Idyllic Islands & Captivating Cultures of Asia Cruise

Day 1 - Southampton

Arrive: Sat 18 January 2025 / Depart: Sat 18 January 2025

Southampton offers fast and efficient check-in areas, spacious departure lounges with seating areas, café-bars and smart washrooms. If you wish to travel by car and park for the duration of your cruise, you can pay for and reserve parking in advance directly with the relevant company. Alternatively, if being dropped off or collected by taxi or private car, they can drive right up alongside the terminal building.

Day 2 - At Sea

Day 3 - At Sea

Day 4 - At Sea

Day 5 - Gibraltar

Arrive: Wed 22 January 2025 / Depart: Wed 22 January 2025

Dominated by ‘the Rock', a towering 1, 396 ft sentinel that guards the Straits, the Arabs' Gebel el Tarik or Tarik's Rock is today simply ‘Gib'. Resolutely British for nearly 300 years, its unique setting unites the oddly familiar - from the helmeted policemen to Marks & Spencer - with an extrovert Mediterranean mood. Test the shops and pubs in Main Street and Irish Town, take a cable-car ride to enjoy the grandstand views to a nearby Africa, and of course make a call on those Barbary apes!

Day 6 - At Sea

Day 7 - At Sea

Day 8 - Malta

Arrive: Sat 25 January 2025 / Depart: Sat 25 January 2025

Strategically situated midway between Sicily and North Africa, Malta is in every sense a Mediterranean crossroads - a tiny island with an epic and heroic history in which invasion and siege have seen the influence Romans, Phoenicians, Greeks, Arabs, Normans, Crusaders and, of course, Britain all leave an enduring mark upon its cultural heritage. The16th century walled capital of Valletta with its Grand Harbour is a treasure-chest bristling with Baroque architecture, its narrow streets a tempting honeycomb of colourful shops and stalls.

Day 9 - At Sea

Day 10 - At Sea

Day 11 - Alexandria

Arrive: Tue 28 January 2025

A Roman amphitheatre, ancient catacombs and the site of the great Pharos lighthouse recall distant glories, while the 19th century Montazah Palace - a former royal residence - and seafront boulevards reflect a more recent era. Alexandria exists in the land that gave birth to the first great civilisation.

Day 12 - Alexandria

Depart: Wed 29 January 2025

A Roman amphitheatre, ancient catacombs and the site of the great Pharos lighthouse recall distant glories, while the 19th century Montazah Palace - a former royal residence - and seafront boulevards reflect a more recent era. Alexandria exists in the land that gave birth to the first great civilisation.

Day 13 - Suez

Arrive: Thu 30 January 2025 / Depart: Thu 30 January 2025

The Canal crosses the Isthmus of Suez dividing the Mediterranean from the Red Sea, and is one of the world’s most impressive man made waterways, 101 miles in length. Opened in 1869 it remains one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes.

Day 14 - Sharm El Sheikh

Arrive: Fri 31 January 2025 / Depart: Fri 31 January 2025

Explore coral reefs, home to a host of rainbow-coloured fish and sea-gardens - at their best near Ras Mohammed Park and Na'ama Bay. Travel inland to the 6th century Byzantine Greek Orthodox monastery of St. Catherine's, the oldest continuously inhabited monastery in the world, set in the shadow of Mt. Sinai, the site of the Burning Bush, where, according to tradition, Moses received the Ten Commandments.

Day 15 - Safaga

Arrive: Sat 01 February 2025 / Depart: Sat 01 February 2025

On Egypt's Red Sea coast, Safaga allows you to witness the awesome legacy of the pharaohs at Luxor and the inimitable Valley of the Kings on the banks of the Nile. Safaga is also renowned for its wide azure bay, long sandy beaches and pretty islands.

Day 16 - At Sea

Day 17 - At Sea

Day 18 - At Sea

Day 19 - At Sea

Day 20 - Salalah

Arrive: Thu 06 February 2025 / Depart: Thu 06 February 2025

Better known as the perfume city of Arabia, is the capital of Oman's southern Dhofar region. It is an area rich in antiquities and offers magnificent mountain scenery, captivating beaches and an awe-inspiring desert. Visits can be made to the tomb of the phophet Job located at Mount Eiteen. Traditional markets are bound to draw you, and offer the best varieties of frankincense and perfumes indigenously produced by the local Omani people.

