The best Asia cruises: for all travellers
From ultra-luxury sailings to Japan to family-friendly mini cruises around Thailand, find the best Asia cruise for you, whatever your travel aspirations.
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At a glance
Asia is larger than the moon and has the longest coastline of any continent. It has a dazzling amount of diversity, and needless to say, there is no shortage of ways to explore it:
- A variety of itinerary lengths: From weekend escapes to epic journeys, ranging from four days to over 40.
- A range of price points: From affordable mini cruises for under £300 to five-figure ultra-luxury voyages.
- Something for every traveller: Whether you're seeking cultural insight, adventures in nature or family-friendly fun.
What makes a cruise ‘the best’?
At World of Cruising, our team of experts curate ‘best for…’ guides rather than taking a one-size-fits-all approach. And that’s especially important when you're dealing with cruises to the biggest continent on the planet. Asia offers a vast array of experiences, and we recognise that one person’s dream cruise might not suit another’s tastes at all.
Our solution? Looking for those subtle, if-you-know-you-know details so we can tailor recommendations to different types of travellers. Whether you’re looking to awaken your taste buds with a voyage of culinary discovery, snorkel with the family or set off solo to ports seldom sailed, we’ve found the best Asia cruise for your travel style.
Without further ado, here are the six Asia cruises that savvy travellers are booking for 2025, 2026 and 2027.
Best for families: Celebrity Cruises
Why this cruise line?
Celebrity Cruises includes a wide range of Asia itineraries, with destinations including Vietnam, Thailand, India, Indonesia and beyond. Crucially, some are timed around school holidays.
On shore days, families can choose from a variety of kid-friendly excursions, from cultural experiences to wildlife encounters. In Sri Lanka, children are charmed by elephants wandering national parks; in Japan, they're wowed by ancient samurai culture; in Vietnam, there are plenty of beaches with shallow areas where they can splash to their heart's content.
Back on board, Celebrity’s Camp at Sea programme runs activities for children aged three to 12. It includes everything from scavenger hunts and sports tournaments to art workshops and culinary classes. For older children, the Teen Club (ages 13-17) offers a dedicated social space with gaming, events and a little more independence.
Celebrity is also a solid choice for families that include children with sensory needs. Ships provide entertainment, toys and dietary options designed to support children with autism.
What should I know before booking?
Celebrity’s ships in Asia are typically mid-sized to large, making them ideal for multi-generational travel. While younger guests enjoy the kids’ facilities, adults can retreat to child-free areas like the solarium or thermal spa.
What itinerary should I try?
Bali, Malaysia & Thailand Holiday (multiple sailings in 2025, 2026 and 2027)
One sailing departs on December 21st, 2026, and returns on January 2nd, 2027, making it the perfect out-of-term-time festive escape. This voyage aboard the Celebrity Millennium means Christmas Eve in Phuket, Christmas Day in Langkawi and New Year’s Eve in Celukan Bawang.
Fares begin at approximately £1,110 per guest at the time of writing, excluding international flights.
Browse offers: Celebrity Cruises.
Best for affordability: Royal Caribbean International
Why this cruise line?
With an impressive selection of East Asia cruises to destinations like Hong Kong, Japan, Thailand, Malaysia and Vietnam, Royal Caribbean makes it easy to find a sailing that suits your budget and schedule.
These itineraries vary in length, starting with mini cruises of just two, three or four nights – ideal for anyone who wants a short but sweet adventure at sea. Crucially, mini cruises from Royal Caribbean can be very competitively priced. Fares for a two-night cruise can start at roughly £230, excluding flights and onboard extras.
What should I know before booking?
Royal Caribbean is known for its large, resort-style vessels, often carrying upwards of 4,000 passengers. That scale comes with upsides: think skydiving simulators, aqua parks and bumper cars.
Naturally, the size of ships also shapes the destinations they can access. Expect major ports over off-the-radar gems – more Tokyo and Shanghai than sleepy coastal towns.
