Asia 24/25 out....Anyone Booking?

[gordylad]

Never been to the far east but always thinking about it. Anyone been....anyone booking?

 

cheers

[sanger727]

Where are you thinking? We went to Japan a few years ago (land trip, not a cruise). However, Japan would probably adapt well for a cruise, most of the major cities are close to a coast.

 

We have a trip to southeast Asia booked later this month. We are traveling to Thailand on our own and then joining a river cruise to cruise from Cambodia to Vietnam. 

 

I'm not sure what the state of Japan's covid policies are now. Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam are all back to normal operations. 

[mahdnc]

We are booked for the 12 night Singapore to Hong Kong sailing Dec 2023 - Jan 2024 (Solstice).  This is the 3rd Lift and Shift from the COVID cancelled 14 night HK to Singapore Dec 2020 - Jan 2021 (Millennium).   We need Hong Kong to open up in order for this cruise to sail as it is now planned. 

[Ferry_Watcher]

1 hour ago, sanger727 said:

I'm not sure what the state of Japan's covid policies are now. Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam are all back to normal operations. 

 

I just returned from a land trip to Japan.  Japan opened up as of Oct 11, and everyone is wearing masks both inside and outside.  What an amazing country.  If you have an opportunity to go, do take advantage and go.

[sanger727]

57 minutes ago, Ferry_Watcher said:

 

I just returned from a land trip to Japan.  Japan opened up as of Oct 11, and everyone is wearing masks both inside and outside.  What an amazing country.  If you have an opportunity to go, do take advantage and go.

 

Yes. I've been to Japan. That's what I said in my post...

[Ferry_Watcher]

1 hour ago, sanger727 said:

Yes. I've been to Japan. That's what I said in my post...

 

Sorry my friend, the encouragement to travel to Asia was directed towards the OP.  I was just piggybacking off your comment regarding how open Japan was.  I literally just returned from Japan days ago and I am still basking in the wonderment of the trip.

[gordylad]

20 hours ago, sanger727 said:

Where are you thinking? We went to Japan a few years ago (land trip, not a cruise). However, Japan would probably adapt well for a cruise, most of the major cities are close to a coast.

 

We have a trip to southeast Asia booked later this month. We are traveling to Thailand on our own and then joining a river cruise to cruise from Cambodia to Vietnam. 

 

I'm not sure what the state of Japan's covid policies are now. Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam are all back to normal operations. 

I liked the look of this one but they tell me the Bangkok port is at least 2 hrs away..

at	Mar 15	Hong Kong: EMBARK
			Depart 8:00 PM
Day 2	Sun	Mar 16	Cruising: CRUISING
Day 3	Mon	Mar 17	Hanoi: DOCKED
			Arrive 7:00 AM
Day 4	Tue	Mar 18	Hanoi: DOCKED
				Depart 2:00 PM
Day 5	Wed	Mar 19	Chan May: DOCKED
			Arrive 8:00 AM	Depart 8:00 PM
Day 6	Thu	Mar 20	Cruising: CRUISING
Day 7	Fri	Mar 21	Ho Chi Minh City: DOCKED
			Arrive 7:00 AM	Depart 7:00 PM
Day 8	Sat	Mar 22	Cruising: CRUISING
Day 9	Sun	Mar 23	Bangkok: DOCKED
			Arrive 8:00 AM
Day 10	Mon	Mar 24	Bangkok: DOCKED
				Depart 5:00 PM
Day 11	Tue	Mar 25	Amphoe Ko Samui: TENDERED
			Arrive 7:00 AM	Depart 5:00 PM
Day 12	Wed	Mar 26	Cruising: CRUISING
Day 13	Thu	Mar 27	Singapore: DEBARK

[WrittenOnYourHeart]

I'm pondering it. I don't eat fish, and I know how fish-heavy the Japanese diet is, so a cruise seems like the best way for me to visit and have safe for me food. We'll see though.

[cruisemom42]

I'm booked on HAL for a BTB trip that circumnavigates Japan in cherry blossom season. I was waiting for Celebrity's itineraries to see what they offer, as I prefer the Celebrity onboard experience. Unfortunately, Celebrity doesn't seem to start sailing until the cherry blossom season is almost over (April 21) and even that itinerary isn't wonderful. The following one is better, but by that time I probably would not count on seeing much of the blossoms....

 

I realize it's a picky point, but may be helpful to some. I've been to Japan twice before but primarily to Tokyo and Kyoto (and close-by environs).  My primary wish is to see some new places but specifically the sakura.

 

[cruisemom42]

37 minutes ago, cruisemom42 said:

I'm booked on HAL for a BTB trip that circumnavigates Japan in cherry blossom season. I was waiting for Celebrity's itineraries to see what they offer, as I prefer the Celebrity onboard experience. Unfortunately, Celebrity doesn't seem to start sailing until the cherry blossom season is almost over (April 21) and even that itinerary isn't wonderful. The following one is better, but by that time I probably would not count on seeing much of the blossoms....

 

I realize it's a picky point, but may be helpful to some. I've been to Japan twice before but primarily to Tokyo and Kyoto (and close-by environs).  My primary wish is to see some new places but specifically the sakura.

 

 

Sorry, I just realized that Celebrity had included the earlier 2024 Asia cruises in the previous booking season.  Looks like there is some discussion currently about the status of the earlier Japan cruises on Millie though....

[dani negreanu]

4 hours ago, gordylad said:

I liked the look of this one but they tell me the Bangkok port is at least 2 hrs away..

 

Indeed, but we travelled there, stayed overnight, and had a blast. Have done on Millie the same itinerary, just started in Singapore and ended in HK.

 

We booked a transfer to Bangkok along with others from our roll call, and it worked perfectly. 8AM pickup, by 11am we were already touring. For return to ship the pick up was 1PM, and it was less than 2 hours, since it was well after the rush hour of the early morning.

 

I've chosen Chatrium Riverside, since it was, well... on the river, and we could beat the horrendous traffic in BK by travelling on water. Others stayed in an MBK hotel.

 

Halong Bay was the highlight of our trip, and it is not to be missed.