Day 21 - At Sea

Day 22 - At Sea

Day 23 - At Sea

Day 24 - At Sea

Day 25 - Colombo, Sri Lanka

Arrive: Tue 11 February 2025 / Depart: Tue 11 February 2025

The port city of Colombo is rich with colonial heritage, religions, races and cultures. With a population of over 4.5 million people, Colombo is a bustling, fascinating and noisy city. It combines Dutch and British colonial buildings, with Buddhist temples, Islamic mosques, Christian churches, and modern gleaming skyscrapers. The impressive Colombo National Museum, dedicated to Sri Lankan history, is worth uncovering and it borders the sprawling Viharamahadevi Park, home to a giant Buddha. The narrow cobbled streets of Pettah, the main bazaar district, are full of shops and street markets selling an amazing array of goods at bargain prices. There are plenty of places to eat, from small shops selling pancakes to coffee shops and upmarket restaurants. A more rustic, slow-paced Sri Lankan experience can be found in nearby Negombo, with its quaint village streets and lively fish market. Alternatively, sun seekers can venture to the private beach of Mt. Lavinia, located on the breath-taking Golden Mile beachfront.

Day 26 - Hambantota

Arrive: Wed 12 February 2025 / Depart: Wed 12 February 2025

Hambantota is the main town in Hambantota District, Southern Province, Sri Lanka. This underdeveloped area was hit hard by the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami and is undergoing a number of major development projects including the construction of a new sea port and international airport finished in 2013.

Day 27 - At Sea

Day 28 - At Sea

Day 29 - Sabang

Arrive: Sat 15 February 2025 / Depart: Sat 15 February 2025

Although it has been a popular destination for in-the-know divers and hikers for decades, remote Weh Island – also known locally as Pulau Weh – has managed to stay off Indonesia’s well-trodden beaten track. The island, much of which is part of a National Wildlife Protection Area, is beautifully unspoilt and boasts gorgeous beaches, dense jungle interiors and coral reefs that beg for exploration. Weh’s scuba diving and snorkelling spots are among the very best in Southeast Asia. The island’s underwater canyons and rugged rocks are sanctuary’s for a diverse array of marine flora and fauna, such as lionfish and clown fish, thorny seahorse, hawksbill turtle, Kuhl’s stingray and whale sharks to name just a few. Wonderful wildlife awaits discovery within the depths of the island’s lush volcanic landscapes too, including wild monkeys, lizards, boar and colourful butterflies.

Day 30 - Phuket

Arrive: Sun 16 February 2025 / Depart: Sun 16 February 2025

Thailand is known as the 'land of smiles', whose gentle people are the friendliest you could ever meet. So be assured of a warm welcome in Phuket. This increasingly popular retreat, still mercifully unspoilt, boasts a stunningly colourful landscape of lush tropical plantations, dramatic mountain rainforest and endless white beaches.

Day 31 - At Sea

Day 32 - At Sea

Day 33 - At Sea

Day 34 - Muara, Brunei

Arrive: Thu 20 February 2025 / Depart: Thu 20 February 2025

Muara is a town in the north-easternmost part of Brunei-Muara District, Brunei. It is officially known in Malay as Pekan Muara but is administered as a village-level subdivision under the mukim or subdistrict of Serasa. Muara has no municipal body.

