Cruise Line |
Viking Ocean Cruises |
Ship |
Viking Orion |
Destination |
Asia |
Nights |
36 |
Departure Date |
14 Apr 2021 |
Description |
36 Night Cruise sailing from Hong Kong to Vancouver aboard Viking Orion.
Combine Far Eastern Horizons and North Pacific Passage for an epic 37-day cruise. From imperial treasures and cities risen from ash to former Soviet ports and the magnificent beauty of Alaska, you will accompany locals as they reveal what they love most about the varied places they call home. A historic Pacific crossing links these diverse cultures, and overnight stays in six ports let you explore fully and take in the nuances and complexities of the North Pacific.
Highlights of this cruise:
Hong Kong, China
Arrive in dazzling Hong Kong today and embark your ship. Take time to settle in and explore, perhaps admiring the city’s magnificent setting, a glittering forest of skyscrapers standing between soaring mountains, a bustling harbor and offshore islands. Our overnight stay gives you ample time to experience the rich cultural tapestry and unmistakable British influence.
Taipei (Keelung), Taiwan, China
Visit the fascinating Taiwanese capital of Taipei on the island’s northern shore. This city boasts a curious blend of Chinese, Japanese and Western influences. Visit the National Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, a monument dedicated to the founding father of Taiwan, and the National Revolutionary Martyrs’ Shrine to those who have fallen in China’s wars. You will stop for photos of Taipei 101, a stunning skyscraper that held the reign as “tallest†from 2004 to 2009.
Nagasaki, Japan
Call in Nagasaki today, one of the rare cities in Japan where East and West intermingle, most notably in the delicious cuisine. Dutch traders resided here for two centuries after the shogun expelled missionaries spreading their religious beliefs. The city changed forever on August 9, 1945, destroyed by an atomic bomb. Take in views of today’s modern city from atop Inasayama lookout point and pause at the Nagasaki Peace Park to stroll among moving statues. You will also see the Urakami Cathedral and the island of Dejima, built to house European merchants.
Hiroshima, Japan
Arrive in Hiroshima for an overnight stay, giving you time to ponder this resilient city. Once at the forefront of industry and education, it grew from the 19th century to become one of Japan’s most important industrial centers. Its devastation on August 6, 1945 is hard to imagine today, so modern and forward-looking are its streets and its people. Contemplate the decades-long recovery at the burned-out shell of the Industrial Promotion Hall and the Peace Memorial Park. Later this evening, enjoy a tour of the illuminated city by night with a stop for a dinner of okonomiyaki, Japanese soul food and sake.
Shimizu, Japan
Arrive in Shimizu for an overnight stay, affording you time to get to know this historic city on the shores of Suruga Bay and explore farther afield to the famous Mt. Fuji. In Shimizu, visit the original burial spot of the first shogun, the Shinto shrine of KunÅzan TÅshÅ-gÅ«. With its flamboyant design and bright colors, it is a testament to the status that these military dictators held in the eyes of the emperor who appointed them. You can view the suits of armor, tachi (swords) and other artifacts and enjoy sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean along the way.
Sapporo (Otaru), Japan
Arrive in Sapporo for an overnight stay, allowing you ample time to immerse yourself in the fascinating culture of Japan’s northern island. The city is renowned for its ability to transform the natural world into the highest art. Central to Sapporo’s cuisine is miso ramen; the noodle dish was invented here and restaurants line the Ganso Sapporo Ramen Yokocho (Original Sapporo Ramen Street) to celebrate its many forms. The city’s golden Sapporo beer is produced here in a 19th-century brick brewery. If you wish, you may attend a special dinner with a geisha performance this evening.
Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Kamchatka, Russia
Call on the main cultural center of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, perched on the high scenic hills of the Kamchatka Peninsula. This fascinating, remote Russian town is surrounded by volcanoes and inaccessible except by sea and air. Soon after its founding, it grew into one of Russia’s most important eastern settlements. Our overnight stay here lets you explore up close. On board, enjoy a Destination Performance that embodies the rich traditions of this city.
