In a nutshell
Relax on-board ship, enjoying a myriad of world-class amenities and activities as you are whisked effortlessly from country to country, or city to island. We feature a 5-night cruise from Hong Kong, bypassing the world’s most famous skyline as you sail to Vietnam, a land steeped in history with sandy beaches, museums, temples and mysterious caves. Or treat yourself to a 14-night cruise onboard the Costa Allegra, again starting in Hong Kong with stops en-route in the Philippines, Borneo, Brunei, Singapore, Vietnam and China. An incredible odyssey, the best of Asia is yours to explore in depth on this tour, sightseeing by day and relaxing by night in supreme comfort.
Other tours include our 5-night Fabulous Far East tour, starting in Singapore and sailing down the Malacca Straits to Phuket, Penang and Kuala Lumpur. Or plump for our 7-night Straits Adventure, which includes all the aforementioned islands plus lovely Langkawi Island. As well as great shopping in Malaysia’s capital city, you can enjoy idyllic beaches on these tours and some of the world’s most stunning scenery. All this coupled with superb facilities and outstanding service ensure an experience you will never forget!
Additional info
Hong Kong
A city that moves at an incredible pace, Hong Kong is scintillating! A beacon of modernity, there’s also tradition and history too, ensuring something for everyone. Fabulous dining in gourmet restaurants and street stands will delight; the shopping is second to none and the nightlife electric. The skyline is one of the most famous on earth and for families there’s Disneyland! Orientate yourselves with a harbour cruise and FREE architecture walk before discovering on your own!
Singapore
Once a British colonial outpost, today Singapore is a vibrant, modern city with plenty of attractions. As well as museums galore, there’s superb shopping to be had in high tech malls and rickety market stalls. Being Asia’s food capital, the cuisine is fantastic, with street food being some of the best in the world! A visit to Raffles Hotel to sip a Singapore Sling is essential as is a trip along the causeway to Sentosa, home to a fabulous water park, golf courses and Asia’s biggest aquarium.
Malaysia
With a lively mixture of Malay, Chinese and Indian cultures, Malaysia is as diverse as it is fascinating. Go white water rafting in the forest, explore the ultra-modern capital and relax on the beach – all in one holiday! Kuala Lumpur is the aforementioned capital with skyscrapers, high-tech shopping and gourmet restaurants. For beach life, there’s Penang, the ‘Pearl of the Orient’ – a tropical oasis just off the northwest coast. Langkawi is another paradise island with coves, lagoons and inlets perfect for water sports and a lush, green interior that will take your breath away.
Vietnam
Boasting some of Indochina’s most beautiful scenery, Vietnam is graced with divine beaches on the coast whilst inland are soaring mountains and misty forests. In the South, on the banks of the Saigon River, is Ho Chi Minh City with fine restaurants, glitzy bars and colonial villas. Da Nang, an important sea port, is also in the south with 2 fine beaches, the Cham Museum and the nearby Marble Mountains. In the north is Halong Bay, a stunning World Heritage Site with an incredible coastline and great diving amongst colourful coral reefs.
Thailand
Boasting a vibrant capital city and a coastline studded with beautiful beaches, Thailand is a wonderful place to visit. The people are warm and friendly, there is plenty for culture vultures and the food is glorious too! Krabi is one of Thailand’s most popular beach resorts with endless stretches of white sand, verdant forests, caves and waterfalls. For fun in the sun, Phuket has excellent water sports facilities, stunning limestone scenery and nightlife that’s electric!
Other Ports of Call
As well as visiting some of the world’s most fascinating countries, your cruise ship may stop at some lesser known but no less exciting ports. These include Sanya in China, a gorgeous resort in the southern part of the Hainan Province. Surrounded by tropical landscapes, step ashore and relax on the beach, admiring the scenery. There’s also Kota Kinabulu, the biggest and busiest town in Borneo with great shopping and a vibrant atmosphere. Manila in the Philippines also has cavernous shopping malls and a distinctly chaotic charm and the royal heritage in Brunei will astound you!
Your Stay Section
Why not extend your stay in Hong Kong or Singapore in one of the many city hotels available. Hong Kong is a non-stop, fast moving metropolis with one of the world’s most recognisable skylines. It’s a fabulous destination to experience, steeped in history and tradition with its festivals, museums and temples. Singapore offers a mix of ultra-contemporary and reassuringly traditional. You could immerse yourself in the history or shop till you drop. We have hand picked a selection of hotel options to add to your cruise holiday, but for a wider range of hotels, please visit virginholidays.comor call our specialist cruise team on 0844 544 3939 for more ideas on how to tailor make your holiday.
Land and Sea Excursions
One of the best ways to make the most of your cruise is to take advantage of shore excursions. This is the ideal way to really catch a glimpse of the best bits of the destination that you are visiting. Costa Cruises and Star Cruises offer a varied range of excursions, all bookable at the shore excursions desk onboard your ship. You will find a wide variety of relaxing, natural and cultural tours suitable for older and younger guests, as well as more active and sports-oriented excursions for those who prefer a little more adventure. Spaces are limited on shore excursions so we advise you to book as early as you can to avoid disappointment.