Day 35 - At Sea

Day 36 - Coron, Busuanga Island, Philippines

Day 37 - Puerto Princessa, Palawan

Arrive: Sun 23 February 2025 / Depart: Sun 23 February 2025

Day 38 - Sandakan

Arrive: Mon 24 February 2025

Borneo, a giant, rugged island in Southeast Asia’s Malay Archipelago, is shared by the Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak, Indonesian Kalimantan and the tiny nation of Brunei. It’s known for its beaches and ancient, biodiverse rainforest, home to wildlife including orangutans and clouded leopards. In Sabah is 4,095m-tall Mount Kinabalu,

Day 39 - Sandakan

Depart: Tue 25 February 2025

Borneo, a giant, rugged island in Southeast Asia’s Malay Archipelago, is shared by the Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak, Indonesian Kalimantan and the tiny nation of Brunei. It’s known for its beaches and ancient, biodiverse rainforest, home to wildlife including orangutans and clouded leopards. In Sabah is 4,095m-tall Mount Kinabalu,

Day 40 - At Sea

Day 41 - At Sea

Day 42 - Ho Chi Minh City

Arrive: Fri 28 February 2025 / Depart: Fri 28 February 2025

Located right on the banks of the Saigon River, Ho Chi Minh City (previously Saigon) is the country's economic centre. With a population of over 5 million and spread across a vast area, this vibrant city still retains some interesting examples of French colonial architecture. Colourful markets selling everything from chillies to French baguettes and, of course, an endless stream of bicycles, tricycles and motorbikes, all add to the charm of this cosmopolitan city.

Day 43 - At Sea

Day 44 - Sihanoukville

Arrive: Sun 02 March 2025 / Depart: Sun 02 March 2025

Sihanoukville has a different look and feel than most Cambodian towns. Surrounded by white-sand beaches and undeveloped tropical islands Sihanoukville is a place to unwind by the beach, enjoy the fresh from-the-ocean seafood, take in a snorkeling or scuba trip, and generally slow down and relax.

Day 45 - At Sea

Day 46 - Singapore

Arrive: Tue 04 March 2025

When Sir Stamford Raffles claimed Singapore for the British East India Company in 1819, it was nothing but a swampy, thickly jungled island populated by a handful of fishermen and sea gypsies. Stragetically placed as the tip of the Malay peninsula, there had long been visits from a variety of sea craft, including Chinese junks, Indian vessels, Arab dhows and Portuguese battleships – Raffles' arrival merely formalised Singapore's status as a port of international renown. Merchants of every race, colour and creed were quickly drawn to the island, and by 1911, Singapore had a population of 250,000 people, comprising 48 races, speaking 54 languages!

Day 47 - Singapore

Depart: Wed 05 March 2025

When Sir Stamford Raffles claimed Singapore for the British East India Company in 1819, it was nothing but a swampy, thickly jungled island populated by a handful of fishermen and sea gypsies. Stragetically placed as the tip of the Malay peninsula, there had long been visits from a variety of sea craft, including Chinese junks, Indian vessels, Arab dhows and Portuguese battleships – Raffles' arrival merely formalised Singapore's status as a port of international renown. Merchants of every race, colour and creed were quickly drawn to the island, and by 1911, Singapore had a population of 250,000 people, comprising 48 races, speaking 54 languages!

Day 48 - Port Klang

Arrive: Thu 06 March 2025 / Depart: Thu 06 March 2025

Port Klang is the main gateway to Malaysia. While principally a hopping-off point for Kuala Lumpur, the country’s largest seaport does have a fine reputation for excellent seafood. The skyline of the nearby capital, Kuala Lumpur, is dotted with minarets and Mogul-style domes but dominated by the 451m-tall Petronas Twin Towers: a pair of glass-and-steel-clad skyscrapers with Islamic motifs and connected by a dizzying public skybridge and observation deck. The city also features British colonial-era landmarks such as the Kuala Lumpur Railway Station and the Sultan Abdul Samad Building. This incredibly diverse city is awash with multicultural character; its colourful streets, shaded by the leafy canopies of banyan trees, are lined with the most delicious food stalls selling local specialities like dim sum and wonton noodles. On a different level, glitzy air-conditioned malls such as Pavilion Kuala Lumpur and Mid Valley Megamall offer designer fashion and bargains, while Bangsar and Publika are the places to go for goods from offbeat independent designers. A walk down these streets as they transform from soaring skyscrapers to busy coffee shops and then to lush green parkland with blossoms and ponds, is a truly unforgettable experience.

