Explorer, 14 Nights Culinary Escapades In Asia ex Singapore to Hong Kong

Seven Seas Explorer® took luxury cruising to the next level, from the palatial Regent Suite to the hand-picked art accentuating her halls.

Ko Samui, Thailand
An isolated, self-sufficient community called ‘Coconut Island’ until tourists began arriving in the early 1990s, Ko Samui is today the second most popular island destination in Thailand (after Phuket). You’ll find a plethora of white-sand beaches, dazzling coral reefs and unspoiled rainforest dotted with waterfalls. At a picturesque plantation, learn how locals use monkeys to pick ripe coconuts from towering trees. See the Wat Phra Yai (Big Buddha Temple), a striking, 49-foot-tall gleaming gold statue that’s beautifully silhouetted against an azure sky and sea. Dine on simply prepared yet incredibly tasty cuisine with a cold, coconut cocktail, lost in Thailand’s bright-blue bliss.

Bangkok (Laem Chabang), Thailand
From the port city of Laem Chabang, discover the contrasting charms of Krung Thep (City of Angels) amongst the exotic temples, lavish palaces, teeming markets and urban skyline of Bangkok. Once a small trading center, Thailand’s capital city thrums equally on vendors selling legendary street food, graceful Thai architecture and saffron-robed monks. Ride a ubiquitous tuk-tuk to Wat Pho, home to an immense, reclining, gold-plated Buddha. See floating grocery stores and teakwood houses built on stilts on a boat tour along the Chao Phaya River. After shopping for Thai silk and jewelry, dine on classic Bangkok dishes like pad Thai, Khao mun gai and mango sticky rice.

Sihanoukville, Cambodia
This beach-rimmed resort city sits on the beautiful, island-studded Bay of Thailand. Serendipity Beach is a mile-long stretch of white sand that is the island’s prettiest. Wats, or Buddhist temples, are abundant and often modest architecturally, as seen at Wat Otters behind Otres Beach. Visit Wat Lu Pagoda to see a stone statue of a three-headed elephant with a statue of Buddha atop each head. There are even two wats in Ream National Park, a birdwatcher's paradise. On a tuk-tuk ride through the provincial capital, pass the Golden Lions Monument on your way to Phsar Leu (Sihanoukville market) in the heart of downtown.

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Sitting on a giant bend in the Sài Gon River, the quintessentially cosmopolitan Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) boasts glistening skyscrapers, bustling food markets and magnificent French-Colonial buildings. Gain important perspectives of Vietnam’s 20th-century war history at the War Remnants Museum and tunnels of C? Chi. Admire the grandeur of the 19th-century Notre Dame Cathedral, HCMC’s iconic symbol, and nearby Central Post Office. Get a local's view of the frenetic city center while zipping through alleyways on a motorbike. Embrace the spirituality of the Jade Emperor Pagoda and 1960s architecture of the Reunification Palace, stopping to savor Vietnamese street food like pho (noodle soup) or savory crepes.

Nha Trang, Vietnam
By far Vietnam’s most popular seaside resort town, Nha Trang offers more than a turquoise bay ringed by a nearly four mile arc of golden sand and a lively promenade. Visit the impressive brick structures of the Po Nagar Cham Towers, built by the Cham civilization between the 7th and 12th centuries. Take in the nearly 80-foot-tall white Buddha of Long Son Pagoda and spectacular surroundings of Hai Duc Pagoda. Snap photos of grass-eating buffalo and terraced rice fields on a drive to villages that dot the countryside around Nha Trang. Or simply relax at a beachside bar with a coconut cocktail.

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
From an iconic skyline overlooking a glorious harbor to lush green mountains and sprawling parks, Hong Kong has all you could want (and more) in a world-class city. Gain a deeper understanding of Hong Kong’s culture and history at Man Mo Temple, ride the world’s steepest funicular to Victoria Peak and cruise through a fishing village by sampan. Escape the urban bustle with a walk along the soft, golden sands of Repulse Bay. Dive into classic favorites like dai pai dong (street-food stalls) and yum cha (tea and dim sum) after conquering a dizzying assortment of shopping venues in this commercial hub of Asia.