Celebrity Millennium Cruise – Day 8 in Kagoshima 🌸🚢

Siva McAteer • September 27, 2025

Day 8 in Kagoshima 🌸🚢

POV: You have no plans in Kagoshima… and it turns out even better than you imagined.

Day 8 of our Celebrity Millennium cruise through Japan brought us to Kagoshima—a city known as the “Naples of the East” thanks to its scenic bay and the ever-present backdrop of the Sakurajima volcano. With no official plans on our agenda, we decided to just wander and see where the day would take us. Spoiler alert: it ended up being one of the most memorable stops of the whole trip!

📝 First Find: An Eki Stamp Station

On the streets of Kagoshima, we stumbled across a stamp station for my Eki stamp book. Collecting stamps (called ekiben stamps) is such a fun part of traveling in Japan—it’s like a built-in scavenger hunt. Each one is unique to its location, making it a perfect keepsake and a creative way to track your adventures.

🍫 Quirky Japanese Products

One of my favorite things about wandering through Japanese cities is discovering all the little things you’d never find in America. From snacks with unexpected flavors to adorable packaging that makes you want to buy everything, shopping in Japan always feels like a treasure hunt. Even everyday items feel like souvenirs because of their unique designs and fun presentation.

🛒 Don Quijote: Japan’s Iconic Mega Store

When the rain finally caught up with us, we ducked into Don Quijote—or as locals call it, Donki. This place is a must-visit in Japan! Imagine two full levels packed floor-to-ceiling with just about anything you can think of:

Japanese snacks and candy
Cosmetics and skincare
Household goods and electronics
Clothing and accessories
Even luxury designer handbags!

✨ Fun fact: Some Don Quijote locations are open 24 hours a day, making them the ultimate late-night shopping adventure. And if you’ve ever been inside, you know about the store’s famous theme song, “Miracle Shopping”—it loops constantly and is guaranteed to get stuck in your head!

🍲 The Cutest Food Find Ever

But what really made Kagoshima stand out for us was the food. After shopping, it was time to eat—and we discovered a restaurant that quickly became one of my favorite meals of the entire 12-day cruise.

I won’t give away the full surprise just yet, but let’s just say it involves one of the cutest food experiences I’ve ever had in Japan. Stay tuned for tomorrow’s post, where I’ll reveal exactly what we found—you won’t want to miss it!

🌊 Final Thoughts

Sometimes the best travel days are the ones with no plans at all. Kagoshima surprised us with hidden gems, quirky shopping, and unforgettable food. This stop reminded me that sometimes, the magic of travel lies in simply wandering and letting the city reveal itself to you.

#CelebrityCruises #CelebrityMillennium #Kagoshima #CruiseJapan #CruiseLife #TravelJapan #JapanFoodie #EkiStampBook #DonQuijote #JapaneseSnacks #CruiseVacation #LuxuryCruise #CruiseTips #UGC

< Older Post

Celebrity Millennium Cruise – Sea Day Entertainment Part 2 🎭✨

By Siva McAteer • September 26, 2025

Welcome back to Day 7 aboard the Celebrity Millennium! If you caught Part 1 of the evening’s entertainment, you know the ship is packed with jaw-dropping performances. Tonight’s Part 2 brought even more wow-factor to this unforgettable sea day.

Celebrity Millennium Cruise – Sea Day Evening Entertainment 🎶✨

By Siva McAteer • September 25, 2025

If you’ve ever been on a cruise, you know that sea days are where the real magic happens. Don’t get me wrong—port days in Japan have been incredible, full of temples, shopping, and sightseeing. But sea days? That’s when you really get to experience everything your ship has to offer. And aboard the Celebrity Millennium, that means world-class dining, nonstop activities, and jaw-dropping evening shows.

🎶 Japan Cruise Day 7 – A Sea Day with John Mayer (Well… Almost!)

By Siva McAteer • September 24, 2025

What’s better than a sea day on a luxury cruise? A sea day with John Mayer. Okay… maybe not the real John Mayer, but an acoustic tribute that hit all the right notes! 😉 Sea days are some of my favorite parts of a cruise because they give you the chance to slow down, relax, and explore everything your ship has to offer. On the Celebrity Millennium, that means checking out the daily schedule (delivered to your stateroom every evening) or scrolling through the handy Celebrity Cruises app if you’re more of a tech traveler. On this particular day, we discovered something special: a talented acoustic singer performing a John Mayer tribute near Café al Bacio. Imagine sipping a cappuccino while listening to heartfelt versions of “Gravity” or “Your Body Is a Wonderland.” That’s the magic of sea days—unexpected moments that make the journey just as memorable as the destination. And it’s not just John Mayer covers. The Celebrity Millennium offers live music all around the ship—acoustic guitarists, high-energy bands, smooth jazz, and DJs spinning late into the night. Whether you’re lounging with a cocktail, enjoying a romantic evening, or dancing under the stars, music is always part of the vibe. 💡 Fun fact: Celebrity Cruises is known for its curated entertainment lineup, often bringing in guest performers and tribute acts. So, you never know who—or what kind of music—you might stumble across on your sea day! So next time you’re on a cruise, don’t just treat sea days as downtime. Check the schedule, wander the ship, and soak up the entertainment. Who knows—you might just find yourself on your own mini-concert tour at sea. 🎤🌊

Celebrity Millennium Cruise – Sea Day in Japan 🌊☀️

By Siva McAteer • September 23, 2025

There’s nothing quite like a sea day on a cruise—and on Day 7 of our Japan adventure aboard the Celebrity Millennium, we finally got to slow down, relax, and soak up some sunshine. After days of exploring ports, temples, and city streets, having a full day at sea to recharge felt like the ultimate luxury.

