Explorer, 14 Nights Iconic Asian Capitals ex Hong Kong to Tokyo

The creation of Seven Seas Explorer® took luxury cruising to the next level, from the 4,443 sq. ft. Regent Suite to the hand-picked art accentuating her halls.

Taipei (Keelung), Taiwan
On this fascinating island visit the world's tallest building, the Chiang Kai Shek Memorial, the fabulous Palace Museum's vast collection of Chinese art and the lovely Lungshan Temple.Explore lovely Keelung's historic sites and Yeliu Park's astonishing rock formations.

Ishigaki (Sakishima Islands), Japan
Ishigaki is home to Japan’s finest beaches and sweeping natural beauty. The renowned Bay with its emerald-green water was awarded 3 stars by the Michelin guide, yet its true charm are in the lesser known capes of Uganzaki and Hirakubo, along with the peak of Mt. Nosoko. Ishigaki is the gateway to the rest of the Yaeyama archipelago. The islands of Taketomi, Kuroshima and Kohama make for fantastic day-trip destinations, all of which can be explored by bicycle within a few hours.

Shanghai, China
Shanghai, situated on the banks of the Yangtze River Delta in East China, is the largest city of the People's Republic of China and the ninth largest in the world. Widely regarded as the citadel of China's modern economy, the city also serves as one of the most important cultural, commercial, financial, industrial and communications centers of China. Shanghai is also one of the world's busiest ports, and became the largest cargo port in the world in 2005.

Busan, South Korea
Located on the southeastern tip of the Korean Peninsula just two-and-a-half hours from Seoul, Busan is South Korea’s second-largest city. With its deep harbor, it’s also one of the largest commercial ports in the world. Often referred to as “the summer capital of South Korea,” Busan is known for its exceptional beaches, scenic cliffs and ancient temples high in the mountains.

Nagasaki, Japan
Nagasaki is the capital and largest city of Nagasaki Prefecture in Japan. It was a center of European influence in feudal Japan from first contact through the isolationist era until the opening of Japan and the modernization of Japan during the Meiji Restoration. It became a major Imperial Japanese Navy base during the First Sino-Japanese War and Russo-Japanese War. The city became the second city in the world to be bombed by a nuclear weapon, following Hiroshima.

Osaka, Japan
Osaka is the third largest city in Japan and the central metropolis of the Kansai region. Osaka dates back to the Asuka and Nara period. Under the name Naniwa, it was the capital of Japan from 683 to 745, long before the upstarts at Kyoto took over. Even after the capital was moved elsewhere, Osaka continued to play an important role as a hub for land, sea and river-canal transportation. In a nation of obsessive gourmands Osaka is known as an excellent place to eat.

Nagoya, Japan
It may lack the name recognition of Tokyo and Osaka, but cosmopolitan Nagoya impresses with an array of museums, temples and green spaces. In this birthplace of Toyota absorb the ancient spirituality of Atsuta Shrine, one of Japan’s three most important Shinto shrines and a perfect spot to enjoy a lunch of kishimen (flat noodles), a local specialty. Immerse yourself in over 10,000 pieces of Japanese art, theater, fashion, samurai culture and more at Tokugawa Art Museum. Gain an instant appreciation for Japanese postwar history at SCMAGLEV and Railway Park, a fully hands-on museum featuring actual trains and simulators. Your inner train-loving-child will approve.

Tokyo, Japan
Because it is the seat of the Japanese government and the home of the Imperial Family, Tokyo is the de facto capital of Japan. The firebombings of WWII in 1945, with 75,000 to 200,000 killed and half of the city destroyed, were almost as devastating as the atomic bombs of Hiroshima and Nagasaki combined. After the war, Tokyo was completely rebuilt. Today, Tokyo is one of the three world finance "command centers," along with New York and London.