There are an ever-increasing variety of cruises to choose from covering exotic Asia, the natural beauties of the Indian Ocean islands and India itself.
There are massive differences in cultures, cuisines, languages between the different countries in Asia and the Indian Ocean, so there is always find something new to enjoy.
Highlights of the Far East
The key highlights of a Far East cruise is likely to include favourites such as Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia, while vibrant Hong Kong features in itineraries taking in more off the beaten track destinations in Vietnam and Brunei.
Other cruise ships venture into even more remote parts of the Far East, with more Vietnam ports of call being added every year - often as part of world cruises.
If you want to enjoy the full Indian Ocean experience - remember this is a vast expanse of sea - the best option is take a sector of a world cruise departing from Cape Town and calling at other points in South Africa and Mayotte in the Comoros Islands, a French territory encircled by an amazing coral reef.
Cruises to Far East
However, more options are becoming available. Costa Cruises was the first international cruise company authorised to operate in the Chinese market departing from Chinese ports and is increasing its presence in the region with cruises from Hong Kong and Singapore on three ships in 2010.
These specialist itineraries are open to UK travellers giving a choice of five-, seven-, 16- and 18-day itineraries departing from Hong Kong sailing to destinations including The Philippines, Borneo, Brunei, Singapore, Vietnam, China, South Korea and Japan.
The Italian line is also breaking new ground by becoming the first company to run regular 16-day Indian Ocean cruises from Mauritius.
The ship Costa Romantica sails from the luxury holiday island to the beautiful Seychelles, Kenya for safaris and wonderful beaches, the Comoros Islands, Madagascar with its teeming marine, bird and wildlife and France’s Réunion island during the UK winter months.
Other cruise companies operate in the Indian Ocean and Far East, such as Royal Caribbean International and P&O Cruises, which offers winter cruising between India and Hong Kong with calls in ports such as Cochin, the first European township in India; Chennai, formerly known as Madras; Colombo in Sri Lanka; the ‘Lion City of Singapore; Kuantan in Malaysia; stunning Bangkok; and the beautiful resort area of Nha Trang in Vietnam.
Sights of the Far East
When in the Garden City of Singapore, you will miss out if you don't try a Singapore Sling in the Long Bar at Raffles Hotel and visit the Bugis Street, Little India and Arab Street markets.
The Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur is a 90 minute drive away from the port where cruise ships dock but this enables you to see the Salahuddin "Blue" Mosque - the largest in Southeast Asia with room for 16,000 worshippers - and visit the Batu Caves where a stone staircase with 272 steps leads up to a Hindu Shrine.
Kuantan on the unspoilt east coast offers a feel of the real Malaysia with perfect beaches, mangrove and paddy fields and sleepy fishing villages.
Look out for the Snake temple in Penang and Key Lok Si, the largest and supposedly the finest Buddhist Temple in South East Asia.
Laem Chabang is not just the gateway to the Thai capital Bangkok, with its historic palaces, extravagant temples and floating markets on atmospheric canals, but also beach resorts.
The oriental resort of Phuket offers fabulous beaches for swimming, diving and fishing.
After Hong Kong, another city that never sleeps is Manila, the dynamic capital of the Philippines.
Bandar Seri Begawan, the capital of Brunei, has a Sultan’s Palace covering almost 50 acres with 1,788 rooms. Also on Borneo is cosmopolitan Kota Kinabalu in the remote Malay province of Sabah, which is dominated by the towering 13,500ft Mount Kinabalu.
Our Cruises to the Far East & Indian Ocean
Shown below are some of our Cruises to the Far East & Indian Ocean
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Prices From |
| Inside: |
£835
pp
|
| Outside: |
£1,305
pp
|
| Balcony: |
£2,115
pp
|
12 March 2011 for
14 nights
Fly UK/Singapore - Kuantan - Cruising - Bangkok - Ko Samui - Cruising - Singapore - Port Klang/Kuala Lumpur - Phuket - Langkawi (Malaysia) - Penang - Malacca - Singapore - Arrive UK
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Prices From |
| Inside: |
£1,399
pp
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| Outside: |
£1,549
pp
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| Balcony: |
£3,099
pp
|
13 March 2011 for
18 nights
Fly UK/Sydney - Brisbane - Hamilton Island - Cairns - Ribbon Reef Region - Sherrad Island (Anchorage) - Far North and Torres Strait - Darwin - Komodo Island - Padang Bai - Semarang - Tanjung Priok - Singapore - - Arrive UK
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Prices From |
| Inside: |
£1,619
pp
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| Outside: |
£1,679
pp
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| Balcony: |
£2,199
pp
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6 October 2010 for
16 nights
Fly UK / Tianjin - Seoul - Shanghai (overnight on board) - Nagasaki - Kagoshima - Okinawa - Taipei - Hong Kong / Fly UK
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Prices From |
| Inside: |
£2,599
pp
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| Outside: |
£2,799
pp
|
| Balcony: |
£3,049
pp
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3 March 2011 for
16 nights
Fly UK/Xingang - Shanghai - Okinawa - Keelung - Hong Kong - NHA Trang - Phu My - Singapore - Laem Chabang - Arrive UK
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Prices From |
| Inside: |
£18,699
pp
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| Outside: |
Call
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| Balcony: |
Call
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6 November 2010 for
60 nights
Fly UK/Civitavecchia (Rome) - Cruising the Tyrrhenian Sea - Trapani - Valletta - Cruising the Mediterranean Sea - Aghios Nikolaos - Cruising the Mediterranean Sea - Haifa - Ashdod - Transiting the Suez Canal - Sokhna (Cairo) - Cruising the Gulf of Aqaba - Aqaba (Petra) - Safaga - Cruising the Red Sea - Cruising the Red sea - Cruising the Gulf of Aden - Salalah - Cruising the Arabian Sea - Cruising the Gulf of Oman - Khasab - Dubai - Cruising the Arabian Sea - Muscat - Cruising the Gulf of Oman - Cruising the Arabian Sea - Mumbai - Cruising the Indian Ocean - Mangalore - Cochin - Cruising the Indian Ocean - Phuket - Langkawi Island - Puala Singha Besar - Penang - Port Kelang (Kuala Lumpur) - Singapore - Cruising the Java Sea - Semarang (Borobudur) - Cruising the Java Sea - Padang Bay - - Komodo Island - Ujung Pandang - Cruising the Makassar Strait - Cruising the Celebes sea - Sandakan - Kota Kinabalu - Muara Port - Cruising the South China Sea - Singapore - Arrive UK