Skylord Cruise and Holidays
All cruise regions

Cruise region

Far East

A Far East cruise is a comfortable way to see several Asian countries on one holiday, from Japan's temples and cherry blossom to Singapore's skyline and the beaches of Thailand. The long flight is easier when your hotel travels with you. Many itineraries add hotel stays in cities such as Beijing, Bangkok or Tokyo.

Best time to go

For South East Asia, November to April is generally drier and more comfortable. For Japan, spring (late March to April for cherry blossom) and autumn (October to November for autumn colours) are especially popular.

Season

Year-round across the region, with Japan and Korea sailings most popular in spring and autumn, and South East Asia sailings in the northern winter.

Typical daytime highs

  • South East Asia, all year. Typical daytime highs around 30 to 33°C in South East Asia all year round. Hot and tropical, with monsoon rains that vary by country.
  • Japan and Korea, spring. Typical daytime highs around 12 to 20°C in Japan and Korea in spring. Mild, with cherry blossom in late March and April.
  • Japan and Korea, summer. Typical daytime highs around 27 to 32°C in Japan and Korea in summer. Hot and humid, with a typhoon risk from late summer.
  • Japan and Korea, autumn. Typical daytime highs around 15 to 25°C in Japan and Korea in autumn. Pleasant and settled, with autumn colours.
  • Japan and Korea, winter. Typical daytime highs around 5 to 12°C in Japan and Korea in winter. Cold and crisp, with snow in the north.
  • Hong Kong and southern China, winter. Typical daytime highs around 18 to 22°C in Hong Kong and southern China in winter. Mild and fairly dry.
  • Hong Kong and southern China, summer. Typical daytime highs around 30 to 32°C in Hong Kong and southern China in summer. Hot and humid, with a typhoon risk.

These are typical ranges, not a forecast.

How long

Usually 10 to 16 nights, often extended with hotel stays before or after the cruise.

Fly-cruise airports

  • Singapore Changi (SIN). about 13 hours
  • Tokyo Haneda (HND). about 14 hours
  • Tokyo Narita (NRT). about 14 hours
  • Hong Kong International (HKG). about 12 hours 30 minutes
  • Bangkok Suvarnabhumi (BKK). about 11 hours 30 minutes
  • Shanghai Pudong (PVG). about 12 to 13 hours
  • Beijing Capital (PEK). about 11 to 12 hours
  • Seoul Incheon (ICN). about 14 hours
  • Bali Ngurah Rai (DPS). usually one connection, around 16 to 18 hours in total

Who it suits

Experienced travellers, couples and culture lovers who want to see a lot of Asia in one trip without repeated packing and internal flights.

Questions

When is cherry blossom season in Japan?

Usually from late March to early April around Tokyo and Kyoto, varying a little each year and by region.

How long is the flight from the UK to Singapore?

About 13 hours non-stop from London Heathrow, approximately.

Do Far East cruises include hotel stays?

Many Far East itineraries combine the cruise with hotel stays in cities such as Beijing, Bangkok, Tokyo or Siem Reap.

Is the Far East a good choice for a first long-haul cruise?

Yes. Travelling by ship makes a multi-country trip simple, and ports in Singapore, Japan and Hong Kong are especially easy to explore.

Ports and places