Cruise West Cruises, Grand Asia, Cruise Vacation Package
Duration: 19 Days / 18 Nights
Priced From: $ 9,599 pp Dbl. Occ.
Dates: Nov
Ship: Spirit of Oceanus
Departs: Kobe, Japan
Itinerary
Day 1 - OSAKA / KYOTO
From Osaka airport transfer to Kyoto, and check into your deluxe hotel.
Day 2 - KYOTO
Explore the city known as Nihon no Furasato (The Heart of Japan). Kyoto, a living museum of the country’s artistic and cultural heritage, had been Japan’s capital for more than 11 centuries. Visit Kiyomizu Temple, dedicated to the 11-faced Buddhist deity, Kannon. Built on stilts, this UNESCO World Heritage Site offers outstanding views of the city and access to the Otowa no taki (Sound of Feathers) waterfall. BLD
Day 3 - KYOTO
Delight in transcendent temples and pavilions, including the Ryoanji (Peaceful Dragon) Temple, which is renowned for its Zen garden. Named for the gold leaf on lacquer that covers its floors, the Kinkakuji (Golden) Pavilion houses sacred relics of Buddha. The shogun’s samurai could secretly observe visitors from hidden rooms in Nijo Castle, with its thick outer walls, moat, and corridors constructed with “nightingale floors” that squeak to warn of anyone approaching. BL
Day 4 - KYOTO / NARA / KOBE
Another UNESCO World Heritage Site, Nara is home to the enormous bronze Buddha, the Daibutsu, at Todaiji Temple. The seated giant weighs 550 tons and incorporates 290 pounds of gold. Horyuji Temple, founded in 607, is the oldest intact temple complex in Japan, and houses the world’s oldest wooden buildings, as well as a vast collection of Buddhist art. Continue to Kobe and check in to your deluxe hotel. BL
Day 5 - KOBE
Enjoy the morning at leisure to explore historic attractions of this port city, one of the first to begin accepting foreign traders following Japan’s two and a half centuries of isolation. Visit Himeji (White Egret) Castle, Japan’s most beautiful stronghold. Board the Spirit of Oceanus and set sail in the early evening. BD
Day 6 - MIYAJIMA / HIROSHIMA
Bright red floating torii (gates) and tame deer welcome you to Miyajima as you approach the mountainous “island of the shrines,” once regarded as so sacred a place that people were forbidden to till the soil, give birth, pass away or be buried on the land. Here we will meet a Shinto priest and enjoy a performance and personal tour of the famous Itsukushima Shinto shrine.
Hiroshima, a city once battered, is now thriving and devoted to peace. In memory of the 1945 atomic bomb explosion, a Peace Flame, never to be extinguished until all nuclear weapons are abolished, burns in front of the Memorial Cenotaph. Tour the Peace Park, Atomic Bomb Dome and Peace Memorial Museum. BLD
Day 7 - NAGASAKI
Once Japan’s “Gateway to the West,” Nagasaki was one of the few ports open to foreign traders during Japan’s 250-year period of isolation. It was also the second city to be destroyed by an atomic bomb in World War II. Peace Memorial Park offers spectacular views, a reminder of the war’s devastation and a message of hope and rebirth. Tour the Atomic Bomb Museum and Glover Garden, an open-air museum exhibiting 19th-century Victorian mansions and gardens built by an enterprising Scotsman who helped to overthrow the shogunate. BLD
Day 8 - AT SEA
Relax aboard the gracious Spirit of Oceanus as you cruise towards China. BLD
Day 9 - SHANGHAI, CHINA
Originally a sleepy fishing town, Shanghai is now China’s premier cultural, commercial and financial center and the largest city in the country. Strategically located at the mouth of the Yangtze River, it’s one of the world’s busiest ports. The new, architecturally adventurous Shanghai Museum exhibits an extraordinary collection of Chinese art through the ages, while the beautiful pavilions, corridors, streams and courtyards of the Yuyuan Garden offer timeless tranquility. Other not-to-be-missed Shanghai experiences include the French Concession District and Nan Shi, the ancient quarter. BLD
