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Shorter flight times from Europe and the opening up of previously closed borders has made the Far East a very popular choice for a cruise holiday in recent years.
Star Cruises has traditionally been the main operator in the area with some of the finest ships sailing from Hong Kong and Singapore. Today though, most of the key operators are positioning ships in Asian waters for around six months of the year.
Thailand has for a long time been a favourite destination for cruising and land based holidays and many people choose Bangkok, Koh Samui or Phuket as a Cruise and Stay option.
The region, thanks to its warm climate, attracts Europeans wishing to escape winter as well as Chinese and Japanese tourists who are experiencing cruising for the first time. Australian passengers also frequent the area, thanks to its proximity to home when compared with the other main affordable cruise areas of the world.
Shore excursions sometimes require rather long road journeys, especially when visiting Beijing, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok or Tokyo. A cruise in the Far East also provides magnificent opportunities to those seeking to view the enormous development that has taken place in such cities as Shanghai, Ho Chi Minh City and Yokohama.
It has been suggested that the 2008 Beijing Olympic and Paralympic Games were probably the last to be seen on a grand scale. All cruise itineraries visiting Tianjin have shore excursions arranged to view the Bird’s Nest Stadium and its surrounding sights.
Visa procurement, along with expensive accommodation and air fares make touring the region very difficult for most people. A cruise, however, offers exceptional value for money as well as an opportunity to see many countries and their fascinating cultures. With a cruise there is no need to change accommodation or worry about costly, time consuming, visa formalities.
River cruising is going through an unprecedented boom with luxurious new ships and exciting new destinations planned for 2012. With the likes of Viking and their groundbreaking long-ships, never before has there been so much choice, such luxury or so many new ships cruising the rivers of the world. Although river cruising still has a rather staid image, what’s on offer is actually incredibly exciting, from chic little expedition … [Read more...]
South-east Asia’s main river is tipped as the hot destination for keen cruisers If there’s a river of the moment, it’s the Mekong. Numbers are still small, as the boats are generally boutique-style, but the main operators say they’re sold out for most of 2012 already, such is the desire of the travelling public to explore the remote villages and magnificent temples along the river’s course. Ama Waterways Ama Waterways started the … [Read more...]
What does the year ahead hold for cruise? Who better to ask than Douglas Ward, the author of the Berlitz guide, Cruising and Cruise Ships I’m often asked to do a bit of crystal ball gazing when it come to cruising, and when I look ahead to 2012, I’m guessing it’s going to be a an exciting year ahead. So, what’s in store? Here are my predictions: 1. Big is beautiful? There are now more than 50 ships measuring over 100,000 gross … [Read more...]
This year promises to be one of the most exciting ones yet in cruise. We pick the top 10 hottest events, the coolest cruises and the hippest destinations for 2012! 1.Rio Carnival It doesn’t get much hotter than the Rio Carnival and one of the most frustrating things about events like Carnival is how hard it is to secure tickets – unless, that is, you go on a cruise. Cruise lines are increasingly tying in their cruises with … [Read more...]
Crystal Cruises has released its calendar for 2013 and early 2014, featuring shorter cruises as well as those based around world famous local events. After an initial announcement earlier this year, Crystal Cruises has produced its earliest ever schedule announcement with details of a further 63 itineraries. This 2013/2014 schedule encompasses a total of 269 ports in 75 countries, with more than a dozen maiden calls and 146 local overnights, which … [Read more...]
Nagasaki has been Japan’s Gateway to the West for hundreds of years and retains a cosmopolitan feel alongside fascinating historical sites There are few modern harbours with such an impressive approach as Nagasaki. This fjord-like channel is the view that greeted Commodore Matthew Perry when he arrived in 1853 to open up Japan for western merchants. But Nagasaki had already been trading with Europe and China for over 200 years, giving this city … [Read more...]
Kobe is one of Japan’s most attractive cities and is far more international than you might expect. Kobe is a bright, contemporary, cosmopolitan city, particularly popular with European ex-pats and English-language teachers. In 1868 the modernising Meiji Emperor decided Kobe should become a port for foreign trade so you’ll find far more European restaurants, bakeries and international supermarkets than you’d expect. It takes only 167 minutes … [Read more...]
My last full day in Korea and it has been action-packed, exploring more of Jeju’s volcanic world heritage sites. First, I headed underground into Manjanggul, the most famous of several lava tubes on the island. These cave-tunnels were left in the path of molten lava when Jeju was formed. I’d seen a small section of such a tube before, in the Azores but was staggered by the scale of this one. It was cath edral height in places and with … [Read more...]
Costa Classica at Jeju Town port I took a flight last night to Jeju, an island off Korea’s south coast and the stop on my trip I’ve been most looking forward to. Jeju is volcanic and has several UNESCO-listed features. My first brush with the lava came this morning at Dragon Rock, a piece of headland shaped like… well you’ve guessed it, on the coast at Jeju City where the airport and port are based. Later, in the south at Jungmun … [Read more...]
I awoke this morning to glorious sunshine and a view of Busan’s wide, strangely deserted Haeundae beach. Later, I saw a photos of it a month ago - peak Korean holiday time - choc-a-bloc with parasols. Favouring fair skin to a tan, they don’t so much sunbathe as ‘shadebathe’ here. Busan is Korea’s second biggest city and the port is building a new cruise terminal scheduled for 2013 completion. It’ll be the start of a swanky new seafront … [Read more...]
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