Cruise Holidays - Attheta Travel

I am proud to be certified by CLIA (Cruise Lines International Association) as an Elite Cruise Counselor. The Cruise Counselor Certification Program is CLIA's most comprehensive training which requires agents to successfully complete a number of compulsory training courses and exams, attend cruise conferences, and conduct ship inspections. Anita Thompson, Attheta Travel, dba Cruise Holidays.

Monday, September 30, 2024

Cruising Japan

Japan is a nation of islands, which helps make it a fantastic cruise destination. The 14,000 islands of Japan stretch about 1,900 miles, from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the Philippine Sea in the south. While ships call on only a few of the islands, there are many reasons to cruise there, including:

The islands are beautiful. Japan is on the Pacific Ocean’s Ring of Fire, and its volcanic islands are mountainous, heavily forested, and often edged by beaches. Japanese gardening is an art form, as is Japanese architecture; both are admired worldwide for their elegant simplicity.

The cities are energizing. Much of Japan’s population lives in bustling urban areas on the coastal plains of its major islands. Tokyo offers everything from gorgeous public gardens and museums to incredible shopping. Osaka features an iconic castle, neon-lighted Ferris wheels, and thousands of restaurants. It’s also the gateway to nearby Kyoto, Japan’s cultural capital, with over 2,000 Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples.

The food is delicious. If you enjoy tempura, sushi and sashimi, miso soup, and other Japanese dishes at home, you’ll love them in Japan. Japanese cuisine has a traditional emphasis on fresh, seasonal ingredients; careful use of proteins and fats; and seasoning that makes even staple foods, like rice and noodles, taste exotic. Japanese dining etiquette is interesting, too, with practices such as placing the most honored guest the furthest from the entrance to the dining room.

The culture is fascinating. Some of Japan’s most honored traditions are available for cruise ship visitors to experience. You can sit on a tatami mat for a gracious tea ceremony; meditate alongside a Buddhist monk; enjoy the music of a three-stringed shamisen played by a geisha; or take a relaxing soak in an onsen, a natural hot mineral spring.

Many popular cruise lines sail to Japan, including Celebrity Cruises, Cunard Line, Holland America Line, MSC Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean and Princess Cruises, as well as luxury lines like Regent Seven Seas, Seabourn and Silversea. Itineraries are often roundtrip from Yokohama, the cruise ship port for Tokyo.

When you talk with Anita, your professional travel advisor about itinerary options, discuss when to cruise, too. Japan’s cherry trees bloom in March and April, fall colors peak in October and November, and if you sail in winter you could enjoy a post-cruise stay at a Japanese ski resort.

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