Day 49 - At Sea

Day 50 - At Sea

Day 51 - At Sea

Day 52 - At Sea

Day 53 - Kochi, India

Arrive: Tue 11 March 2025 / Depart: Tue 11 March 2025

Known as the Queen of the Arabian Sea, serene Kochi on India’s south-western coast has been drawing traders, explorers and travellers to its shores for over 600 years. Formerly the port of Cochin, Kochi grew to prominence as an outlet for the spice trade in the 14th century, and is most famous for the iconic-cantilevered Chinese fishing nets that billow out across its harbour.[ReadMoreMob] This ancient trading centre is a melting pot of cultures and religions, evident in the town’s buildings, which range from the oldest synagogue in the British Commonwealth to the austere Mattancherry Palace, built by the Dutch but influenced by the Portuguese.

Day 54 - At Sea

Day 55 - Mumbai

Arrive: Thu 13 March 2025

After three days crossing the Arabian Sea, Mumbai appears off the port bow. Once a cluster of seven islands covered with coconut palms, Mumbai is a vibrant city where industy, skyscrapers, bustling bazaars, religious sites like the Jain Temple and the closely guarded Parsi Towers of Silence all exist happily side by side. Also see the Victoria Railway Terminus; the Royal Bombay Yacht Club and the Ghandi Memorial Museum. Named after the goddess Mumbai, this relic empire is dominated by the Gateway of India.

Day 56 - Mumbai

Depart: Fri 14 March 2025

After three days crossing the Arabian Sea, Mumbai appears off the port bow. Once a cluster of seven islands covered with coconut palms, Mumbai is a vibrant city where industy, skyscrapers, bustling bazaars, religious sites like the Jain Temple and the closely guarded Parsi Towers of Silence all exist happily side by side. Also see the Victoria Railway Terminus; the Royal Bombay Yacht Club and the Ghandi Memorial Museum. Named after the goddess Mumbai, this relic empire is dominated by the Gateway of India.

Day 57 - At Sea

Day 58 - At Sea

Day 59 - Muscat

Arrive: Mon 17 March 2025 / Depart: Mon 17 March 2025

Muscat, Oman’s port capital, offers plenty of history, an air of tradition, and a distinctly exotic location, all crammed between the mountains, the sea – laden with fauna-rich lagoons – and the desert. With history dating back to ancient times, Muscat mixes modern architecture and fashionable shopping malls with souks, Royal Palaces and landmarks like its 16th century Portuguese forts, Al Jalali and Mirani that keep watch over the harbour. The ornate marble-clad Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, with its 50m dome, can accommodate 20,000 people. This most modern of Islamic buildings is also home to the world’s second largest hand-woven carpet, which took four years to thread and is made from various vibrant vegetable dyes. The opening of the Royal Opera House in 2011, and the splendid National Museum which opened six years later, offer additional culture highlights that give the city a personality all of its own.

Day 60 - At Sea

Day 61 - At Sea

Day 62 - At Sea

Day 63 - At Sea

Day 64 - At Sea

Day 65 - Jeddah

Arrive: Sun 23 March 2025 / Depart: Sun 23 March 2025

Day 66 - At Sea

Day 67 - Aqaba

Arrive: Tue 25 March 2025 / Depart: Tue 25 March 2025

The rose-red city; perhaps the finest archaeological site in the Middle East, hewn from sandstone over 2,000 years ago and only re-discovered in 1812. The Treasury of the Nabateans is without doubt, one of the world's great sights. Nearer to Aqaba is the spectacular scenery of Lawrence of Arabia's Wadi Rum.

Day 68 - Suez

Arrive: Wed 26 March 2025

The Canal crosses the Isthmus of Suez dividing the Mediterranean from the Red Sea, and is one of the world’s most impressive man made waterways, 101 miles in length. Opened in 1869 it remains one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes.

Day 69 - Suez

Depart: Thu 27 March 2025

The Canal crosses the Isthmus of Suez dividing the Mediterranean from the Red Sea, and is one of the world’s most impressive man made waterways, 101 miles in length. Opened in 1869 it remains one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes.

