Ocean Cruising In Asia

As the cruise scene in Asia hots up, Sally Macmillan discovers some enticing trips that are both scenic and serene, offering bustling cities and sacred sites.

- Sally Macmillan

Savvy Aussie travellers are fast discovering that you don’t have to fly for 24 hours – or more – or spend your lifetime’s savings to enjoy a cruise in one of the world’s most scenic, historical and culturally diverse regions. Asia is perfectly placed for coastal cruising.

Whether you’re looking for a short break or an itinerary that takes in several countries, cruising in Asia offers an exciting mix of sophisticated cities, sacred sites, tropical resorts and exotic cuisines. And if a relaxing holiday with a spot of shopping is more your cup of green tea, you can do that, too.

Singapore, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Yokohama (the port for Tokyo), are Asia’s major cruise hubs and more mainstream cruise lines are now placing ships in these ports for weeks or months at a time. Joining segments of world voyages is another way to go, but you have to factor in flights that work with both embarkation and disembarkation ports.

Japan

The cherry blossom season, roughly from March to May, is the most popular time to visit. APT has a fabulous 13-night cruise next April that sails around the coast of Honshu, Japan’s “mainland” island, from Tokyo to Osaka. It also spends a couple of days in South Korea, an incredibly scenic country where serene Buddhist temples are as revered as futuristic city attractions.

MS Caledonian Sky will call at 14 fascinating ports. Highlights of the voyage range from feudal castles and old samurai houses to exquisite formal gardens, traditional tea ceremonies and UNESCO World Heritage sites. Visiting Hiroshima’s Peace Memorial Park is an emotional reminder of the devastation wrought by atomic bombs in World War II.