Explorer, 14 Nights The Allure Of Asia ex Singapore to Hong Kong

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.

Ko Samui, Thailand
Koh Samui is Thailand's third largest island. Surrounded by eighty smaller islands, this stunning, natural beauty has been relatively undiscovered until recent years. Rumor claims that in 1971 the first tourists to set foot on Koh Samui were hippies who arrived by way of a coconut boat from Bangkok. While Koh Samui still exports up to 2 million coconuts to Bangkok every month, recent urban developments include a no-frills airport and an ostentatious Reggae bar.

Bangkok (Laem Chabang), Thailand
Bangkok is the capital and largest city in Thailand. It began as a small trading center on the west bank of the Chao Phraya River serving the Ayutthaya Kingdom, the precursor of modern Thailand which existed from 1350 to 1767. The city has vastly modernized and undergone numerous changes, including the introduction of transportation and utility infrastructure in the reigns of King Mongkut and King Chulalongkorn, and quickly developed into the economic centre of Thailand.

Sihanoukville, Cambodia
Think beaches and snorkeling, as Sihanoukville sits on the beautiful island-studded Bay of Thailand. Wats, or Buddhist temples, are abundant and often modest architecturally, as seen at Wat Otres behind Otres Beach. There are even two wats in Ream National Park, a birdwatcher's paradise.

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Ho Chi Minh is Vietnam's largest and most famous city. During the 14th century this city was known as Prey Nokor and was nothing more than a trading post. By the 18th century, the Lords of Hue, under the Nguyens, had established control of the trade in Prey Nokor and renamed the city Saigon. After the Vietnam War, the new communist regime changed the official name of the city of Saigon to Ho Chi Minh and began to rebuild its economic and social structure.

Nha Trang, Vietnam
Nha Trang is situated in Vietnam's southern Champa Kingdom along the Song Cai River. In ancient times, this southern region was once a peaceful Champa settlement. It was attacked by the Vietnamese at the end of the 15th century, though it remained under Champa control until the mid 17th century when the Nguyen Lords of Hue took possession. From the city of Nha Trang, several ancient Cham Towers can be visited, each revealing details of the unique culture of the Chams.

Coron (Palawan), Philippines
The karst limestone formations and sparkling waters of Coron, an island in the Calamian group of islands in northern Palawan, the Philippines, will linger in your mind long after you’ve departed this South China Sea paradise. Renowned as perhaps the Philippines most picturesque locale, it’s been the ancestral domain of the Tagbanwa people for over 20,000 years. A pair of lakes -- Kayangan and Barracuda – offer surreal photo opportunities, as do Banol Beach and Twin Lagoon. In quiet Coron Town a walk up Mt Tapyas will reward you with eye-popping views of crystal-clear Coron Bay.

Manila, Philippines
The Philippine capital of Manila was founded by King Philip II of Spain. In the years that followed, the Spanish successfully prevented the Dutch, Portuguese and Chinese from settling in the Philippines. During the Seven Years' War the British occupied Manila, but agreed to return it to Spain in 1763. During WWII, the Japanese took control during a 1942 invasion, and eventually the U.S. recaptured the islands and returned them to the Philippines. In 1946, the country was granted full independence.

Hong Kong, China
In 1841, Hong Kong became a British Crown colony when it was acquired from China. In 1984, Britain and China signed an agreement which stated Hong Kong would return to China, but that it would maintain in its capitalist system for 50 years. This transfer took place during on June 30, 1997 under great pomp and ceremony. Its enormous harbor, vast industrialization and free port status make it a major Asian crossroad, and perhaps the best place to shop in the world.