Far East Cruises & Asia Cruises
Far East cruises and Asia cruises are generally completed as extended voyages. Few cruise lines do them, and when they do, they are not repeatedly scheduled cruises. In fact, often the region is explored as a part of a World Cruise segment, and passengers not doing the entire World Cruise have to meet the ship in one of the Asian ports, thus having to endure a gruelling flight from either the UK or the United States.
You can also take a “standalone” cruise to Asia, some of the mass market, as well as lots of the luxury and speciality operators do them. Many of them will begin in Bangkok and will visit a variety of Far East destinations such as Nha Trang, Phu My, Da Nang, Sanya, Xiamen, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Bangkok (Laem Chabang), Ko Samui, Sihanoukville. Some will also visit Singapore, Hong Kong, Shanghai and other parts of Asia.
The difficulty with taking a cruise of this type is the sheer diversity of the languages and cultures you will experience. Just about everything concerning the peoples and the cultures of these countries are more than likely to be different from anything you’ve ever experienced, and that’s what makes exploring this region, even by cruise ship, very difficult.
Food is another area of concern. The food enjoyed by the peoples of these Asian countries is often very different from anything we are used to. While it is perfectly normal for them to eat certain items, we can actually find our stomachs turning at the prospect. This is somewhat natural, but it is something that we have to overcome when we visit Asia, lest we offend our hosts. And, on the subject of manners and etiquette, be aware that the social customs in many of these countries are totally different from our own and we would be wise to check on proper etiquette with our tour guide in each country visited.
Asia and the Far East is definitely an area where you don’t want to go it alone. When visiting these countries, at least for the first time, you need to be sure that you have a competent escort. This is primarily due to the language and cultural barriers that will be encountered in these countries. For example, women are looked upon differently in Asian countries, and when visiting certain sites, especially those of a religious nature, it is often required that woman do not expose their knees or other parts of their body. In certain countries a head covering is also required. Without an escort, you may not find out about such requirements until it is too late and you may have to miss seeing something of significance simply because you did not dress appropriately.
The laws too in many of these Far East countries are far different from anything we are used to. For example, while in the UK and the US we have laws protecting our freedom and very definite procedures that must be followed in the event we run up against “the law” and are taken into custody for some sort of infraction. Many of these Asian countries operate entirely differently in this regard and their legal procedures and sanctions are totally different from our own. For example, Singapore has very strict penalties for anyone caught using or distributing illegal drugs. While in the US or the UK you would receive some prison time for a serious infraction, in some of the Asian countries you could forfeit your life.
When in the Far East it is best to travel in groups and remain under the “protection” of a qualified tour guide. This is because the guide can “run interference” if there are any problems encountered, and smooth the wrinkles that cultural and language differences naturally create.
The most important thing to remember when travelling in the Far East is that you are experiencing cultures that are totally different from your own, and it is best to keep an open mind when experiencing the different sights, sounds, tastes and smells. Go with an attitude of wanting to experience everything each country has to offer, and plan to reserve judgment at least until the end of your trip.
A Far East cruise or an Asia cruise is not your average voyage, and that is specifically what makes it so special and life-changing for anyone lucky enough to have the experience.
See all the great destinations you can visit as part of an Asia cruise holiday
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