Cruise travel is coming back online around the world, and Asian destinations are among the ports of call for upcoming ship returns and itineraries planned by Holland America Line (HAL), Princess Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises and Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours for as early as 2022.
HAL is currently working with Japanese authorities to prepare Noordam for a trio of sailings in the region starting March 14, 2022. Departures will leave roundtrip from Yokohama (Tokyo) and be 14 days in length. Each itinerary will feature a deep dive into Japan, as well as a one- or two-day visit to South Korea, Taiwan or Russia. The two-week routes can further be combined to become 28-day Collectors Voyages.
After its 2022 Alaska sailings, Westerdam will also head to the Far East for a season, starting in September and offering several two-week-long trips from Singapore, Hong Kong, China and Yokohama (Tokyo).
A visit by cruise ship is an ideal way to explore the hidden gems of Korea that will leave one wanting to come back for more.
Celebrating its 10th anniversary of sailing from Tokyo and Kobe, Princess will also return to Japan in the summer and fall of 2023 onboard its OceanMedallion-equipped Diamond Princess. A variety of five- to 19-day cruises will stop at 38 destinations spanning the tropical isles of Okinawa and the northernmost island of Hokkaido, and 13- or 14-day Highlights of Japan cruise tours will extend sailings with multiple evenings onshore in Tokyo and Kyoto.
Available to customers along the way will be late-night stays in Akita, Aomori, Hakodate and Osaka, as well as seven UNESCO World Heritage sites and a chance to see the famed sakura, or cherry blossoms.
Princess is planning a return to Japan in 2023.
Credit: 2021 Princess CruisesAlso in 2023 and into spring of 2024, Regent is plotting out 12 Asian itineraries on Seven Seas Explorer, encompassing the ports of Busan, South Korea; Miyako, Sapporo (Otaru) and Kyoto, Japan; Hong Kong; Boracay Island and Coron (Palawan) in the Philippines; and Bangkok, Thailand.
If time permits, clients will even have the opportunity to combine four such sailings into an expansive 59-night Grand Asia-Pacific Journey.
Scenic will also deploy a ship to Japan, with Scenic Eclipse set to sail a special 12-day voyage on June 19, 2023. Highlights will include Maizuru, Sapporo, Hakodate and the archaeological dig of Sannai Maruyama in Japan, plus Busan, South Korea.
Incheon is one of South Korea’s numerous ports.
Credit: 2021 Korea Tourism OrganizationBesides Busan — known for Haeundae Beach, Gamcheon Culture Village, Jagalchi Market and Nampo-dong Food Alley — Jeju Island, Incheon, Yeosu and Sokcho are other Korean cruise ports worth seeking out. In fact, Jeju Island has several UNESCO World Heritage sites, and Incheon’s Chinatown offers a fascinating cultural crossover. And in Korea, Yeosu is considered the country’s most romantic city, complete with scenic shores and succulent seafood, while Sokcho is home to Seoraksan National Park, the third tallest mountain in South Korea.
“A visit by cruise ship is an ideal way to explore the hidden gems of Korea that will leave one wanting to come back for more,” said Jaesok Park, executive director of the Korea Tourism Organization’s New York Office.
