EXPLORING SOUTHEAST ASIA BY LUXURY CRUISE LINER

In two of our previous posts, we wrote about luxury river cruises on the Mekong and Irrawaddy Rivers, and how wonderful of a way they are to get a taste of local life in the ASEAN Region. These tend to be more intimate and slower paced than traditional cruises. They give Southeast Asian travelers a much more focused look at life along the river in just one or two countries. For travelers who want a more pulled-back look at the region though, Southeast Asian cruises of the more traditional ocean-going variety are one of the best options.

The ten countries that make up the ASEAN bloc are spread over a huge landmass of mainland Asia, as well as tens of thousands of islands dotted across thousands of kilometers of sea. As the Southeast Asian tourism and hospitality industry has boomed in recent years, the number of air routes around the region has exploded. The drawback to this convenience is that most of these routes are served by no-frills, budget airlines that can make travel a rather unpleasant experience. This makes cruise ships the perfect way to make your way around the region in stylish comfort.

Most of the big names in cruise ships have a presence in Southeast Asia, and luxury travelers to the region will have a wide variety of choice in ship, itinerary, cruise type, and duration. This is particularly true through the “high season”, November through April when most of the region is spared from the heavy monsoons of the rainy season.

Points of embarkation

Most Southeast Asian cruises sail between Hong Kong and Singapore, with passengers embarking and disembarking in one or the other. There are also a number of cruises that sail from Australia, and others from the Philippines. Each of these destinations is easily reached by premium carriers offering excellent first class amenities, as well as numerous direct flights from North America, Europe, and other parts of Asia. Luxury travelers will have no problem reaching their port of embarkation in comfort.

Ports of call

Depending on the length of the cruise, most ships between Hong Kong and Singapore will make call in some or all of these locations:

• Hong Kong This port, while not technically in Southeast Asia will be visited by most cruise passengers. It is an immense city scattered across a number of islands, and almost entirely covered by skyscrapers reaching ever-higher. This vertical city offers something for everyone, and is worth arriving early or staying late for your cruise to get a taste of China, without quite going to China.
• Hanoi and Halong Bay French colonial architecture, parks, lakes, a vibrant arts scene, and bustling traffic define Vietnam’s capital. At the mouth of the Red River Delta, Halong Bay is an unmissable destination. Cruise the blue green waters in a teak junk in the shadow of the over 2000 limestone peaks that jut vertically from the water like the spikes and scales of a submerged dragon.
• Hue and Hoi An The old Imperial City at Hue, where the emperors of Vietnam’s former dynasties ruled from is a perfect representation of Vietnam. The site along the banks of the Perfume river is at once beautiful and tragic, bearing deep scars of war. Hoi An, a former port city frozen in time features beautiful architecture with elements of Vietnamese, Chinese, and Japanese.
• Ho Chi Minh City Formerly Saigon and still called that by locals, this may be the wildest, most bustling city you ever see. Skyscrapers, nightclubs, and fine dining restaurants contrast with unbelievable traffic patterns that make crossing the street an almost-epic adventure.
• Bangkok Ride a three-wheeled tuk tuk and take a boat through the city’s iconic canals. Indulge in some serious retail therapy. Visit the fabulous temples and the Royal Palace. Cap it off with an exquisite meal at a Michelin-starred restaurant. Bangkok really has it all.
• Koh Samui Thailand’s largest island not reachable by bridge, Samui is the jewel of the Gulf of Thailand and the perfect stop for luxury travelers. There are a number of fantastic five star resort properties, and some of the world’s finest spas, yet it’s still not hard to find a perfectly unspoilt beach
• Singapore This city-state is a model of orderly urbanization. While still preserving many of its historic districts and Chinese, Malay, and Indian enclaves, Singapore is a modern metropolis of skyscrapers and malls. It’s spotlessly clean and orderly, full of parks, has extremely accessible “street food” in uber-clean indoor food courts, and is a great stop for travelers looking for a bit of luxury shopping.
• Bali This island, and a few others around it are renowned for pristine white sand beaches, world-class surfing waves, tranquil bays, towering volcanoes, beautifully terraced rice fields, and some absolutely incredible luxury hotels and spas.
• Yangon Unlike most Southeast Asian capitals, the city formerly known as Rangoon has yet to fully develop, though it’s fast getting there. Buddhist temples and pagodas are seemingly everywhere. The ruins of many former British colonial-era buildings stand as a reminder of days gone by, while the reconstruction of many, and the building work going on almost everywhere are indications of where this once-isolated country is heading.
• Kuala Lumpur You’ll find it all in this visually stunning city. From amusement parks and adventure travel, haute cuisine and luxury shopping, KL – as it’s known locally – will never bore you. The iconic Petronas Towers soar over a city of old temples and mosques, where European, Chinese, Malay, and Indian influence have created a wonderful cosmopolitan vibe.

Comfort, luxury, and convenience

Any travelers looking for a bird’s-eye view of Southeast Asia should give serious consideration to booking a cruise around ASEAN. The non-hectic pace of travel is a welcome break from the stresses of exploring a region that positively buzzes with frenetic energy. After a long day exploring a hot and sticky Bangkok, you can sit in a taxi, stuck in traffic, trying to get to an airport where you’ll be crammed into a sardine can, or you can enjoy an evening cocktail, poolside, from the comfort of your own floating luxury hotel. For many, it’s an easy call.