That said, it won’t all be megacities. Highlights like Jeju, South Korea (nicknamed the Hawai’i of South Korea) and Okinawa, Japan, known for its subtropical climate and white sand beaches, feature on select routes.
What itinerary should I try?
Four-night Penang & Phuket Cruise (multiple sailings across 2025 and 2026)
Sailing round-trip from Singapore, this mini cruise calls in Malaysia and Thailand. It also includes a sea day to enjoy the ship’s many amenities.
Fares begin at approximately £450 per guest at the time of writing, international flights excluded.
Browse offers: Royal Caribbean
Best for ultra-luxury: Seabourn
Why this cruise line?
Seabourn cruises sit at the pinnacle of ultra-luxury – but it’s not just about fine dining or intuitive service. Its Asia itineraries are thoughtfully crafted to slake the curiosity of travellers looking for insights as well as indulgence.
The first thing you’ll notice is the small size of the ships. Beyond creating an intimate, almost yacht-like atmosphere, they’re able to reach secluded, less-sailed ports.
Take Ko Kood in Thailand, for instance, which is accessible only by tender. On this unspoiled island, Seabourn creates its signature caviar on the surf beach barbeque. You’ll find the pristine island features on itineraries that also take in the cosmopolitan allure of Hong Kong, Taipei or Tokyo.
Seabourn is also thoughtful about scheduling sailings around seasonality. Alongside itineraries dedicated to Japan’s cherry blossom and autumn foliage seasons, you’ll find ones for plum blossom season – often overlooked by other cruise lines.
On shore, Seabourn’s excursions are designed to give guests a deeper sense of place. One standout is the shopping with the chef series, where you’ll browse local markets in destinations like Penang, Ho Chi Minh City and Nagasaki.
What should I know before booking?
Seabourn’s ships are suite-only and oceanfront throughout. Onboard, all-inclusive means free-flowing champagne, caviar and authentic sushi, lectures by visionary experts and highly personalised service at every turn.
Naturally, that level of indulgence comes with a matching price tag. Longer itineraries can climb into five-figure territory – but for those seeking something exceptional, the experience speaks for itself.
What itinerary should I try?
40-Day Southeast Asia & Japan’s Plum Blossoms (February to March, 2027)
For those with time and budget in tandem, there’s scarcely a better way to experience this region than this itinerary. Among more than 25 stops, you’ll visit Ko Kood for sugary white sands, Halong Bay for limestone islets and magical caves and Akita for sake breweries and Samurai heritage.
Fares begin at £21,599 per guest at the time of writing, excluding flights.
Browse offers: Seabourn.
Best for river cruisers: Emerald Cruises
Why this cruise line?
River cruising has its loyal fans – and for good reason. It means smaller ships, smoother sailing (seasickness is rare) and access to ports that ocean liners can’t reach.
Whether you’ve sailed Southeast Asia before and want to see it from a new perspective or you’re simply a river cruise enthusiast, Emerald Cruises provides a standout way to experience the Mekong.
Flowing through six countries, including Vietnam, Thailand and Cambodia, the Mekong is the longest river in Southeast Asia. Guests sail aboard the Emerald Harmony, a ship purpose-built to reach ports that other river cruise ships can’t – including the heart of Ho Chi Minh City.
Depending on the itinerary, you might stop at small communities along the Mekong Delta, attend craft workshops, explore sacred temples and visit historically significant but sobering sites like Phnom Penh’s Killing Fields.
What should I know before booking?
Emerald Cruises also has the option to combine your river sailing with land-based touring – picture cherry blossom season in Japan, followed by a leisurely cruise through the Vietnamese and Cambodian countryside.
What itinerary should I try?
Eight-Day Majestic Mekong Cruise (multiple sailings across 2025 and 2026)
Aboard the Emerald Harmony, guests will sail through Vietnam and Cambodia, visiting riverside towns, temples and cultural sites – including UNESCO World Heritage Sites. This voyage begins in Ho Chi Minh City and ends in Phnom Penh.
