Cruise Specialists Blog

Luxury Cruise News & Reviews

Blog Home / Cruise Destinations / Asia Cruise Reviews

Why More Cruise Lines Are Sailing in Asia

Justin Gibson

Asia is a fast-growing market for cruising: cruise lines such as Royal Caribbean, Princess Cruises, Crystal Cruises, Holland America, Cunard Line and Celebrity Cruises have a significant and growing presence there.

Why more cruise lines are going to asia
According to the Cruise Lines International Association, Asia now ranks fourth among the world’s cruise markets in cruise capacity, behind only the Mediterranean, Caribbean and Europe. Some of the growth is due to the increasing popularity of cruise vacations among residents of Asia, but the demand is coming from North American travelers, too.

Destinations such as China and Thailand are “wish list” travel destinations for North America’s millennial generation (a group that also appreciates the affordability and value provided by cruise vacations). And, as members of the baby boom generation retire, they are looking at cruise destinations beyond the Caribbean and the Mediterranean, too.

POTENTIAL SAILING ROUTES

Asia’s variety of cultures, landscapes and attractions all help make it an excellent region for cruising. Some cruises focus on Japan, sailing round-trip from Tokyo. Port calls can include Nagasaki, historic Hashima Island, Otaru and Aomori, among others. Some of these cruises also visit Busan or Jeju City, South Korea; a few also call on Korsakov, Russia. Korsakov, at the southern end of Sakhalin Island, has a unique mix of Russian, Korean and Japanese cultures.Why more cruise lines are going to asiaChina’s capital, Beijing, is technically not a port city – it’s about 70 miles inland from Tianjin, where cruise ships dock – but it’s a mainstay of Asian cruise itineraries. Cruise ships often stay overnight to give guests more time to see this fascinating city. And, Beijing holds so many cultural and historic treasures that it’s a wonderful place for a pre- or post-cruise stay. Cruises that focus on China often call on two more equally exotic, but very different Chinese cities: Shanghai and Hong Kong.Explore the options for an Asia cruise!Hong Kong is also a port of departure for cruises of Southeast Asia. These cruises visit a wonderful variety of countries and ports, such as Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang, Vietnam; Bangkok, Thailand; and Sihanoukville, Cambodia. Sihanoukville, the only deepwater port in Cambodia, is a real experience. Many visitors choose to spend time on the world-famous beaches, but you can also explore Ream National Park, temples on Sihanouk Mountain, or the wares of the goldsmiths and many other vendors at Psar Lu Market.

Some itineraries sail southeast from Hong Kong to visit Manila, Philippines; and Kuala Lumpur, Langkawi, or Penang, Malaysia. Penang’s attractions include its melting pot of cultures, cuisines and places of worship: you’ll find Chinese clan houses, Muslim mosques, Hindu temples and Christian churches.Explore the options for an Asia cruise!The cruise lines have learned that shorter, more affordable cruises are popular among Asian travelers. If you choose a cruise of four to seven nights, you can get a taste of different parts of East and Southeast Asia and allow time for a pre- or post-cruise stay on land. Of course, you can choose a cruise of eight to 14 nights or more, too. Another option is to combine an ocean cruise with a cruise of China’s Yangtze River or Myanmar’s Mekong River, so that you will see some of Asia’s beautiful interior, like the famous Great Wall of China.Explore the options for an Asia cruise! With so many options for seeing Asia via cruise, let an experienced cruise travel professional guide you to your ideal itinerary and ship. To begin planning your exploration of Asia, contact a Cruise Specialists team member or view our featured Asia sailings.

