12-Night Southeast Asia Cruise on Seven Seas Explorer

Seoul (Inchon), South Korea

Depart 7:00 pm

Inchon is the port of Korea's booming capital, a shopping paradise which vies with Hong Kong. But historic Seoul also brims with treasures. Begin with a bird's-eye view atop Namsan Hill. Visit Kyonbok Gun, the Palace of Bright Happiness, and the 14th-century Changdok Palace, home of the royal family. Stroll through its beautiful Secret Garden, 80 acres of ponds, tea houses and pavilions. Discover the extensive collection of Korean art in the National Museum. Or travel beyond Seoul's ancient gates to the Nanhan Mountain Castle or historic Suwon and its wonderful Folk Village of Minsokchon.

CRUISING THE YELLOW SEA

Tianjin (Beijing), China

Arrive 5:00 am · Depart 8:00 pm

From the port of Tianjin, you can venture to the ancient capital of China: Beijing. It is a veritable treasure-trove of historic wonders, including the Forbidden City where you enter the world of The Last Emperor, a complex of incredible historic significance and physical grandeur. Just outside the walls of the Imperial Palace lies the largest plaza on earth, Tiananmen Square, home to Mao's Monument and his Mausoleum. At the Summer Palace, you'll step into a pastoral mist of natural and man-made beauty: 700 acres of stunning parkland, dreamy lakes, fascinating temples and halls. The Summer Palace evokes a feeling of serenity as you wander through fairy-tale landscapes and manicured gardens. Then witness the efforts of nearly a million workers who walled in an empire by hand. As you climb the Great Wall toward one of its towers, the spirit of endurance and determination takes hold, a poignant reminder of the painstaking endeavors of 2,500 years ago.

CRUISING THE EAST CHINA SEA

Shanghai, China

Arrive 4:00 pm

From opium wars to junks and barges, images of Shanghai flood the senses. The real Shanghai is a teeming metropolis of 11 million, bustling with energy, towering skyscrapers and art deco buildings, honking traffic and shopping crowds. But once you enter China's largest city, you'll find Eastern ways abound: Tai Chi along the Bund, the serenity of exquisite ponds and gardens, and an endless flotilla of sampans edging along the Huangpu River. Explore Shanghai old and new: the busy bazaars and alleyways of the Old Town, Yu Garden, the Wuxingting Tea House, Long Hua Temple and more.

Shanghai, China

Depart 6:00 pm

From opium wars to junks and barges, images of Shanghai flood the senses. The real Shanghai is a teeming metropolis of 11 million, bustling with energy, towering skyscrapers and art deco buildings, honking traffic and shopping crowds. But once you enter China's largest city, you'll find Eastern ways abound: Tai Chi along the Bund, the serenity of exquisite ponds and gardens, and an endless flotilla of sampans edging along the Huangpu River. Explore Shanghai old and new: the busy bazaars and alleyways of the Old Town, Yu Garden, the Wuxingting Tea House, Long Hua Temple and more.

CRUISING THE EAST CHINA SEA

Kagoshima, Kyushu, Japan

Arrive 8:00 am · Depart 5:00 pm

This large city is an excursion base from which to explore the dramatic coastlines, national parks and volcanic mountains of Kyushu, Japan's third largest island. Mount Sakurajima, an active volcano, can be reached by ferry. To the north, Kirishima-Yaku National Park is a scenic area of smoking volcanoes, craters and lakes. South of the city, Ibusuki, the island's most popular seaside resort, welcomes kimono-clad bathers to its sandy beaches and warm, underwater springs.

Hososhima, Japan

Arrive 7:00 am · Depart 5:00 pm

Hiroshima, Japan

Arrive 8:00 am · Depart 5:00 pm

Set on a bay in the Inland Sea, Hiroshima was the infamous site of the first atomic bomb explosion of August, 1945. But perhaps the best reason to visit Hiroshima is the enchanting island of Miyajima with its famous Itsukushima Shinto shrine, considered one of Japan's three most beautiful sights. Its famous torii stands just offshore, a tall, vermilion-colored symbol of Japan, which appears to float during high tide.

Kochi, Japan

Arrive 8:00 am · Depart 4:00 pm

Nagoya, Japan

Arrive 9:00 am · Depart 5:00 pm

Tokyo, Japan

Arrive 8:00 am

Huge department stores brim with shoppers, neon flashes from dusk to dawn, and the entire world pays heed to the slightest fluctuation on the Nikkei Index. From the Imperial Palace and Meiji Shrine to the fabled Ginza district, 20th-century Tokyo is an intriguing composite of East and West. Yuppies sporting Walkmen bow formally in greeting. Women in kimonos and Dior suits stroll side-by-side. Geishas play samisens while disc jockeys play the Top Forty. Japanese houses of wood and paper stand in the shadow of towering steel and mortar. Not far away, one of the world's most impressive sights soars 12,388 feet to its snow-clad peak: Mount Fuji, the majestic symbol of Japan.