13 Fred Stein, vice president of itinerary planning for Carnival Cruise Line. From January to April 2028, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises’ ship Europa will sail itineraries in Asia. The ship will visit Japan during the cherry blossom season and make extended calls in the Philippines and Southeast Asia. These itineraries are part of the cruise line’s new 2028 programme, which also includes a 12-day voyage from Colombo in Sri Lanka to Singapore, a 14-day cruise from Hong Kong to Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam, and a 15-day trip from Singapore to Hong Kong. Europa 2 will end the year with an itinerary from Dubai in the United Arab Emirates to Singapore, calling at the Maldives, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Malaysia. The cruise line’s new expedition-class ship Hanseatic Spirit will sail to Indonesia, as well as making its first visit to the Kimberley region in Western Australia. Explora III will make Explora Journeys, the luxury lifestyle ocean travel brand of the MSC Group, inaugural voyages in the region as part of the cruise brand’s 2027-2028 Journeys Collection. The ship will sail to 47 destinations across Japan, South Korea, China, Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore, with each visit a maiden port call for the ship and cruise line. The itineraries include overnight stays in Tokyo, Osaka, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Naha, Japan, Ha Long Bay and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, and Bali, and have been planned to capture “Asia’s most evocative seasons” with calls during autumn to see the maple and ginkgo trees in Kyoto, as well as spring’s cherry blossom season in Shimizu and Nagoya, Japan. The itineraries will also coincide with major cultural events including Chinese New Year celebrations onboard in January 2028, which will include themed entertainment and traditional festivities. “The introduction of Asia is a landmark moment for our brand and for our guests,” said Anna Nash, president of Explora Journeys. “It reflects not only our ambition to continually expand our horizons but also our deep respect for the cultural richness and natural beauty of this remarkable region.” Photo: Windstar Cruises SEVERAL CRUISE LINES WILL EXPAND THEIR PRESENCE IN ASIA IN 2027 Royal Caribbean International: Spectrum of the Seas (pictured above at Marina Bay Cruise Centre Singapore) will remain in the region, sailing four-, five- and eight-night itineraries from Baoshan in China, calling at ports in Japan including Okinawa, Ishigaki, Fukuoka, Kumamoto and Tokyo. Princess Cruises: Diamond Princess will homeport in Singapore from November 2026 to March 2027, sailing 11 itineraries visiting 28 destinations across eight countries. Norwegian Cruise Line: Norwegian Jade will return to Asia from October 2026 to April 2027, offering roundtrip voyages from Yokohama, Incheon, Hong Kong and Singapore, making maiden calls at Muara in Brunei and Jeju Island in South Korea. Windstar Cruises’ new vessel Star Seeker will sail itineraries in Southeast Asia in 2026
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