinched it for him.

After a brief stop outside Palma’s Cathedral and information from our guide about the city, we boarded a bus to Soller, a small town located high in the mountains. Once in Soller, we had free time to wander the old streets, eat ice cream, and shop. We then boarded the train to head back to the port. Although some of the views from the train are impressive, they pale in comparison to the ones you can see if you explore the northern coast. (I don’t know if any of the tours take you there.)

This tour was a pleasant way to spend the day, although it also lacked anything truly memorable. I probably would have preferred one of the several food tours, Panaromic Coastal Views, or Palma in Depth. Still, Soller is a charming town.

Corsica, France

Highlights of Ajaccio

Mediterranean Cruise Excursions: A coastal stop on Corsica
Mediterranean Cruise Excursions: A coastal stop on Corsica

Norwegian Cruise Lines doesn’t always stop at Corsica on its Mediterranean cruises. We knew we’d would be unlikely to return to the island, so we booked an overview tour.

This tour took us to a stop along the coast as well as a walking tour of Ajaccio, including a walk-by of a house where Napoleon had lived as a child. We visited a church — and that’s about it. Our guide left us in town to find our way back to the cruise ship, which fortunately was large enough to be seen occasionally between buildings.

Mediterranean Cruise Excursions: the town of Agaccia

I felt that our guide was sub-par, particularly during our walking tour of Ajaccio. Unlike many guides, her heart didn’t seem to be in it. Part of that fault may lie with Corsica itself since, other than its beaches and its part in Napoleon’s childhood, not much remains to be seen. The large town of Ajaccio has it charms, however.

The Verdict

Out of all our stops in the Mediterranean, I wish we had had two days in Naples, both to see Pompeii and to see the city itself. Or to see Sorrento. The next best port was Livorno/”Florence” since seeing Pisa’s Field of Miracles is one of those iconic tourist moments. You don’t need to do it again and again, but you should see it at least once.

While our tour of Agaccio, Corsica was the weakest, we still got to see part of the island and its capitol city. What else would we have done?

Later in the year, we will repeat many of these ports during an upcoming cruise, and afterward I’ll review the different excursions we take in a separate blog. Stay tuned!

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Archives Travel

What to Do in Rome

What to Do in Rome:  View from the top of Castel Sant'Angelo
What to Do in Rome: View from the top of Castel Sant’Angelo

When in Rome . . . do all that you can. The question of what to do in Rome will depend on how much time you have and whether it’s your first visit. For instance, with only a day or two, you will want to visit the usual suspects. But what if you have more time, or if you have already been to Rome more than once? You may want to explore beyond the most famous sites. World Oyster will guide you through both.

When in Rome . . . do all that you can. The question of what to do in Rome will depend on how much time you have and whether it’s your first visit. For instance, with only a day or two, you will want to visit the usual suspects. But what if you have more time, or if you have already been to Rome more than once? You may want to explore beyond the most famous sites. World Oyster will guide you through both.

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Archives Restaurants Travel

Review of Owamni, Minneapolis

Review of Owamni in Minneapolis with its clever subtitle
Review of Owamni in Minneapolis with its clever subtitle

I had the pleasure of dining at Owamni in Minneapolis earlier this year, before it received the James Beard Award for best new restaurant but after it had already received accolades. The unique concept ensures a menu that you’ve likely not encountered before: all ingredients must have been used by indigenous people prior to the colonization of the Americas. No dairy, no beef, no chicken, no egg. Non-vegetarians can order fish, bison, turkey, or elk. For the bulk of the menu, Owamni uses ingredients such as berries, corn, wild rice, beans, and maple syrup, making it largely vegan-friendly. Wines come from Mexico and Central America because of the regions’ use of non-European grapes.

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Street Art in Montreal

Street Art in Montréal: Mural by Vexx
Street Art in Montreal: Mural by Vexx

If you’re looking for something free to do in Montreal, consider seeking out the street art scattered throughout the city. With over 3,500 murals dotting the cityscape, you can find art on the sides of buildings everywhere. Add in sculptures and temporary installations, and you have an open-air museum to explore.

Urban art defines this city. The city’s beautification project, MU, has contributed hugely to the effort. In particular, the MURAL Festival, much like the one I detailed in La Jolla, celebrates the transformation of otherwise drab places in June of each year. Afterward, the murals remain until –– or if –– they are painted over. A parking lot becomes an art gallery, and a narrow alley beckons you to explore.

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Archives Restaurants Travel

Best Places to Eat in Anchorage

Best Places to Eat in Anchorage: Blinis with caviar at Marx Brothers Café
Best Places to Eat in Anchorage: Blinis with caviar at Marx Brothers Café

The best places to eat in Anchorage range from food trucks to fine dining restaurants. On our trip, I tried to sample it all. Of course, salmon is to Alaska the way lobster is to Maine, so if you arrive during salmon season, as most visitors do, do as the grizzlies and feast on it. Keep in mind that different kinds of salmon run at different times, with king salmon starting off the season and silver salmon finishing it off.

In addition to salmon, look for crab, oysters, steelhead trout, and halibut. Due to its price, king crab can be found mostly in more expensive restaurants. The listing of reindeer on a menu can give out-of-state visitors the willies, but perhaps not as much if you think of it as venison.

Due to the city’s outpost town vibe, even upscale dining does not require the dressiness that you might find in a major lower-48 city. When in doubt for dinner, adopt business casual.

I’ve divided the best places to eat into categories, so scroll down to find what you’re looking for. The sidebar contains only some of the restaurants I review below.

Best Upscale Restaurant: The Marx Brothers Café

Great For Pacific Rim Cuisine: Ginger

Excellent Full Breakfast: Snow City Café

Best Happy Hour Food: Sullivan’s Steakhouse

Cozy Small Plate Restaurant: Crush Bistro

Best View: The Crow’s Nest