Critics of cruises usually dislike how little time they get to spend at port destinations. It limits the amount of time they have to explore museums, eat out, souvenir shop, and more.
Videos by TravelAwaits
But there are some occasions when you might want a shorter trip onto land. Like, says, when you’re a little less familiar with local culture and language. In that case, a day trip to a port will feel like the adventure of a lifetime, and returning to your cabin on the ship will feel like a welcome respite.
I’m talking about cruises in Asia. If you’ve never been to Singapore, Hong Kong, Thailand, or Japan, taking a cruise through Asia gives you the perfect chance to learn about different cultures without requiring you to put together a multi-day itinerary. All you need to do is wait for port days and sign up for activities via your cruise company or strike out on your own.
Whether you’re usually a fan of cruises or not, take a closer look at these routes for 2026 and 2027. They’re some of the best cruises in Asia from companies that you know and trust.
Best cruises in Asia—from companies you know and trust
Princess
Princess has some of the most affordable cruises in Asia, with plenty of unique destinations. From 19-day Hawaii-to-Tokyo routes to ten-day cruises down the coast of Vietnam from Ha Long Bay to Singapore, you’ve got choices.
Princess also specializes in Japan cruises, from cherry blossom-chasing to history-focused routes that take you around the islands. You can even find routes that will take you down to Australia—why not bundle in a visit to the Great Down Under?
Celebrity Cruises
Celebrity Cruises segments its cruises in Asia into three destinations: Japan, India, and Southeast Asia. That’s a pretty sweet setup because each location specializes in a different factor. Japan offers the chance to explore nature and world-famous metropolises, while India lets you take on a cultural adventure you won’t forget anytime soon. Southeast Asia has a bit of everything—from world-class tropical beaches to austere temples to mega-cities like Singapore.
Personally, I think Celebrity Cruises is a great way to explore Bali, Malaysia, and Thailand—you can find many routes that showcase the best of these three nations.
MSC
MSC specializes in cruises in Asia that explore Japan, Taiwan, and South Korea. Similar to Viking, you can book shorter routes for two or three days, letting you potentially add a little cruise to your existing vacation plans. They’re also incredibly affordable despite the fact that the MSC Bellissima is regarded as one of the world’s best mega-ships.
Viking
When it comes to cruises in Asia, Viking stands out because many of its offers are river cruises. (Viking offers either ocean or river cruises.) From the Mekong in Cambodia and Vietnam to the Brahmaputra River in India. Viking also offers smaller two and three-night cruises, meaning you can easily tack on a short river cruise to your existing Southeast Asian trip itinerary.
However, I recommend avoiding Viking’s trip excursions—I live in a hotspot of Barcelona where Viking tour groups pass through often. Visitors clog the streets while they get a very basic overview of my neighborhood’s history. It’s a lose-lose for locals and visitors, in my opinion.
Royal Caribbean
Royal Caribbean’s Asia cruises visit some of the continent’s coolest spots, including South Korea’s Jeju Islands, Japan’s Okinawa, and Vietnam’s Da Nang. Plus, they offer a unique two-night weekend getaway cruise that departs from Hong Kong.
If you’re looking to dig a bit deeper into Asia’s greatest natural wonders in or near the water, Royal Caribbean has some fantastic offers—especially if you want a shorter cruise.
Seabourn
Seabourn is my top pick for luxury cruises in Asia. Its long routes will ferry you from Southeast Asia all the way to Japan, with plenty of stops in the middle. Part of Seabourn’s allure is that they organize highly acclaimed shore excursions, and even let you stay the night in cities like Singapore, Bangkok, and Hong Kong.
You’ll pay a high premium for your trip, but you’ll get the best of both worlds in terms of getting to explore the continent from land and sea.
[Just a heads-up: We may earn an affiliate commission when you make a purchase from a link in our articles.]
