The best Asia Cruise Excursions for boomer travelers
Extremely popular with cruisers, Asia cruise itineraries offer glimpses of exotic cultures, steamy landscapes and unique wildlife watching opportunities. Our first-hand reviews of Asia cruise excursions will help make the most of your trip.
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How to choose an Asia shore excursion
From cosmopolitan Hong Kong to off-the-beaten-path Kota Kinabalu, our articles will show you what to expect on your Asia shore excursion:
- How unique is the experience?
- What cultural differences should you be aware of?
- Is it a touristy destination?
- How bad will the pollution be?
- What are the highlights of the tour?
We mostly book excursions through the ship, although many cruisers we know use Get Your Guide or Viator, including finding private tours. And joining a medical evacuation program is a must when traveling internationally. If a medical emergency happens, you’ll be transported back to your home hospital.
Tips for making the most of your Asia cruise tour
Knowing what to expect is key to enjoying a shore excursion in Asia. After experience some great and not-so-great tours, use our tips to make good decisions.
- Avoid long cruise bus excursions, if you can. Sometimes, they can’t be helped, especially if you’d like to explore cities like Hanoi or Beijing. Reading our tips for surviving cruise bus excursions will help you make the most of the experience.
- In extremely hot climates like Bali, consider hiring a private guide. The air conditioning on a bus cannot keep up with Bali’s heat and humidity.
- Some Asia shore excursions are touristy but worth experiencing once.
- Air pollution can be a problem, especially in China. Wear a mask and take your allergy medication if air pollution affects your health.
- Respect cultural differences. Overpopulated cultures have a much different idea of how close is too close when it comes to personal space.
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Asia shore excursions range from active adventures to in-depth looks at culture and history. You'll be amazed by the variety of experiences available on Asian cruise tours The Kamchatka Peninsula in far eastern Russia is a beautiful land of smoking volcanoes and abundant wildlife. Arriving by Russian army truck is part of the fun. This rough and tumble journey took us through a dry river bed to Nalychevo Nature Park where we hiked the mountain hiking trails before enjoying lunch in an alpine village. If your cruise ship calls on Petropavlovsk, don't miss this fun on this adventuresome Asia shore excursion. A visit to Nagasaki, Japan, is a poignant reminder of the perils of war. This sobering, yet uplifting, Nagasaki shore excursion includes a visit to the Peace Park, a tour of the Atomic Bomb Museum, as well as a stop at ground zero where the atomic bomb detonated. A highly recommend experience when your cruise ship visits Nagasaki. Kota Kinabalu is a city in Sabah on the island of Borneo in Malaysia. The Boreno Extravaganza shore excursion includes a boat ride through mangroves, fishing for crabs, learning to paint batik plus the chance to dip your toes in the South China Sea. It's a delightful day spent exploring Kota Kinabalu. When your cruise ship calls on Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), exploring the Mekong Delta is a shore excursion offered by most ships. Although it's a touristy experience, and a long bus ride to the start of the tour, make the effort to experience it once. Where else will you have the opportunity to wrap a python around your neck? How do you visit Beijing, on a cruise? China's capital city claims Tianjin as its port, about 115 miles away. Most cruise lines stay for a night or two in Tianjin, so that guests can travel on a land extension to Beijing. It's well worth the time, money, and effort. Although most visitors to The Temple of Heaven concentrate on the Taoist complex of temples and altars, don't miss the action in The Temple of Heaven Park. It's where Chinese baby boomers hang out to dance, sing, exercise and socialize. It's worth touring with a private guide so that you can concentrate on both the historical sites as well as people watching in the park. If you're visiting the Great Wall of China on a cruise excursion to Beijing, you'll probably arrive via the Juyongguan section of the wall. Be prepared for crowds, which makes negotiating the steep, deep rock stairs a little scary, especially on the way down. However, if this is your only chance to visit the Great Wall, go!Best Asia Shore Excursions
Exploring Smoking Volcanoes by Army Truck in Far East Russia
How to Spend One day in Nagasaki, Japan
Learning to paint in Kota Kinabalu
Explore Vietnam on a Mekong Delta Shore Excursion
Visit Beijing, China on a cruise
The Temple of Heaven: Where Chinese Boomers Hang Out
Disappointment At China's Great Wall
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