Dutch Harbor, Alaska, United States
Call in Dutch Harbor today, a charming town on the Unalaska Island of the Aleutians known to locals simply as “Dutch.†This was home to the Aleut people for millennia. The Russian fur trade reached its shores in the mid-18th century, and the United States set up military bases here during World War II. There’ll be time for you to go ashore and explore on your own, absorbing a rich island heritage in a picturesque island setting surrounded by snowcapped mountains.
Seward, Alaska, United States
You have today explore Seward, renowned as the starting point of the world-famous Iditarod dogsled race. Explore the Alaska SeaLife Center, where you will learn about the marine world that thrives right off the coast. If you wish, venture farther afield to Katmai National Park to visit Exit Glacier or capture breathtaking aerial views from an optional helicopter excursion.
Icy Strait Point, Alaska, United States
Discover the old canning station at Icy Strait Point today. Fully restored by the Native American Tlingit community from nearby Hoonah, it is an exquisite time capsule revealing how locals once earned a living from the rich fishing grounds. Celebrate the Tlingit culture during a cultural presentation by locals in traditional ceremonial dress. You might also join a whale-watching excursion to spot some of the many creatures that flock to these food-rich waters. Or hop a floatplane to soar over the breathtaking expanse of Glacier Bay National Park, just across the strait.
Ketchikan, Alaska, United States
Discover Alaska’s “first city,†as it is known to travelers coming by ship from the south. Ketchikan was home to the Tlingit long before the arrival of white settlers, as you’ll see in the many old and new totem poles that grace the town. During a tour, walk in the footsteps of lumberjacks, fishermen, con artists and ladies of the night in this once lawless frontier town, and embark an amphibious vehicle for a unique “Duck Boat†tour. If you’d like to venture beyond the town, visit Tongass National Forest and Misty Fjords National Monument, where seaplanes and 4x4 vehicles take you beyond the beaten path.
|
|
Itinerary |
Cruise Itinerary
Day | Date | Activity | Arrive | Depart |
1 |
14/04 |
Hong Kong |
|
|
2 |
15/04 |
Hong Kong |
|
|
3 |
16/04 |
At sea |
|
|
4 |
17/04 |
Keelung, Taiwan |
|
|
5 |
18/04 |
At sea |
|
|
6 |
19/04 |
Nagasaki, Japan |
|
|
7 |
20/04 |
Kagoshima, Japan |
|
|
8 |
21/04 |
Beppu, Japan |
|
|
9 |
22/04 |
Hiroshima, Japan |
|
|
10 |
23/04 |
Hiroshima, Japan |
|
|
11 |
24/04 |
Osaka, Japan |
|
|
12 |
25/04 |
Shimizu (Shizuoka), Japan |
|
|
13 |
26/04 |
Shimizu (Shizuoka), Japan |
|
|
14 |
27/04 |
Tokyo, Japan |
|
|
15 |
28/04 |
Tokyo, Japan |
|
|
16 |
29/04 |
Tokyo, Japan |
|
|
17 |
30/04 |
At sea |
|
|
18 |
01/05 |
Otaru Ko, Japan |
|
|
19 |
02/05 |
Otaru Ko, Japan |
|
|
20 |
03/05 |
At sea |
|
|
21 |
04/05 |
At sea |
|
|
22 |
05/05 |
Petropavlovsk, Russia |
|
|
23 |
06/05 |
Petropavlovsk, Russia |
|
|
24 |
07/05 |
At sea |
|
|
25 |
08/05 |
Date Line Crossing |
|
|
26 |
09/05 |
Dutch Harbour, Unalaska, Alaska |
|
|
27 |
10/05 |
At sea |
|
|
28 |
11/05 |
Kodiak, Alaska |
|
|
29 |
12/05 |
Seward, Alaska |
|
|
30 |
13/05 |
Valdez, Alaska |
|
|
31 |
14/05 |
Yakutat Bay, Alaska |
|
|
32 |
15/05 |
Icy Strait Point, Alaska |
|
|
33 |
16/05 |
Sitka, Alaska |
|
|
34 |
17/05 |
Ketchikan, Alaska |
|
|
35 |
18/05 |
Inside Passage, Alaska |
|
|
36 |
19/05 |
Vancouver, BC. Canada |
|
|
|
All itineraries and ports of call at the discretion of the cruise line subject to local weather conditions and may change without notice.
|