Which Itinerary

[hazeleyez3]

We are treating my father who had many business trips in China and Japan (and always talked about how much he liked it) to a cruise around Asia. We will be joining him.  My dad is just happy to go, and has no preference on where the ship docks. While I know a land trip would be ideal, we think a cruise giving us a little taste of different countries would be easier and a bit more relaxing.  
 
We are strongly leading to a back to back on Spectrum of the Seas or Ovation of the Seas.  We are diamond on RC.
 

They second leg of each option goes to the same ports, but Spectrum is there a bit longer.  We both like the sound of Seoul and Okinawa.  Spectrum we would be able to spend days in Shanghai after the cruise.  Ovation we could still have time in Shanghai but it would be at the start, But we could also have a day in Beijing. 
 

Could someone familiar with Asian cruises please share your thoughts?

 

[Jaymuxman]

There is nothing relaxing to me about a RCCL cruise especially since both ships you mentioned would have over 4000 passenger capacity. I much prefer a smaller ship for a relaxing itinerary. This is just my personal opinion.

[loeb]

Okinawa is very tropical like Hawaii with some interesting sites related to World War II

 

Fukuoka is a more traditional area of Japan, but sites to see in Kushu would be Nagasaki, Beppu and Kamakura.

 

Seoul has a lot of historical sites, more than Busan.

[Donald]

All of these ships / itineraries are just “shopping trips” for the Chinese.

It is the easiest way for them to get into Japan, buy Japanese goods and foods, and transport them back to China.

You may be shocked at the quantity of stuff the Chinese will be transporting back to China on your cruise. Just re-boarding the ship in Japanese ports will be a new experience for you.

[hazeleyez3]

Thank you both. It’s nice to get a little insight on the areas, and interesting to learn about the shopping aspect. My husband and I will definitely keep it in mind for the future.  We actually saw a different B2B that does Jeju, Nagasaki, overnight in Kobe, and Tokyo.  Although he didn’t voice that he liked it better, and never would never sway us either way, he seemed to perk up a bit more when we showed him that itinerary.  While tomorrow is never promised for anybody, I know what the odds are as to who has less time (especially for that long of a plane flight).

 

Of course the ideal way would be a land trip, but the cruise will give my dad a chance to see a few different places, and the travel between them  will be easier for him.  Plus, he will have the option of doing things on sea days and at night and not feel obligated to be around my husband and me.  
 

Thanks again.

[monkey@cruise]

13 hours ago, Donald said:

All of these ships / itineraries are just “shopping trips” for the Chinese.

It is the easiest way for them to get into Japan, buy Japanese goods and foods, and transport them back to China.

You may be shocked at the quantity of stuff the Chinese will be transporting back to China on your cruise. Just re-boarding the ship in Japanese ports will be a new experience for you.

Don't be surprised if seeing bidet toilets bring on board 😜

Dancing grannies and Damas 大妈 bad behaviour on MSC Bellissima during her maiden voyage from Shanghai, only pizza area and specialty restaurants were missed.

 

This is how Socialism with Chinese characteristics supersedes Western Capitalism !

[monkey@cruise]

1 hour ago, hazeleyez3 said:

Thank you both. It’s nice to get a little insight on the areas, and interesting to learn about the shopping aspect. My husband and I will definitely keep it in mind for the future.  We actually saw a different B2B that does Jeju, Nagasaki, overnight in Kobe, and Tokyo.  Although he didn’t voice that he liked it better, and never would never sway us either way, he seemed to perk up a bit more when we showed him that itinerary.  While tomorrow is never promised for anybody, I know what the odds are as to who has less time (especially for that long of a plane flight).

 

Of course the ideal way would be a land trip, but the cruise will give my dad a chance to see a few different places, and the travel between them  will be easier for him.  Plus, he will have the option of doing things on sea days and at night and not feel obligated to be around my husband and me.  
 

Thanks again.

All sailings on Spectrum of the Seas when departing from Mainland China, are Culturally Enriching Cruises. Guests will be immersed in the local culture, Mandarin and Chinese food are the primary on board. By the same token, Diamond Princess sailings are Japanese.