Day 10 - SHANGHAI / SUZHOU
Delve deeper into Shanghai, exploring the city on your own, or meander the classical gardens of Suzhou on an optional excursion. BLD
Day 11 - AT SEA
Bask in the amenities of the Spirit of Oceanus and prepare for the delights ahead as we sail south along China’s eastern coast. BLD
Day 12 - AT SEA
Bask in the amenities of the Spirit of Oceanus and prepare for the delights ahead as we sail south along China’s eastern coast. BLD
Day 13 - XIAMEN
A fusion of natural splendor and man-made wonders, Xiamen (meaning “gate of China”) has been one of China’s major seaports since ancient times. Explore the extraordinary Buddhist Nanputao Temple nestled at the foot of the massive Wulaofeng (Mountain of Five Old Men) overlooking the sea. Return the smile of a Laughing Buddha at the Heavenly Kings Hall and visit Gulangyu Island, home to 20,000 residents, renowned for its delicate natural beauty, ancient relics and colonial architecture. BLD
Day 14 - HONG KONG
Ride to the top of Victoria Peak for a stunning panoramic view of the city. Browse the open-air Stanley Market for everything from silk garments to arts and crafts to costume jewelry. Visit the Man Mo Temple (built to honor the god of literature and the god of war) alongside students praying for good results on their exams. BLD
Day 15 - AT SEA
Skip the roadways and make your way to Vietnam in the lap of luxury — relaxing aboard the Spirit of Oceanus as you sail the South China Sea. BLD
Day 16 - DANANG / HOI AN
Strategically located in Vietnam’s center, Danang played an important role in the wars of the 20th century. Nearby Hoi An, a small town nestled on the banks of the Thu Bon River, was a vital seaport in the Champa Kingdom. Harboring a wealth of temples, pagodas and shrines, Hoi An has been classified a UNESCO World Heritage Site. BLD
Day 17 - DANANG / HUE
Hue, the Imperial City, once capital of the Nguyen dynasty (1802-1945), located on the banks of the Huong or “Perfume” River — surrounded by rice fields, is an important trade center. Legacies of both the ancient Champa Kingdom and years of colonial rule are alive in the city’s art and architecture, including the Forbidden Purple City and the moated Imperial Citadel. BLD
Day 18 - AT SEA
Soak up the expertise of our Exploration Leaders and learn about the cultures you’ve experienced and are about to encounter as we cruise north towards Haiphong. BLD
Day 19 - HA LONG BAY, VIETNAM
Take in a seascape of thousands of limestone mountains dotting calm waters as you approach Ha Long Bay. Known as the “Bay of the Descending Dragon,” this UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Gulf of Tonkin includes some 1,600 mostly uninhabited islands and islets. Legend has it that Ha Long Bay was carved into the seabed by the tail of a dragon as it plunged to earth. BLD
Day 20 - HAIPHONG / HANOI
After disembarking in Haiphong, explore Hanoi, Vietnam’s capital. A fascinating blend of East and West, Hanoi’s architecture is a fusion of Chinese influence from centuries of dominance, and French design from its colonial past. Spend the night at your deluxe hotel. BL
Day 21 - HANOI
Explore Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum and the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology. In the evening, toast your journey with a special farewell dinner at the imposing Co Loa Citadel, an architectural wonder and Vietnam’s first capital. BD
Day 22 - HANOI / HOME
Following breakfast, you’ll be transferred to the Hanoi Airport for your flight home. B
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For Reservations: Fill out the Cruise West Cruises Vacation Planner to be Contacted by Our Cruise West Cruises, Grand Asia Vacation Specialist.
Contact: Travelwizard.com
Phone: 1-800-330-8820 or 1-415-446-5252
11/09
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