Day 70 - Limassol

Arrive: Fri 28 March 2025 / Depart: Fri 28 March 2025

Limassol is the chief port of the Republic of Cyprus. The city lies on Akrotiri Bay, on the southern coast, southwest of Nicosia; it is the island's second largest city and is also its chief tourist centre. Close by Limassol are the ruins of Kolossi Castle, where King Richard I of Englad is reputed to have honeymooned with Berengaria in 1191. Also worth visiting are the ruins of the 11th-century BC Mycenaean colony of Curium; and the ruins of Amathus, founded by the Phoenicians in 1100 BC. The ancient city of Paphos - the fourth century BC capital to the Kings of Egypt - offers an enchanting excursion.

Day 71 - At Sea

Day 72 - Rhodes

Arrive: Sun 30 March 2025 / Depart: Sun 30 March 2025

Largest island of the Dodecanese, Rhodes was the headquarters of the crusader Knights of St John before defeat by the Ottoman Turks. Within the capital's massive citadel walls the medieval Old Town presents a hive of narrow cobbled streets, dominated by the Avenue of the Knights and imposing Palace of the Grand Masters. More modern distractions await in the New Town while nearby is picturesque Lindos, clustered below a hilltop acropolis and Crusader Castle.

Day 73 - Heraklion

Arrive: Mon 31 March 2025 / Depart: Mon 31 March 2025

Capital of the ruggedly beautiful Crete, largest of the Greek Islands, whose ancient legends and history dates back 5,000 years to the Minoans, Europe's first civilisation. Here was born Zeus, king of the gods, and here at the site of Knossos was the fabled labyrinth where Theseus slew the Minotaur. Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Venetians and Turks have all left their mark, and more recent monuments to the battles of World War II abound.

Day 74 - At Sea

Day 75 - Catania, Sicily

Arrive: Wed 02 April 2025 / Depart: Wed 02 April 2025

Greeks, Romans and Aragonese held sway in turn here in Sicily's ancient city below Mount Etna. Over the years it ahs survived earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, its indomitable spirit reflected in the many sumptuous noble Baroque buildings - notable among them the Cathedral and Castello Ursino - and monumental scenes of great overall harmony. Visit the Bellini Museum (the composer was born here); travel further afield to the fashionable resort of Taormina; or take a cable car ride up to the hissing craters of Mount Etna!

Day 76 - At Sea

Day 77 - At Sea

Day 78 - Cartagena, Spain

Arrive: Sat 05 April 2025 / Depart: Sat 05 April 2025

Today Spain's major commercial port and naval base, Cartagena lies on the coast of Murcia, its great indented bay guarded by rocky promontories, each topped by a fort. Founded in 221 BC by Hasdrubal, leader of the Carthaginians (hence the name) from North Africa, it has a fascinating history - and as Nova Carthage was long the Romans' principal settlement in their Iberian stronghold. Attractive promenades extend along the harbour, while to the northeast is the famous beach and watersports resort area of the lagoon-like Mar Menor.

Day 79 - At Sea

Day 80 - Lisbon

Arrive: Mon 07 April 2025 / Depart: Mon 07 April 2025

It was from historic Lisbon, built on seven low hills beside the wide Tagus estuary, that some of Europe's greatest explorers set sail in pursuit of the riches that built Portugal's former global empire in the New World, Africa and the Indies. Memories of that glorious past linger amid the grand avenues and elegant squares of the attractive capital's 18th century lower town - a vivid contrast with the colourful honeycomb of cobbled streets in the old Moorish Alfama quarter and the bohemian mood of the hilly Bairro Alto.

Day 81 - At Sea

Day 82 - At Sea

Day 83 - Southampton

Arrive: Thu 10 April 2025 / Depart: Thu 10 April 2025

Southampton offers fast and efficient check-in areas, spacious departure lounges with seating areas, café-bars and smart washrooms. If you wish to travel by car and park for the duration of your cruise, you can pay for and reserve parking in advance directly with the relevant company. Alternatively, if being dropped off or collected by taxi or private car, they can drive right up alongside the terminal building.