A cruise boom is about to hit some of our favourite Asian destinations

November 7, 2026 — 5:00amThis year is proving a treat for Asian cruises, with maiden appearances of ships from companies such as Norwegian Cruise Line and Carnival, more Royal Caribbean itineraries from homeports in Hong Kong and Singapore, and many other cruise lines sailing bumper Asian seasons.British small-ship operator Swan Hellenic sailed into Asia for the first time this year on itineraries to Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, the Philippines, South Korea and Japan.Cruise and river ships continue to extend their reach in Asia including Ha Long Bay, Vietnam. iStockAPT Luxury Tours, which has long offered river cruises on the Mekong, launched a luxury three-day cruise experience on Ha Long Bay in Vietnam as part of its extended journeys in the region.Meanwhile, Italian company Explora Journeys is inaugurating Asian journeys in 2027 aboard Explora III. Over the 2027-28 season, the luxury ship will make 28 journeys across Japan, South Korea, China and South-East Asia.The sailings include overnight stays in key destinations such as Tokyo, Osaka, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Ha Long Bay, Ho Chi Minh City and Bali.Sign up for the Traveller Deals newsletterGet exclusive travel deals delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up now.The 2027-28 season will have even more choice. Royal Caribbean International’s Spectrum of the Seas, which homeports seasonally in Hong Kong, has sailings to a record 22 destinations, with eight- to 10-night journeys departing Hong Kong, Shanghai or Tokyo, and shorter hops taking in South Korea.Princess Cruises will be operating its biggest Asian season ever with 96 departures across 61 itineraries to 55 destinations. It will also have two ships (Diamond Princess and Sapphire Princess) homeported in Tokyo.Royal Caribbean International’s Spectrum of the Seas homeports seasonally in Hong Kong.Holland America Line’s Noordam is also sailing South-East Asia and Japan itineraries. Among the highlights is a 14-day voyage from Hong Kong to Tokyo that takes in China, and a 14-day voyage from Hong Kong and Singapore that focuses on South-East Asia.Oceania Riviera and Oceania Vista will be sailing Asia too. And if you want to splurge, then Silversea’s Silver Muse is sailing a 51-day Grand Voyage across 28 destinations in seven Asian nations. Meanwhile, Silver Cloud is sailing in South-East Asia and Japan.Japan is the destination of the moment and has seen a corresponding surge in cruise operations. Silversea announced its first-ever Japan summer season on voyages to the big port cities but also to lesser-known alternatives such as Akita, Shimizu and Amami Oshima.The summer season is timed to take in local celebrations such as Kyoto’s Gion Matsuri – one of Japan’s most famous festivals, which features ornate floats – and Tokushima’s Awa Odori, which celebrates dance and music.Windstar’s new ship Star Seeker will sail a maiden Japan season in 2027, and in spring 2028 Seabourn will have several Japan sailings. Also coming up for Seabourn are a new 16-day Shanghai and Seoul cruise, a 12-day Shanghai and Taiwan voyage, and eight South-East Asian itineraries.All this is just a sampling of the cruise range and choices now available in Asia.Just 4.5 per cent of Australian cruisers holidayed there in 2025, but surely more of us should start looking north.Brian Johnston seemed destined to become a travel writer: he is an Irishman born in Nigeria and raised in Switzerland, who has lived in Britain and China and now calls Australia home.From our partners