Fares begin at £2,800 per guest at the time of writing, flights included.
Browse offers: Emerald Cruises.
Best for foodies: Oceania Cruises
Why this cruise line?
Oceania’s fleet of small, elegant ships and destination-rich itineraries appeals to curious, food-focused travellers. For gourmets interested in a culinary cruise of Asia, they’re a sure-fire success, thanks to their wide range of cruises in the region – over 80 currently listed for 2025, 2026 and 2027.
Wherever you cruise, whether it’s to Singapore for Michelin-starred street food or Hong Kong for seriously swish eats, Oceania places real emphasis on immersive shore experiences.
For example, in Busan, South Korea, you can browse the stalls of Jagalchi Fish Market on a chef-led culinary tour. In Kyoto (via Kobe), Japan, you can see how Japanese kitchen knives are forged before sitting down to expertly grilled Kobe beef.
What should I know before booking?
Don’t shy away from itineraries with sea days. Oceania is known for serving some of the best cuisine at sea. Its ships are designed around spacious, state-of-the-art galleys, and on average, there’s one chef for every 10 guests.
Its ship Oceania Riviera, which frequently sails Asia, even has a state-of-the-art culinary centre – a hands-on cooking school at sea.
What itinerary should I try?
Singapore to Dubai: Indian Ocean Inspiration (May 2027)
This 18-day sailing across Malaysia, Thailand, Sri Lanka and India is rich in gastronomic delights. Plus, a limited number of solo staterooms are available – and considering Oceania’s intimately sized ships and foodie passengers, you’ll have no trouble finding like-minded dining companions.
Fares begin at approximately £5,500 per guest at the time of writing, excluding flights.
Browse offers: Oceania Cruises.
Best for expedition: Ponant
Why this cruise line?
Ponant proves there’s more to expedition cruising than polar plunges and icy landscapes. Its tropical itineraries showcase the line’s unique position at the crossroads of luxury and exploration, including voyages that seek out the natural beauty of Asia’s most remote archipelagos.
For example, its modern, elegant ships sail Indonesia, reaching rainforest-capped karst islands and volcanic landscapes that feel almost lunar-like. Standout destinations include Triton Bay in West Papua, part of the biodiverse Coral Triangle, and Komodo National Park, home to dragons (well, very large lizards).
Zodiac excursions are led by expert naturalists who offer insight into local ecosystems. Guests can also see what lies beneath the surface – some cruises feature a dedicated diving instructor, and some ships, such as Le Jacques Cartier, are equipped with a below-the-waterline lounge offering unique views of the marine world.
What should I know before booking?
The mix of passengers onboard might surprise you. Yes, there are adventurous honeymooners and well-travelled retirees, but that’s not the whole story.
Select sailings waive the single supplement, making these once-in-a-lifetime experiences more accessible for solo travellers.
You may also spot a few junior explorers onboard. While not overtly family-focused in the same way as Celebrity Cruises or Royal Caribbean, Ponant warmly welcomes children aged six (or eight, depending on the ship) and above, making it a viable option for adventure-forward families.
What itinerary should I try?
Voyage to Indonesia: Dragons, Reefs and the Spice Islands – with Smithsonian Journeys (May 2026)
This 13-day voyage takes passengers to remote and biodiverse regions of Indonesia. Created in collaboration with Smithsonian Journeys, it includes an onboard enrichment programme by two Smithsonian experts. They provide extra insight into shore excursions, like ones to the Barat Daya Islands, home to over 160 species of birds.
Fares begin at approximately £8,850 per guest at the time of writing, excluding flights.
Browse offers: Ponant.
So, there you have it. Whether you’re sailing solo on a thrill-filled expedition, enjoying family-friendly fun in Southeast Asia or just in it for the food, you’re sure to find an Asia cruise to leave you completely satisfied. Which one are you booking?
