J&B Travels

 Well, the time had finally come to say goodbye to Japan and begin our long journey home. After 18 days of travelling, exploring, making memories and dealing with a few unexpected challenges along the way, I have to admit that I was feeling a mixture of emotions. I was sad that our adventure was coming to an end, but I was also looking forward to getting Joe home, where he could properly rest and recover without the strain of travelling. We started our morning with Gaby and me heading out for one final little walk around the block. And, of course, we couldn't leave Japan without one last visit to 7-Eleven! Gaby had a few final bits she wanted to pick up, so we popped in for one last browse. I have to say, the convenience stores in Japan really are something else, and they have certainly become a regular feature of our trip! Afterwards, we headed back to the hotel and grabbed a quick breakfast from the grab-and-go counter. Then came the part of travelling that I enjoy the least. Get...

Well, today was supposed to be our big day exploring Tokyo, but as we have discovered throughout this holiday, sometimes life has other plans for us! Gaby and I had been looking forward to a full day of sightseeing. We had planned to visit some more anime stores, which were definitely high on Gaby's list, before heading off to explore some of Tokyo's famous sights. Unfortunately, another spanner was thrown into the works. Poor Joe was becoming increasingly concerned about the stomach issues he had been experiencing, and he felt that he really needed to visit a hospital to get things checked out properly. After everything he had been through since our departure from Gibraltar, I could understand his concerns. Although he had been gradually improving, he was still not feeling completely himself, and the last thing we wanted was to begin our journey home with any uncertainty about his health. So, we decided to divide and conquer! Gaby headed off to explore the anime stores on her ...

Well, the day had finally arrived. It was time to say goodbye to our beautiful Seabourn Encore and begin the next stage of our journey home. Although I was sad to be leaving the ship, we still had a couple of nights in Tokyo to look forward to, and I was determined to make the most of them! It was an early start, but what a spectacular way to begin the morning! I sat out on our verandah watching the ship sail into Harumi Port , with the magnificent Tokyo skyline unfolding before us. There is something truly magical about arriving in a city by sea. Watching the buildings come into view, seeing the city gradually wake up and knowing that another adventure awaits is such a special experience. I found myself sitting quietly, taking it all in and feeling incredibly grateful for the wonderful journey we had just experienced. After enjoying our final breakfast aboard, it was time for those last goodbyes. We have been so well looked after by the crew throughout our cruise, and saying farewell ...

Well, here we are, our last full day aboard the beautiful Seabourn Encore , and I have to admit, I am feeling rather sad about leaving. Although this hasn't been the easiest cruise for Joe, I have absolutely loved being back at sea. There is something about being on the water that brings me such a wonderful sense of peace and happiness. Whether it's watching the ocean from our balcony, walking around the decks or simply enjoying the gentle rhythm of life on board, I always feel so at home on a ship. And then, of course, there is the incredible crew. I really cannot praise them enough. Every single member of the team works so hard to make our experience special, often going above and beyond to ensure we are comfortable, happy and well looked after. From the restaurant staff and entertainers to the housekeeping team and, of course, the wonderful medical centre, they all deserve an enormous thank you. We started our final sea day with another family breakfast, which has become a l...

Today we arrived in Miyako, Japan , greeted by glorious sunshine! Although the air was still quite cool, it was lovely to see the sun shining as we approached another new destination on our Japanese adventure. Unfortunately, the morning didn't get off to quite the start we had hoped for, as Mr C was once again saying that he wasn't feeling well. So, before anything else, we made our now rather familiar early morning visit to the ship's medical centre! I honestly think Joe must be one of their most regular visitors. By now, the team know him so well that I wouldn't be surprised if they were considering giving him his own reserved chair! Thankfully, after checking him over, the advice was fairly straightforward: get plenty of rest, eat healthily and try to walk around the ship to keep moving. All very sensible advice, although persuading Joe to follow it is sometimes another matter entirely! Afterwards, the three of us headed to The Restaurant for breakfast together, whic...

Today we arrived bright and early in Hakodate, Japan , and what a lovely start to the day it was! I was fortunate enough to watch the sunrise as we sailed into port, and there is something so peaceful and magical about watching a new day begin from the deck of a ship. It is moments like these that remind me just how much I love being at sea. Watching the colours change across the sky as we approach a new destination is such a beautiful way to start the morning. And today there was an extra surprise waiting for us! The Seabourn elves had clearly been very busy overnight, because we woke up to find the ship transformed for Halloween! 🎃 There were decorations everywhere, and it was lovely to see the effort the crew had put into making the occasion special. It certainly added a little extra fun to our day. Gaby and I decided to have breakfast in The Restaurant this morning rather than our usual buffet in the Colonnade. It made a lovely change to sit down, be waited on and enjoy a more le...