4 NIGHT BEST OF OKINAWA CRUISE ADVENTURE STARTS HERE
Hong Kong , China | Okinawa (Naha) , Japan | Shanghai (Baoshan) , China
NEW ADVENTURES
FAR EAST FEAT
The next in the award-winning Quantum Class lineup, Spectrum of the Seas℠ is a Far East adventure full of feats and firsts designed with our Chinese guests in mind.
SHOULDA, WOULDA, BUDDHA
After you arrive at Hong Kong's airport on Lantau Island, see the enormous Tian Tan Buddha, measuring 112 feet tall and weighing over 200 tons. Then, take a harbor cruise to get your bearings and see Hong Kong's modern architecture. Later, slurp noodles at the Temple Street Night Market. If you have an extra day, head out to Dragon's Back portion of the Hong Kong Trail for some scenic hiking among mist-covered peaks.
Peek From the Peak
The Peak Tram takes you up to Victoria Peak, Hong Kong's 1,800-foot-high mountain. Less expensive buses will get you there, too. Once you're up top, admire the views over the city from the hiking trails. The Peak also offers an escape from the subtropical climate below — the air here is cooler and less humid.
Scenic Ride to Stanley
Stanley Harbour, on the other side of Hong Kong Island, will give you a taste of a different Hong Kong. It's a fishing village on Repulse Bay with a lovely seaside walk (snap some photos of the fishing boats) as well as a famous street market. There's lots of British history, a boardwalk and even a few beaches. You can take the bus from Central for a scenic trip, though the express bus is faster.
Out on the Harbor
Use an Octopus card for a ride on Hong Kong's iconic Star Ferry for inexpensive views of Hong Kong's harbor. The tour makes a scenic circular route between Kowloon Peninsula and Hong Kong Island, stopping at three piers. Skyscrapers are everywhere, but look closely for the smaller Golden Bauhinia near the Wan Chai Pier, a golden flower statue where the handover of Hong Kong took place in 1997.
Hong Kong is famous for dim sum, a meal of bite-sized foods with various selections brought to your table. Traditionally eaten for brunch, you'll find it at other hours, too. Choose from steamed buns, dumplings or fried rolls filled with spinach, crab or chicken. You'll likely need to share a table — but then you'll have help deciding what to order. Restaurants with lots of locals are a sign of quality and good prices.
Head to Causeway Bay for modern retail therapy: This stretch of Hong Kong is virtually covered in malls and shops. Central is the district to go to for upscale designer clothes, shoes and other items. But don't overlook the markets for local handicrafts during your Hong Kong cruise. Pick up an inexpensive but distinctive jade necklace or ornament, or look for poetry-inscribed paintings and bamboo handicrafts from the antique dealers on Cat Street.
Okinawa (Naha), Japan
ISLAND LIFE,
JAPAN-STYLE
Soak in the splendor of the former Ryukyu Kingdom at the vermillion-red Shujiro Castle. Then, walk around the private garden of a king at the tropical Shikinaen Gardens. Finish your time here by taking in Okinawa's pristine coastline at Okuma Beach, where you can swim, snorkel or kayak in the brilliant waters of the East China Sea.
in Okinawa (Naha)
Live Like a King
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Shurijo Castle's bright red exterior is instantly striking. Destroyed and rebuilt many times over, this building offers you a sense of life during the Ryukyu Kingdom's golden years. Then, see the former residence of the Japanese king at the Shikinaen Gardens populated by tropical flora.
Where Sea Meets Sky
Explore the depths of the bay at Nami-no-ue Sea and Sky Park. With guided snorkeling tours and diving equipment, you can see 95 types of coral and 53 species of colorful fish. Finish up with a beach party and a barbeque under the golden sun.
Okinawan Education
At Ryukyu Mura village, you'll find a recreated village and practical demonstrations of old crafts. The vibrant village welcomes visitors with dances and celebrations of traditional festivals and arts. Complete your day of learning at the Okinawa Prefecture Museum, home to a massive 85,000 artifacts dating to the 12th century.
The food here is both distinctly Japanese and uniquely Okinawan, with Chinese and South Asian influences creating a cuisine all its own. Okinawa cruises allow you to try Okinawan soba (actually more reminiscent to udon noodles because they're so thick) served in a ramen-like pork broth and topped with slow-cooked pork spare ribs. Don't miss out on Agu, the Wagyu beef of pork, with its tender texture and sweet flavor.
Many craft techniques are unique to Okinawa. Head to Kokusai-Dori (International Street) to browse for Ryukyan glass and lacquerware or colorful Shuri-ori textiles. On Tsuboya Yachimun-Dori Street, you can pick up intricate Tsuboya-yaki pottery — choose between decorative traditional statues or plates, bowls and other home-use items.
If you're here in October, join in the fun of the famous Naha Tug-of-War Festival.
Most international flights arrive at Pudong Airport. Take the bullet train into the city; it takes only 8 minutes between the airport and Longyang Road Station. From there, check out Longhua Temple: You'll recognize its two-meter-tall copper bell from Steven Spielberg's "Empire of the Sun." Then, marvel at the modern skycrapers of Pudong — head to the Oriental Pearl Tower with its three distinctive spheres and get a 360-degree view of the city from the observation deck.
in Shanghai (Baoshan)
Better in the Bund
The Bund is Shanghai's art deco heritage neighborhood, with colonial architecture from the 1920s and '40s. Walk along the riverfront promenade at the golden hour for beautiful photos — from here, you can see the futuristic skyscrapers of Pudong's skyscrapers across the river.
Height of Adventure
Take a river cruise to see some of Shanghai's modern architectural highlights: The 1536-foot-tall Oriental Pearl Tower looks like something straight out of the Jetsons, while the twisting Shanghai Tower, the second tallest building in the world, is meant to evoke a lucky dragon coming out of the earth. The World Finance Center Tower looks like a giant bottle opener.
Ancient Ambiance
Get a feel for old China by wandering through the Yu Garden during your Shanghai cruise vacation. The classical garden is 400 years old, with carp-filled pools and bamboo groves. See more of ancient China at the Shanghai Museum, which has 120,000 ancient relics, including bronze artifacts and sculptures.
Eating in Shanghai is all about street food. You'll see people drinking from giant dumplings through strwas in a dish called xiao long bao — a soup dumpling. Join in, or eat them with chopsticks in a sit-down restaurant. Try cold noodles with eel, ginger and bamboo shoots, or pick up a flaky, pork-flecked scallion pancake — this comfort food is practically a way of life here.
It's hard not to find shopping in Shanghai. Nanjing Road is the busiest, with everything from specialty food shops to modern malls. If you have time to get something tailored, try the South Bund Fabric Market. During your China cruise, pick up a distinctive Chinese red lantern at the Antique Market or at most street markets.
Check visa rules carefully. They vary greatly depending on your nationality, length of stay, where you visit and if you re-enter the country.