AS PASSENGERS FROM CHINA and other Asian nations book cruises to the “exotic” West in record numbers, the opposite is also true. Luxury cruise lines in the West expand their sailings to the once “mysterious” East.
Windstar Cruises leads the pack in this international exchange, increasing its premium small-ship offerings with seven new cruise-tours across Asia in 2019. These 12- to 17-day explorations employ the 212-passenger Star Legend, an all-suite vessel with exceptional dining. (Windstar is the official cruise line of the James Beard Foundation.) The new cruises focus on Asia’s modern cities and ancient sites, from China’s Great Wall to Cambodia’s Angkor Wat. One cruise-tour covers sites in China, Japan and South Korea; another calls on the wonders of Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam; and a third voyage, from Cambodia to Hong Kong, stops in Malaysia, the Philippines, Brunei and Borneo.
For passengers especially intrigued by Japan, Abercrombie & Kent stages a 2019 off-the-beatenpath cruise there May 30–June 13 aboard Ponant’s 199-passenger Le Soleal. This voyage has proven extremely popular in the past, and it is filling fast this time around. Shore excursions include a geisha performance in the Samurai-saturated city of Kanazawa and a noodle-making opportunity in Takamatsu, gateway to Shikoku Island. The cruise includes two nights in Kyoto and port calls at Matsu (the “Town of Water”), Sado Island and Hokkaido, plus a special stop at South Korea’s ancient capital, Gyeongju, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
For China fanciers, Uniworld added a second Yangtze River ship for the 2019 season, the refurbished 124-passenger Sanctuary Yangzi Explorer, a contemporary boutique-style vessel with private balconies and a one-to-one crew-to-passenger ratio. Uniworld’s 11-day Highlights of China & the Yangtze will feature an optional six-day pre-cruise trip to Mongolia and the Gobi Desert.
A notably unusual Asian river cruise has been mounted for 2019 by Minor Hotels’ Mekong Kingdoms cruise division in Laos. The Gypsy is a two-cabin, four-passenger boutique barge that sails the Mekong River on three- and four-day cruises between the Laotian capital of Luang Prabang and Thailand’s Golden Triangle. The wooden river boat boasts a dining area midship and a panoramic open deck at its bow. The all-inclusive cost covers an English-speaking guide, while shore excursions run the gamut from mountain biking, jungle trekking and whiskey tasting to a weaving workshop, an elephant camp visit and a limestone cave tour.
Most Western-based international cruise lines offer Asian sailings, and the industry soared in this part of the world. With passenger numbers jumping 20 percent last year alone, it is prudent for cruise passengers to book well ahead for a maritime journey to the East.
Read This Next
Introducing
FX Excursions
FX Excursions offers the chance for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in destinations around the world.
#globility
Insta FeedDaily
Nov 13, 2024Discover the Birthplace of Cacao in Ecuador
Chocolate is made from cacao beans and Ecuador, the birthplace of cacao, has long been a significant player in the world of chocolate. Although historians once believed cacao was first used by Mesoamerican cultures, more recent studies from scientists around the world confirmed the cacao bean was first cultivated by indigenous tribes in what is now Ecuador.
Sponsored Content
Remarkable Medellín
Visiting Medellín in Colombia: The Country of Beauty is like stepping into a fantastic story — literally, as the city in the Western Colombian Andes region inspired Disney’s Encanto. Here, valleys, the world’s tallest palms, vibrant communities, colorful houses, garden-like balconies and more prove reality is more picturesque than anything on film. And it’s especially more tempting following Medellín’s remarkable transformation, shedding its troubled past and reawakening as a city of innovation, art, cultural richness, modern infrastructure, thriving tourism and resiliency.
November 2024
Nov 13, 2024Drink It All in During a Stay at Hotel Manapany on Swanky St.-Barth
Vacationers travel to the posh island of St.-Barth for its ritzy shops, tucked-away local beaches and elevated cuisine melding classic French technique with flavorful Caribbean ingredients. Guests staying at Hôtel Manapany, an eco-focused boutique property on picturesque Anse des Cayes beach, can also sip their way through beverages that showcase these two distinct yet remarkably harmonious cultures.
November 2024
Nov 13, 2024İstanbul Magically Integrates Past and Present, East and West
The breathtaking Bosporus Strait divides Europe and Asia in İstanbul, the former capital of the Roman, Byzantine, Latin and Ottoman empires, a city where trade has been intrinsic to the global bridge since the advent of the Silk Road and the Spice Route.
Sponsored Content
Pick Your Paradise: Experience Bali at 3 Incredible Hotels
Bali is a name synonymous with island bliss. But there is more than just one side to this incredible place. Get a sense for the variety of experiences Bali offers by learning about three hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy® with distinctive opportunities for adventure and relaxation. With the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Card, earn points for free nights at each of these properties.
eFlyer Reviews
Nov 13, 2024Hard Rock Hotel Marbella Review
Hard Rock Hotel Marbella brings the iconic brand’s mix of music-inspired glamor and the relaxed sophistication of Spain’s Costa del Sol. Just a short walk from Puerto Banús Marina, this lifestyle hotel stands out with real personality in an area already known for lavish resorts.
Why You Should Visit Grindelwald Christmas Market
Daily
Nov 13, 2024eFlyer Deals
Nov 13, 2024Snag Black Friday Deals at 2 San Diego Hotels
San Diego embraces Black Friday with exclusive deals at two popular upscale hotels. At Kona Kai San Diego, on the tip of the city’s Shelter Island, guests who book between Nov. 28 and Dec. 3 can receive either a refundable up to 25 percent off or up to a 30 percent non-refundable discount on the best available room rate.
Sponsored Content
Experience Next-Level Travel with Condor Airlines’ New A330neo Fleet
Condor Airlines completely renewed its long-haul fleet, featuring its new Airbus A330neo. Designed to elevate your travel experience, the A330neo is equipped with cutting-edge technology and offers unrivaled comfort, ensuring an exceptional journey for every passenger. With its striking signature striped livery, the A330neo not only promises a memorable flight but also enhances the start of your vacation from the moment you step aboard.
eFlyer Lead
Nov 13, 2024World’s Longest Flight to Receive Brand-New First-Class Cabin
Singapore Airlines is set to give its first-class cabins on its fleet of long-haul and ultra-long-haul Airbus A350 jets a major upgrade. These planes, operating the world’s longest flight from Singapore (SIN) to both Newark (EWR) and New York (JFK) at just less than 19 hours, will unveil its brand-new first-class cabins in 2026.
ShareThis