Japan Day 6: A 5-Star Dining Experience on Celebrity Cruises 🍷🍴

By Siva McAteer • September 22, 2025

Imagine ending a full day of adventure in Hiroshima with a dining experience that feels like a 5-star restaurant—all while floating across the sea. That’s exactly what you get when sailing with Celebrity Cruises, and on Day 6 of my Japan journey, I experienced it firsthand at the Metropolitan Restaurant on board the Celebrity Millennium.

Celebrity Cruise Day 6, Hiroshima – Cello in Love 🎶

By Siva McAteer • September 21, 2025

It’s showtime aboard the Celebrity Millennium! One of my favorite parts of cruising—aside from the incredible destinations—is the onboard entertainment. Every evening brings something new, and tonight’s show was extra special: Cello in Love featuring the amazing cellist Wendy Law.

Celebrity Cruise Day 6: Silver Paradise Monument & A Sweet Vending Machine Surprise in Hiroshima

By Siva McAteer • September 20, 2025

✨ What a fun day exploring Hiroshima! Before boarding our Celebrity Cruise ship again, we made one last stop at the Silver Paradise Monument, also known as the Tower of Paradise. The Silver Paradise Monument – Tower of Paradise 🌸 Built in 1989 to mark the centenary of Ujina Port, this striking structure is more than just a monument. It’s a symbol of peace and hope, beautifully set against the backdrop of Hiroshima’s coastline. The Silver Paradise Monument is located in Minami Ward, a picturesque part of Hiroshima, and has become a quiet but meaningful tourist attraction. Surrounded by greenery and water, it’s a peaceful spot to pause, reflect, or snap a photo before heading back onboard your ship. 🌿 Fun fact: Ujina Port, now Hiroshima’s modern cruise terminal, played a vital role in Japan’s history as both a military port and later as a hub for international travel. Today, it welcomes cruise passengers from all over the world—like us!

Celebrity Cruise Day 6: Arcades in Hiroshima – Winning Mofusand Plushies! 🎮✨

By Siva McAteer • September 19, 2025

Winning! Japanese arcades aren’t just games—they’re a whole cultural experience. On Day 6 of our Celebrity Cruise through Japan, we stepped off the ship and into the neon world of a Hiroshima arcade. And let me tell you—it was one of the highlights of the day! Japanese Arcades: More Than Just Games In Japan, arcades are called game centers, and they’re everywhere. While they’ve been declining in numbers since their 1980s peak, there are still around 4,000 arcades across Japan today. At their height, there were over 44,000 nationwide—yes, more arcades than convenience stores! What makes Japanese arcades so special is that they’re not just for kids—they’re fun for the whole family. You’ll find multi-story game centers filled with crane games, rhythm machines, retro classics, and even photo booths (purikura). Crane Games – The Ultimate Challenge 🐾 The most iconic part of any Japanese arcade? The crane games, also known as UFO catchers. These machines lure you in with cute prizes that look easy to grab… but are way trickier than they seem. After a few tries (and maybe some encouragement from bystanders), I managed to win not one but two Mofusand plush toys! 🎉 For those new to Japanese pop culture—Mofusand is an insanely popular series of cute, chubby cats often dressed in shark or animal costumes. They’ve become a favorite prize in gachapon machines and arcades across the country.

Celebrity Cruise Day 6: Eating Our Way Through Hiroshima at Holiday Shokudo

By Siva McAteer • September 18, 2025

Beer, sake, oysters, rice balls… THIS is how you eat your way through Hiroshima! On Day 6 of our Celebrity Cruise through Japan, we stopped at a cozy spot called Holiday Shokudo—and it turned out to be one of our favorite meals of the trip. Now, the name Holiday Shokudo literally translates to Holiday Cafeteria, but don’t let that fool you. This isn’t your standard cafeteria food—it’s a warm, inviting restaurant that serves up authentic Hiroshima delicacies, from fresh oysters to comforting rice balls.

Japan Day 6 – Hiroshima Gift Shop Adventures on Our Celebrity Cruise

By Siva McAteer • September 17, 2025

One of my favorite parts of cruising through Japan is that every port offers a new surprise. On Day 6 of our Celebrity Cruise, we docked in Hiroshima—and after exploring the Peace Memorial Park, I couldn’t resist checking out the Hiroshima gift shop. And let me tell you… this stop was full of quirky, delicious, and uniquely Japanese treasures!