Exotic Southeast Asia Cruise
Nov. 14 – Dec. 6, 2010 (23 days total)
Optional three-day extension to Dec. 9 (26 days total)
Note: The itinerary may change
Nov. 14: Depart for Vancouver.
Nov. 15: Depart Canada - Fly to Beijing, China.
Nov. 16: Beijing - Welcome to Beijing (also known as Peking), the capital of China and home to many ancient wonders. You will be met and transferred to your 4 or 5-star hotel. Enjoy the remainder ofthe day at your leisure.
Nov. 17: Beijing - Your highlights today include a tour of Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City. Visit the Olympic Village after lunch. Visit the inspiring Temple of Heaven in the afternoon and enjoy a delicious Peking Duck Dinner in the evening.
Beijing National Stadium or "Bird's Nest" built for the 2008 Summer Olympics
Nov. 18: Beijing - Today, you will walk the mighty Great Wall of China and tour the ancient Ming Dynasty Tombs.
Nov. 19: Beijing - After breakfast, bid farewell to Beijing as you are driven to Xingang Port (a 2 1/2 hour drive) to embark upon the Diamond Princess cruise ship.
The Diamond Princess (public domain photo)
Nov. 20: At Sea
Nov. 21: At Sea
Nov. 22: Shanghai, China - Today you will explore the heart of Old Shanghai on a guided walking tour that visits Yu Yuan Garden (Yuyuan Garden), a Ming Dynasty pleasure park. Discover the city's history on a tour of the Shanghai Contemporary Historical Museum. Visit the White Buddha Temple and view its priceless white jade statue.
Nov. 23: At Sea
Nov. 24: Okinawa, Japan - Described as a Typhoon of Steel, the Battle of Okinawa lasted 90 days. Today you will visit the island's historic battlefield sites and monuments. Explore the Imperial Navy's underground headquarters complex. Travel to Peace Memorial Park to view the Cornerstone of Peace. See the Himeyuri Monument and its small museum. Have lunch, tour Shurijo Castle, and shop on Kokusai Street.
Cornerstone of Peace
Nov. 25: At Sea
Nov. 26: Taipei (Port: Keelung) - Visit the National Palace Museum, home to the world's greatest collection of Chinese art. View the exhibits at Chiang Kai Shek's Memorial Hall and watch the changing of the guard at the Martyr's Shrine.
Nov. 27: At Sea
Nov. 28: Hong Kong, China - Travel to the summit of Victoria Peak for panoramic views of Hong Kong Island, Victoria Harbor and the Kowloon Peninsula. Visit Aberdeen, home to the island's "water people." Lunch aboard one of Hong Kong's famous floating restaurants. See the sights on a narrated harbor cruise. Shop in Hong Kong's fabled Stanley Market.
Junk (boat) in Hong Kong Harbour
Nov. 29: At Sea
Nov. 30: Nha Trang, Vietnam - Explore the countryside, a world of rice paddies, bamboo groves and colorful gardens. Visit a village and meet the local kindergartners. See a home workshop at village temple and traditional farmhouse before strolling through an open-air farmer's market.
Dec. 1: Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon, port: Phu My), Vietnam - The Cu Chi District played a major role in the Vietnam War. Here the VietCong excavated more than 124 miles of underground tunnels. Tour the massive complex that once provided safe haven and a base of operations for communist forces.
Cu Chi Tunnel (public domain photo)
Dec. 2: At Sea
Dec. 3: Singapore - Experience the "Crossroads of Asia" from fashionable Orchard Road to Chinatown. Explore the National Orchid Garden located within the Singapore Botanic Gardens, home to over 12,000 orchids. Visit Sri Mariamman, the city's oldest Hindu temple. Take in the views from Mount Faber.
Lion head with a fish body - the symbol of Singapore
Dec. 4: At Sea
Dec. 5: Bangkok, Thailand (Port: Laem Chabang) - Fascinating, vibrant and colourful, Bangkok has it all. See gleaming skyscrapers alongside dazzling, historic temples, and luxury hotels among the city’s famous klongs (canals). Your guide will meet you as you disembark the Diamond Princess and transfer to your 4-star hotel in Bangkok.
A woman sells fruit at a Floating Market in Thailand
Dec. 6: Bangkok - Say goodbye to Bangkok as you transfer to the airport and return to Canada.
Optional Three-Night Extension
Dec. 6: Bangkok - Visit the Grand Palace and two famous Buddhist temples: Wat Trimit with its Golden Buddha, and Wat Po, with its massive reclining Buddha and Chedi of the Kings. Afterwards, take a ride through the klongs (canals) of Bangkok on a longtail boat, then board a converted rice barge and cruise the larger canals.
Grand Palace in Bangkok, Thailand
Dec. 7: Bangkok - Drive west of Bangkok to travel the maze of canals in the Damnoen Saduak floating market. Explore the picturesque Rose Garden and watch the Thai Cultural Show, including an amazing kickboxing demonstration.
Dec. 8: Bangkok - Journey west 130 km on a train known as the "Death Railway." Tour Kanchanaburi province by bus. Visit the Allied Soldiers' Cemetery, the "Bridge over the River Kwai" and other WWII sights. Take a boat trip along the Kwai Noi River and enjoy a noon lunch.
Dec. 9: Bangkok - Say goodbye to Bangkok as you transferto the airport and return to Canada.
Visit the official Princess Cruises web page about the cruise portion of this tour.
We're booking now! Contact us for price information or about any other questions you may have.
Walking between rice paddies in China
Silk Market in Beijing
Riding a taxi boat in Vietnam
Round boats on a beach in Vietnam
Photo Credits: IMG_1521 (Great Wall of China) by begg on Flickr, IMG_2168.JPG (Bird's Nest) by caswell_tom on Flickr, IMG_2082.JPG by caswell_tom on Flickr, Grand Palace Bangkok by g-hat on Flickr, Market Colours by The Wandering Angel on Flickr, Singapore by fddi1 on Flickr, DSC01451 by raj_nair81 on Flickr, Junk Boat by Andrew Turner on Flickr, Walking (by rice paddies) by mote on Flickr, Taxi II by Terminalnomad on Flickr, Round boats at Mui Ne Beach by thalling55 on Flickr, The Cornerstone of Peace / 平和の礎 by jetalone on Flickr. Unless otherwise noted, all photos shown on this page are licensed with a Creative Commons Attribution license.