Top 10 Reasons to Sail Asia with Oceania Cruises
Asia is a region rich in vibrant cultures, ancient temples, bustling markets, and breathtaking landscapes, offering countless unique destinations to explore. With Oceania Cruises, you can experience it all in luxury and comfort that's beyond compare.
Enjoy expertly prepared dim sum while admiring the iconic Hong Kong skyline from your suite's private balcony. Then venture into the heart of Thailand to explore its ancient temples, all before returning to a ship designed with every detail crafted for your comfort and indulgence.
If you're ready to skip the crowded mega-ships for an elevated travel experience, discover 10 reasons why Oceania Cruises is the ultimate way to explore Asia's most captivating destinations.
CADENCE-EXCLUSIVE OFFER
Book a select Virtuoso Voyages sailing now and enjoy an exceptional travel experience enhanced with exclusive benefits. Choose between a $250 Shipboard Credit or a FREE Shore Excursion, plus enjoy a welcome reception and an onboard Virtuoso host. You’ll also indulge in these added luxuries, valued at up to $300 a day.
1. Intimate Ships for Epic Adventure
Forget fighting crowds for the perfect photo. Oceania's intimate ships carry just 684 to 1,250 guests, creating an atmosphere more akin to a private yacht than a floating city. This smaller scale means you'll dock at ports where massive ships simply can't go.
In Vietnam, you'll glide right into the heart of Ho Chi Minh City's bustling waterfront. In Japan, you'll wake up steps away from Kyoto's famous bamboo groves. This intimacy extends beyond ports. You'll recognize fellow travelers, remember your server's name, and actually get to know your destination specialists. It's cruising as it was meant to be. Personal, refined, and utterly unhurried.
2. Premiere Dining Experiences
Other ships preach it, Oceania embodies it. While some cruise lines serve cafeteria-style meals, Oceania transforms dining into an art form. Their culinary program, inspired by master chef Jacques Pépin, elevates every meal into an experience you'll savor, often sourcing fresh, local ingredients from each port.
Start your day with flaky, scratch-made croissants, enjoy lunch crafted by chefs trained in classical French techniques, and end with a dinner that rivals the finest restaurants in Paris or New York.
Must Try Dish: Try the Spicy Duck and Watermelon salad at Red Ginger. Made with cashew nuts, mint, basil and a sweet fish sauce it’s the perfect blend of bold and refreshing flavors.
3. Jacques Pépin's Culinary Legacy
When it comes to culinary excellence, Jacques Pépin's legendary name shapes every kitchen aboard Oceania Cruises. With a career spanning decades, from serving as Charles de Gaulle’s personal chef to inspiring millions through his PBS shows, Pépin has personally crafted the brand's unique culinary philosophy.
The result is seasonally inspired menus that reflect the flavors of each destination, hands-on cooking classes led by a team trained under Pépin, and specialty restaurants that could rival Michelin-starred establishments on land. The experience goes beyond being fed. It's about being enlightened, inspired, and treated to a truly indulgent experience with every bite.
4. Diverse Itineraries Beyond the Obvious
Instead of hitting the same expected ports, enjoy itineraries that read like a cultural anthropologist's dream journal. Yes, you'll visit Tokyo and Singapore, but you'll also discover lesser-known places like Kagoshima, Japan, where you can witness traditional pottery making, or explore the pristine beaches and ancient rainforests of Langkawi, Malaysia.
These carefully curated routes often include multiple overnight stays, giving you time to experience destinations after the day-trippers leave. Have Kyoto's temples mostly to yourself at sunset or enjoy Hong Kong's night markets without rushing back to catch the last tender.
5. Inland Excursions That Go Deep
This is another way Oceania separates itself from the cruise pack. Rather than shore excursions that are more of a quick photo op, you'll experience immersive journeys into the heart of Asian culture. In China, you'll spend a full day exploring the Great Wall, complete with a traditional lunch in a local village. In India, you'll visit the Taj Mahal with enough time to truly appreciate its changing beauty as the day progresses.
These aren't cattle-call bus tours. Groups are kept small, guides are local experts, and the pace allows for genuine discovery rather than rushed sightseeing.
EXCURSION HIGHLIGHTS
Go Green Tours (Bangkok) – The First Manmade Forest: Stroll through the Metro Forest, a once-abandoned dump site reborn as a lush urban park on the outskirts of Bangkok. Elevated skywalks offer a bird’s-eye view of the thousands of native trees planted here, making it a remarkable example of how vision and dedication can transform a blighted space into an environmental eutopia.
EXCURSION HIGHLIGHTS
Chef-Led Culinary Discovery Tours (Busan Markets Tour): Dive into Busan’s bustling food scene with a chef as your guide. You’ll snack your way through local street stalls at BIFF Square, then follow your chef through Jagalchi Market to select the freshest catch. The adventure culminates in a delicious lunch where your market-fresh fish is expertly cooked and served both sashimi-style and in a spicy stew.
6. Food-Focused Shore Excursions
Culinary shore excursions take your love for cuisine beyond the ship, offering immersive food experiences on land. Join local chefs in Bangkok's markets, selecting ingredients before learning to prepare authentic pad thai in a family kitchen. In Hong Kong, uncover the centuries-old artistry of dim sum, perfected and passed down through generations of master chefs.
Your cooking classes will be next level. You'll visit spice gardens in Sri Lanka, learn about tea cultivation in Japan, and discover how sake is crafted using methods unchanged for centuries. Each excursion connects you to local food culture in ways that restaurant meals simply cannot.
7.Extended Stays & Overnight Adventures
Turn your trip into a complete journey of discovery with pre- and post-cruise programs and overnight stays. Immerse in Tokyo’s vibrant neighborhoods before setting sail, or extend your stay in Singapore to savor its world-famous food scene. Many Asian voyages include overnight stays in major cities, letting you experience destinations like a traveler, not a tourist.
Dine at local restaurants after crowds have departed, explore night markets, or enjoy evening performances. With expert guides, comfortable accommodations, and exclusive access to top attractions, you'll feel right at home while discovering something new.
8. Luxe Accommodations That Feel Like Home
Step into your suite, and you'll immediately understand the difference. Oceania's accommodations feature marble bathrooms, premium linens, and private balconies that become your personal viewing deck for Asia's stunning coastlines. Every single cabin type is spacious and thoughtfully designed.
Expect fresh flowers replaced daily, complimentary room service, and butler service in suites that rivals the world's finest hotels. Your cabin becomes a retreat where you'll actually want to spend time.
9. Service That Anticipates Your Needs
With nearly one crew member for every two guests, Oceania delivers service that feels both attentive and natural. Your preferences are noted and remembered. Special dietary needs are accommodated without fuss. Questions are answered before you think to ask them.
This isn't robotic five-star service—it's genuine hospitality from a crew that takes pride in creating each and every experience. You'll leave feeling not just satisfied, but genuinely cared for throughout your journey.
10.Your World Included
Your fare will be packed with an exceptional array of amenities, making your journey as effortless and enjoyable as possible. From gratuities for your attentive stateroom attendants, butlers, and dining staff to unlimited access to specialty restaurants, Starlink Wi-Fi, in-room dining, and group fitness classes, it’s all included. You’ll also enjoy complimentary non-alcoholic beverages and laundry services, allowing you to fully soak in the experience.
This combination of convenience, care, and value is just one of the many reasons you'll love sailing with them.
