Asia Cruises

The range of spectacular destinations to discover when cruising across Asia make for an unforgettable cruise holiday.

From vibrant, cosmopolitan cities, bustling with life and intrigue to ancient, historic sites surrounded in mystery, your Asia cruise will be filled with wonder and the profound beauty of the natural landscapes enveloping these cultures will creating lasting memories for years to come.

A cruise in Asia will be full of contrasts. It hosts some of the most forward-thinking, technologically advanced cities in the world, such as Tokyo, Singapore and Hong Kong, but venture a little away from the sleek, streamline skyscrapers and you will discover idyllic beaches with crystal clear oceans and hiking trails through lush, green mountains. The culturally curious will be in their element; revered temples and sacred mosques, ancient shines and historical sites are compelling in their history.

With so much to experience within the continent, a cruise across Asia offers the perfect travelling solution for visiting all the highlights of the area, enabling you to travel in luxury, relaxing whilst onboard your Asia cruise and feel reenergised for your next destination.

Top tip for your cruise to Asia

Prepare for the contrast in temperatures. Although cruising across Asia throughout most of the year you will find outdoor temperatures to often top 30 °C, air conditioning inside is cold. Bring a layer or two to wear when visiting inside shopping malls, restaurants and tourist attractions.

Top Asian cruise harbours

Hong Kong

When you arrive at Victoria Harbour, Hong Kong, you will get a preview of what this amazing city has to offer. Colourful, full of life and with breath-taking scenery from the moment you arrive, the harbour acts as a gateway, inspiring you to explore the city further.

See Hong Kong from its highest and most picturesque vantage point at Victoria Peak. Take the tram up the steep 1,300 feet climb and save your energy for the Peak Circle Walk at the top, allowing you to appreciate Hong Kong from every angle.

A visit to the Tian Tan Buddha, or ‘Big Buddha’ is another rise above the city that provides spectacular views from the glass-bottomed cable car ride up and as Hong Kong’s most iconic attraction, it is one not to miss. --> Hong Kong cruises

Did you know…?

Hong Kong has more skyscrapers than New York City. In fact, it has more than anywhere else in the world, at 353 of these towering buildings with more than 40 floors.

Tokyo

The Port of Tokyo (Yokohama) provides the welcome to a capital city dazzling with the neon lights of modern, chic shopping, bustling street food traders and ultra, high-tech attractions. This is the city that never sleeps in the East.

Dine at the astonishing, 10-billion-yen worth, Robot Restaurant. This unique and crazy experience is robot entertainment on a new technological level.

For those seeking a quieter pace of life, Tokyo is steeped in history and its thousands of Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples offer more contemplative, tranquil, yet equally spectacular places to explore.

If time allows, step outside the city boundaries and soak up the overwhelming beauty of the Japanese natural landscape. Standing at 3,776 metres, as Japan’s highest mountain, Mount Fuji and its surrounding Fuji Fives Lakes are simply stunning.

Did you know…?

The Tokyo Tower, built on the model of the Eiffel Tower, stands 13 metres taller than its inspiration, but is only half the weight, due to advances in steel technology. --> Tokyo cruises

Singapore

If you are searching for a clean, cutting-edge city that is continually reinventing and pushing the boundaries to amaze its visitors, then Singapore is your destination. Culture meets technology and action meets creativity, delivering new experiences every day.

Its modern, well-equipped infrastructure allows easy travel around the city; perfect if you are short on time.

Visit Gardens by The Bay, where futuristic design is used at its most effective to create 101 hectares of horticultural delight. Waterfall cascades, giant cacti and 18 Supertrees create an extensive garden that can only be likened to a movie set.

Marina Bay Sands Hotel has gained worldwide notoriety. Walk along the waterfront here to appreciate the elegant city skyline any time of day. --> Singapur cruises

Top tip

A trip to Singapore’s Night Safari is a unique and eerie opportunity to come face to face with 120 species of nocturnal wildlife and fragrant jungle foliage.

When is the best time to go on an Asia cruise?

Climate and weather patterns can vary quite significantly, even within the same country in Asia, so it is useful to know what to expect, so you can plan accordingly.

Brief guide of the three main ports in our Asia cruise.

Best time to visit Hong Kong

As a subtropical location, the best time to visit Hong Kong is either in the Spring (March -April) or Autumn (October – November). Temperatures are moderate, usually around the mid-20°C, sunshine is common and evenings are cool. July and August can get hot and humid and there is the potential for typhoons, however this does encourage great travel and shopping discounts.