More from my site

  • Angkor Wat Tour on the 2017 Grand World VoyageAngkor Wat Tour on the 2017 Grand World Voyage
  • Cruise Destination Spotlight: Cruising AsiaCruise Destination Spotlight: Cruising Asia
  • 5 Favorite Japanese Port Excursions5 Favorite Japanese Port Excursions
  • Special Send-Off for Grand Voyage for “Village” of Cruise Specialists Travelers Special Send-Off for Grand Voyage for “Village” of Cruise Specialists Travelers

Asia Cruise Reviews

SEARCH ARTICLES

Article Categories

  • Cruise Destinations
    • Africa Cruise Reviews
    • Alaska Cruise Reviews
    • Amazon Cruise Reviews
    • Antarctica Cruise Reviews
    • Arctic Cruise Reviews
    • Asia Cruise Reviews
    • Australia/New Zealand
    • Baltic Cruise Reviews
    • Canada/New England Cruise Reviews
    • Caribbean Cruise Reviews
    • Cuba Cruise Reviews
    • Europe Cruise Reviews
    • Galapagos Cruise Reviews
    • Grand Voyages
    • Hawaii Cruise Reviews
    • Iceland/Greenland
    • Mediterranean Cruise Reviews
    • Mexico Cruise Reviews
    • Panama Canal Cruise Reviews
    • Scandinavia and Northern Europe Cruise Reviews
    • South America Cruise Reviews
    • South Pacific Cruise Reviews
    • Transatlantic Cruise Reviews
    • World Cruise Reviews
  • Cruise FAQs
  • Cruise Lines
    • Abercrombie & Kent Reviews
    • AmaWaterways Cruise Reviews
    • American Cruise Line Reviews
    • American Queen Voyages Reviews
    • Aqua Expeditions Reviews
    • Atlas Ocean Voyages Reviews
    • Avalon Cruise Reviews
    • Azamara Cruise Reviews
    • Celebrity Cruise Reviews
    • Celebrity Galapagos Cruise Reviews
    • Cunard Cruise Reviews
    • Cunard World Cruise Reviews
    • Disney Cruise Reviews
    • Explora Journeys Cruise Reviews
    • Holland America Line Cruise Reviews
    • Holland America World Cruise Reviews
    • Hurtigruten Reviews
    • Lindblad/National Geographic Reviews
    • Norwegian Cruise Line Reviews
    • Oceania Cruise Reviews
    • Oceania World Cruise Reviews
    • Paul Gauguin Cruise Reviews
    • Ponant Cruise Reviews
    • Princess Cruise Reviews
    • Quark Expeditions Reviews
    • Regent Cruise Reviews
    • Regent Seven Seas Cruise
    • Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection
    • Royal Caribbean Cruise Reviews
    • Scenic Eclipse Discovery Yacht Reviews
    • Scenic River Cruise Reviews
    • Seabourn Cruise Reviews
    • Seabourn Expedition Cruise Reviews
    • Silversea Cruise Reviews
    • Silversea Expedition Cruise Reviews
    • Silversea World Cruise Reviews
    • Star Clippers Cruise Reviews
    • Tauck Cruise and Tauck Land Tour Reviews
    • UnCruise Adventures Reviews
    • Uniworld River Cruise Reviews
    • Viking Cruise Reviews
    • Viking Expedition Cruise Reviews
    • Viking Ocean Cruise Reviews
    • Virgin Voyages
    • Windstar Cruise Reviews
    • Zegrahm Expeditions
  • Cruise News
  • Cruise Ports
  • Cruise Specialists Benefits
  • Expedition Cruises
  • Hosted Cruises
  • Ralph Grizzle
  • River Cruises
  • Ship Reviews
  • Solo Cruising
  • Tom Mullen
  • Tours, Trains & Resorts
    • Palace Resorts Reviews
    • Safari Reviews
    • Shore Excursions
    • Trains

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Maggie Blehert

Her ideal travel day: venturing to a new place, learning something interesting and sharing a smile.
View My Blog Posts

Steve and Wendy Bodenheimer
Cruise Specialists Voyage Hosts reporting on their round the world journeys.
View My Blog Posts

Ralph Grizzle

The Avid Cruiser. Well-traveled and insightful. Helping you make informed cruise decisions.
View My Blog Posts

FOLLOW US ON

  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter