Asia Cruises

We offer a wide variety of Asia itineraries with our revolutionized Celebrity Solstice ship sailing during the winter and Celebrity Millenium year round. Each region of Asia offers different experiences guests can enjoy. 

The winter months, from November to February, are the ideal time to explore South Asia, including India and Sri Lanka, when the climate is less humid, giving you more energy for sightseeing.

Countries like South Korea and Japan are delightful all through the summer months and have perfect weather to lounge by their spectacular beaches. 

The Lunar New Year usually falls in February, and this is a fantastic time to be in Asia, with widespread celebrations in Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Vietnam.

A cruise is the perfect way to see Asia. You’re able to visit multiple places in comfort, with no effort required on your part to get from one to the other. A Celebrity Asian cruise vacation takes you to some of the most exciting destinations in the world, from Japan and Hong Kong, to the island paradise of Bali.  As an example, in the space of just 12 nights, you could visit exciting cities like Singapore, to off-the-beaten path destinations in Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia. 

A 12-night Japan itinerary takes you to six contrasting destinations in Japan itself, as well as Busan in South Korea. You could also choose a 14-night itinerary from Singapore to Mumbai, which follows the coast of Malaysia, crosses the Indian Ocean, and then explores Sri Lanka and three ports in India.

Many of our itineraries include overnight stops in destinations including Hong Kong, Bangkok, Hanoi, Phuket and more, giving you time to experience local night markets and restaurants.

Celebrity offers a wide choice of cruises in Asia. Departure ports include Bali, Hong Kong, Singapore, Mumbai, and Tokyo.

It is the responsibility of each guest to identify and obtain all required travel documents and have them available at the pier when necessary. Before leaving home, take a few minutes to familiarize yourself with the required travel documents you will be asked to provide prior to boarding the ship. You’ll find more information here. 

The majority of Asian nations do not require a visa for entry, but some do. To visit India, for example, you will need to get a visa before you leave home.

Any cruise to Asia is packed with exciting ports, from vibrant cities to blissful beach locations on islands including Langkawi, Ko Samui, and Phuket. 

To many, the real marquee ports are the cities like Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Mumbai, Tokyo, and Ho Chi Minh City. But often, it’s the places in between that leave just as great an impression, whether you’re exploring an exquisite temple in Kyoto or cruising the serene backwaters of Cochin on a rice barge.

What’s best about an Asia cruise with Celebrity is that our ships stay overnight in many ports, so you can really get to know a destination. In Hanoi, for example, you can enjoy the buzz of the city and spend a day sailing beautiful Halong Bay. In Bangkok, there’s time to see the shimmering Grand Palace as well as take a river cruise and browse colorful floating markets.

There are no compulsory vaccinations to visit Asian countries, but it is recommended to be up to date with all your regular inoculations, including tetanus and hepatitis A. It’s important to consult your physician in advance to plan a vaccination schedule. 

Celebrity’s Asian itineraries do not visit ports where malaria is known to be a high risk, so it is unlikely that you will need anti-malarial drugs—but again, check with your physician or travel health clinic in advance as everybody’s situation is different.

Most places in Southeast Asia and Japan take credit cards, but you will need a small amount of local currency to shop in markets or buy souvenirs from vendors. For India, rural areas still have a cash economy, so you will need some rupees outside of the main urban areas.

While enthusiastic souvenir vendors may offer to take U.S. dollars, you will not get a good exchange rate, and you will be given change in local currency. If you choose to pay this way, make sure you know the exchange rate and what denominations local notes come in.

If you use an ATM on your travels, it’s safer to use one that’s attached to a reputable bank.

Dozens of different languages are spoken across Asia; India alone has 22 official languages. While it’s polite to offer a greeting in the local language, and helpful to know a few phrases, it’s not necessary to be fluent.

You will not need a translator on your travels in Asia. All guides on shore excursions speak English. A lot of signage is in English as well as the local language, especially in tourist areas. In many countries, such as Hong Kong, Singapore, and India, English is an official language, and in many others, it is taught in school as a second language.

Our wide range of excursions takes you to all the main cultural sites in the ports we visit. You can explore historic George Town from Penang, and take in the buzz and bustle of Hong Kong’s various night markets on an after-dark tour. 

See the temple of the Emerald Buddha in Bangkok and visit the poignant Peace Memorial Museum in Hiroshima. Learn about Buddhism with a monk in Colombo, and explore the dazzling imperial city of Hue from Chan May, Vietnam.

It’s a good idea to take a little time to understand the culture of the Asian countries you are visiting. Generally speaking, extreme politeness is important, as is taking the time to greet people, and remaining softly spoken.

Many Asian countries are Buddhist, in which case, always show respect to Buddha statues and temples and do not touch Buddhist monks. Do not point at people and do not be surprised if a local avoids eye contact during a conversation; this is a sign of respect. In Thailand, it is an offense to say anything negative about the royal family.

Try to understand the sense of “face” that is prevalent in Asian countries. Saving face is important; so, for example, a person may tell you what they think you want to hear rather than the reality, to avoid losing face. Shouting at someone causes you to lose face.

Japan in particular is a country with a complex social etiquette. Just a few include not tipping (it’s just not done here); never blowing your nose in public; taking off your shoes before entering a temple; and not blocking busy sidewalks in the densely populated cities.

If you’re visiting somewhere on a tour where specific etiquette is expected, your guide will point out all you need to know.