Best time to visit Tokyo

The weather is Tokyo mirrors the UK to a large extend, making Spring (March-May) and autumn (September to November) comfortable times to be out and about, exploring. Travelling in May is beautiful, as the parks and gardens are all in bloom.

Best time to visit Singapore

Being closer to the equator, the temperatures in Singapore remain quite consistent; between 30-33°C. The rainy season is between November and December. However, from June to August, it can get humid, so there is the potential for flash thunderstorms. At any time of year, it’s best to get up early and enjoy the cooler temperatures for sightseeing and also to avoid the crowds.

Top Tip

During peak tourist season, top attractions in the cities can get busy. Book in advance or go early to ensure that you can maximise your time in each location.

Top sights in Asia

Asia’s variety of incredible landscapes, fascinating cultures and ancient historical sites is so extensive that the possibilities for adventure are endless. We’ve picked out our three favourite sights, within close vicinity to our top three harbours.

High Island Reservoir East Dam

The spectacular sight of the largest reservoir in Hong Kong makes High Island Reservoir East Dam well worth a visit. It is situated at the most accessible part of the Hong Kong Global Geopark and features hexagonal volcanic rock columns, formed over 140 million years ago, alongside thousands of dolosse blocks (huge cement barriers shaped like jacks) placed along the coast to break the sea waves; a truly surreal and unique sight.

Sensoji, Asakusa

Sensoji, Asakusa is Tokyo’s oldest Buddhist temple, built in 628. It’s colourful, five-storied pagoda and 200m long, historic shopping street, selling souvenirs and traditional Japanese snacks, attracts many tourists and is host to several large-scale festivals throughout the year.

Raffles Hotel

Enjoy a Singapore Sling in the place where it was created: Raffle Bar in the Raffles Hotel. This hotel has become iconic in Singapore with its colonial history dating back to 1887. Its list of celebrity guests includes Elizabeth Taylor, Michael Jackson and even Queen Elizabeth II. Aside from its magnificent 103 suites and 18 restaurants, it has an arcade of over 40 designer boutiques and stores; heaven for the shopaholic.

Fun Fact

For every 10 people alive in the world, 6 of them live in Asia!

Regional Asian dishes

If you love exciting, varied cuisine, bursting with flavour, then Asia will not disappoint. Although Asian food has become increasingly popular in the U.K., tasting the dishes prepared at their origin takes the experience to a whole new level.

Try the unique flavour of Ramen, a Japanese wheat noodle bowl in a Miso broth. Often garnished with egg, pork, seaweed or onion, the dish is strong in flavour, healthy and filling.

Travel to Hong Kong and you must try Dim Sum. Translated as ‘touch the heart’, Dim Sum is not a singular dish, but more a style of food, being a variety of bite-sized dishes. Think Asian style tapas. Hong Kong is famous for its variety of Dim Sum, so here is the place to sample the best.

For a traditional taste of Singaporean cuisine, Bak Kut The, or Pork Ribs Soup, is the dish to order. Simple and humble, this dish consists of a pork broth, spiced with mild herbs, such as star anise and is often thought to be a tonic to reenergise workers.

Fascinating Facts about Asia

Despite Hong Kong’s reputation for high rise skyscrapers, hiking is one of the nation’s favourite pastimes with 40% of its territory is made of country parks and nature reserves.

Hong Kong has the world’s longest covered escalator. Running for 800m, lined with shops and restaurants, the Central–Mid-Levels Escalator was featured as one of the ‘coolest commutes’ by CNN in 2015.

Japan has the greatest density of vending machines in the world, with one on nearly every street corner. These are reported to total around 5.5 million vending machines across the country, which sell everything form hot coffee to umbrellas and fresh eggs!

Cherry blossoms (sakura) are Japan's national flower. Their colourful bloom can be enjoyed at varying times of the year from January to late May, depending where you are in the country.

Singapore is one of only three city states in the world; the others being Monaco and the Vatican City. This is where a singular city and its dependent territories is politically independent and makes up an entire nation.

If you come across a $1,000 note in Singapore, have a look more closely. On the back you will find the full national anthem, written in microtext.

Top Travelling Tip for cruises to Asia

Research local laws and customs when visiting each country in Asia. For example, there are certain places where photography is not welcome, dress should be more conservative or specific gestures may cause offence.

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