The cruise region Aussies are flocking to as demand soars

While Japan continues to ride high in the travel popularity rankings and spots like South Korea and Singapore also attract flocks of tourists, Aussies in particular can’t get enough of holidays to Asia. However, a fresh way to see the region is also booming – cruising.

While traditional cruise destinations the Mediterranean, Caribbean and, for Aussies, the South Pacific, are the staples of holidays at sea, Asian cruising is getting so popular one cruise giant is sending two ships there.

Princess Cruises will have Diamond Princess and Sapphire Princess in the region for 2028, for its “largest-ever Japan summer season”.

Both will home port in Tokyo and options include late night stays in some ports and cruises to coincide with festivals and cherry blossom season.

“Japan delivers the depth and cultural richness of long-haul destinations like Europe, but with far greater proximity for Australian travellers. Combined with cruising, it becomes a seamless way to explore,” Matthew RutherfordVice President Asia Pacific, Princess Cruises said.

Read more

Beloved Aussie resort opened in the 60s enters a new era with fancy addition

Cruise expert Adrian Tassone, The Cruise and Travel Guy, said it’s a combination of a lack of cruise options closer to home, as well as the proximity to the region which is attracting Aussies to Asia.

“Asia is the perfect choice for Australians who want to cruise to a new part of the world without breaking the bank paying for an airfare, and without spending a big chunk of their holiday in an airplane,” he told nine.com.au.

He said avid travellers can tick off multiple spots in a short period of time.

“I cruised from Japan to Taiwan, and I absolutely loved how many ports of call we got to enjoy in a ten-day period,” he said.

“Not only did we have plenty of time to explore new cities, but each one felt so distinct from the others.

“The culture is a blend of ancient traditions and innovation, and it’s a spectacle to enjoy.

“There were still opportunities to enjoy a sea day here and there for some downtime, but I felt like I could really maximise my time being a tourist.”

With ships sailing from ports across the region including Busan, Hong Kong, Seoul Singapore, Tokyo, and even Bali, Adrian recommends Japan cruises for curious first-timers.

“These give you a fantastic overview of Japan and just how vastly different one part of the country is from the next,” he said.

Options also include NCL, Celebrity Cruises, and luxury brands such as Oceania, Silversea, Regent Seven Seas, and Azamara.

Itineraries include an 11-night January 2027 cruise on Celebrity Millenium from Bali to Singapore, taking in Celukan and Bawang in Indonesia, Port Klang, Penang and Langkawi in Malaysia and Phuket, Thailand

Or try Norwegian Cruise Line’s nine-day Norwegian Jade cruise from Tokyo this November.

Read more

All the cruise ships coming to Australia for the summer season

It visits Shumizu for Mount Fuji, Osaka, Kochi, Hiroshima, Miyakojima, Taipei in Taiwan and ends in Hong Kong.

Princess Cruises also has a round trip from Yokohama on the seven-day Japan and Korea voyage.

Visit places including Nagasaki, Jeju, Kobe, and Shimizu on Diamond Princess.

Or try Japanese company Mitsui Ocean Cruises, which takes you on a journey around the Land of the Rising Sun on an intimate ship.

You’ll be immersed in the culture as you explore the popular holiday destination, which blends “omotenashi” or heartfelt hospitality with Western luxury.

Discover more about cruising on nine.com.au:

• Cruise captain’s trick to improve an inside cabin on a ship
• ‘You won’t need it’: Cruise packing mistake many travellers make
• All the private islands, resorts, and exclusive destinations you can visit on cruises
• Couple who have done 36 cruises say the best cabin on a ship may surprise you
• No more midnight buffets: Seven major changes cruise lines have seen in the last 25 years
• ‘No money, no experience’: How famous Aussie built a cruise empire
• First look inside Royal Caribbean’s ‘record-breaking’ new mega ship Hero of the Seas