Asia is a vast continent, and its long Pacific coastline offers cruise passengers wonderful places to discover. Here are some things to know if you plan to explore Asia by cruise ship.
You’ll
have a choice of cruise lines.
A variety of cruise lines visit Asian ports, including Celebrity, Holland
America, MSC, Norwegian, Oceania, Royal Caribbean, Princess, Seabourn, Silversea, and Viking. This gives you a terrific choice of ships, itineraries, and onboard
vibes.
You may want
to focus on Northeast or Southeast Asia. Depending on how much time you have to cruise, you could
choose to focus on either Northeast Asia (including Japan, South Korea, and China)
or Southeast Asia (including Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia,
and The Philippines). Both regions are rich in beauty, history, and culture,
with everything from glittering cities to traditional villages. Of course, if
you have the time to cruise it all, your professional travel advisor can help
you select an itinerary that covers more of Asia’s Pacific coast.
There’s an
alternative to cruising along the coast. Asia offers river cruises along some historic and
scenic waterways. Options include China’s Cháng Jiāng (or Yangtze) River, which
passes through the stunning Three Gorges region; and the Mekong River, which
will take you to Cambodia’s most famous temple complex, Angkor Wat, and the
floating markets of rural Vietnam.
Pack for
the weather and be ready to cover up.
Bring lightweight clothing you can layer, including some long-sleeved shirts and
long pants – temples and other religious and cultural sites may require modest
clothing that covers most of your skin. A light jacket or shawl is a good item
to take along on shore excursions.
Be
observant about local customs.
In some Asian cultures, people don’t shake hands as a way to say “Hello” or
“Thank you;” instead, they may bow or press their palms together in front of
their hearts. Watch what the local people do, and do the same. In some places,
merchants use both hands when presenting or receiving payment as a sign of
respect for the transaction; you can do so, too. And, tipping practices vary;
in some areas, tips are not expected, and in others they are welcome. If you’re
not sure about the tipping practices on shore, ask a member of the ship’s crew.
There’s more
to know about cruising in Asia – touch base with Anita, your professional
travel advisor for ideas and advice.
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