Gems Of The South China Sea Cruise

Day 1 - Hong Kong

Arrive: Sun 02 January 2022

Hong Kong is divided into four sections: Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, the New Territories, and the numerous outlying islands. One hundred sixty-four square miles of dense real estate dominate Hong Kong Island, including enormous skyscrapers with futuristic architecture, opulent hotels, residential compounds on Victoria Peak, and some of the oldest Chinese communities in the region. All these elements create one of the most exotic and exciting ports of call in the world; one that is universally loved by tourists and its own enterprising citizens.

Day 2 - Hong Kong

Depart: Mon 03 January 2022

Hong Kong is divided into four sections: Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, the New Territories, and the numerous outlying islands. One hundred sixty-four square miles of dense real estate dominate Hong Kong Island, including enormous skyscrapers with futuristic architecture, opulent hotels, residential compounds on Victoria Peak, and some of the oldest Chinese communities in the region. All these elements create one of the most exotic and exciting ports of call in the world; one that is universally loved by tourists and its own enterprising citizens.

Day 3 - Xiamen

Arrive: Tue 04 January 2022 at 08:00 / Depart: Tue 04 January 2022 at 18:00

Xiamen, facing the Taiwan Strait, has always been an important trading port. One of the earliest treaty ports opened to foreign trade in Chinese history, Europeans settled in Xiamen in the 1800s, leaving behind remnants of their architectural styles. Xiamen's rich cultural heritage and fascinating history is evident throughout this coastal city, and its surrounding countryside offers spectacular scenery, sub-tropical parks and pleasing tree-lined beaches.

Day 4 - At Sea

Day 5 - Hundred Islands

Arrive: Thu 06 January 2022 at 08:00 / Depart: Thu 06 January 2022 at 17:00

There are actually 124 islands in this Philippine National Park, and they are the remnants of an ancient coral reef, exposed by lowering sea levels and eroded into fanciful mushroom shapes. Now covered with vegetation, they make a pleasing maze through which to thread in a small boat, either for snorkeling or to watch for some of the many forms of wildlife including crab-eating macaques, civets, dolphins, occasional dugongs and a number of sea turtle species.

Day 6 - Manila

Arrive: Fri 07 January 2022 at 10:00

The port of Manila is the largest and most important in the archipelago. The city of Manila proper, which boasts the densest population in the world, is really only the center of a larger urban cluster called Manila Metro, housing over 12 million people. Most visitors will be attracted to the oldest section, called Intramuros, to see Spanish colonial architectural icons such as the Manila Cathedral or the ancient San Agustin church. The city’s Binondo neighborhood is the oldest Chinatown on earth, predating the arrival of the Spanish in the mid-18th Century. Rizal Park, in the area called Ermita, is home to many museums, themed gardens and other notable sights. An overnight stay will enable you to enjoy the renowned Manila sunset along the Baywalk, and also leave time for a visit to the important historical site of Corregidor Island in Manila Bay, the site of an Allied surrender in World War II, and then the triumphant return of General Douglas MacArthur to the Philippines.

Day 7 - Manila

Depart: Sat 08 January 2022 at 17:00

The port of Manila is the largest and most important in the archipelago. The city of Manila proper, which boasts the densest population in the world, is really only the center of a larger urban cluster called Manila Metro, housing over 12 million people. Most visitors will be attracted to the oldest section, called Intramuros, to see Spanish colonial architectural icons such as the Manila Cathedral or the ancient San Agustin church. The city’s Binondo neighborhood is the oldest Chinatown on earth, predating the arrival of the Spanish in the mid-18th Century. Rizal Park, in the area called Ermita, is home to many museums, themed gardens and other notable sights. An overnight stay will enable you to enjoy the renowned Manila sunset along the Baywalk, and also leave time for a visit to the important historical site of Corregidor Island in Manila Bay, the site of an Allied surrender in World War II, and then the triumphant return of General Douglas MacArthur to the Philippines.

Day 8 - Coron, Philippines

Arrive: Sun 09 January 2022 at 10:00 / Depart: Sun 09 January 2022 at 18:00

Coron is the largest town on Busuanga island in the province of Palawan. The town and the islands just offshore are a magnet for visitors seeking crystal-clear waters, fascinating sea life and no fewer than ten well-preserved shipwrecks from WWII. Coron Island is a popular choice, with numerous spectacular snorkeling sites, including Siete Pecados, the Twin Lagoons and Atuwayan Beach. One interesting phenomenon here is a reverse thermocline, with the water being warmer at depth, where it is heated by the volcanic activity that lurks beneath the islands, and cooler nearer the surface. One place where this is dramatically evident is at Busuanga Island’s Maquinit Hot Springs, one of the very few saltwater hot springs in the world. A visit here should include a dip in the spa-like set of pools that vary in temperature from hot to cooler.

Day 9 - Puerto Princessa, Palawan

Arrive: Mon 10 January 2022 at 10:00 / Depart: Mon 10 January 2022 at 23:00

This independent city occupies the mid-section of Palawan island in the southern Philippines. It is a center for eco-tourism in the archipelago, with notable coral reefs offshore including one, Tubbataha Reef, designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. One of the most famous of its sites is the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River, a national park and the longest navigable underground river in the world. A boat ride into the karst limestone passages, lined with dramatic stalagmites and stalactites, is a must when visiting the island. The river was inscribed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1999 and recently was voted one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature.

Day 10 - At Sea

Day 11 - Kota Kinabalu

Arrive: Wed 12 January 2022 at 07:00 / Depart: Wed 12 January 2022 at 23:00

KK is a large and important city on the island of Borneo, in the Malaysian section called Sabah. It was known as Jesselton during the British colonial period. The busy port is likely to reveal ships from every corner of the globe, including the itinerant Bugis sloops that dominate the interisland trade. The city has many reminders of different periods in its history, and a fascinating Chinatown called Gaya Street. The Mari Mari Cultural Village is a good place to get a handle on the cultures of Borneo’s numerous indigenous ethnic groups. Another fascinating local culture is seen in the stilt villages that line the coast, where generations live their lives suspended above the water and connected by precarious wooden walkways. Nearby, towering Mt. Kinabalu, Borneo’s tallest peak at over 13,000 feet, invites a sortie up its slopes, to view some of the over 1,200 species of orchids that bloom there.

Day 12 - At Sea

Day 13 - At Sea

Day 14 - Singapore

Arrive: Sat 15 January 2022

Founded as a British trading colony in 1819, Singapore joined the Malaysian Federation in 1963. Two years later, it became an independent island-state, developing into one of the world's most prosperous countries. With ultra-modern skyscrapers combined with a medley of Chinese, Indian and Malay influences, Singapore is a dynamic city rich in contrast and color, exhibiting a harmonious blend of culture, cuisine, arts and architecture.

Day 15 - Singapore

Depart: Sun 16 January 2022

Founded as a British trading colony in 1819, Singapore joined the Malaysian Federation in 1963. Two years later, it became an independent island-state, developing into one of the world's most prosperous countries. With ultra-modern skyscrapers combined with a medley of Chinese, Indian and Malay influences, Singapore is a dynamic city rich in contrast and color, exhibiting a harmonious blend of culture, cuisine, arts and architecture.