Cruising has been slow to return to Asia, but the region is finally gearing up for an exciting wave season.

Southeast Asia welcomed its first cruise port call in over two years, when Royal Caribbean Spectrum of the Seas arrived at Malaysia’s Port Klang on July 1. This was followed by Resorts World Cruises’ Genting Dream, which called at Indonesia’s Batam and Bintan on 2 July.

“We have been working closely with various governments in Southeast Asia to align on cruise protocols and policies, and are excited to bring back port calls,” said Annie Chang, Director of Cruise, Singapore Tourism Board. “Port calls will provide more vacation options and we look forward to seeing more first-time and repeat cruisers in the coming year as more ports in the region open up.”

Added Ms Angie Stephen, managing director, Asia-Pacific, Royal Caribbean International: “We are thrilled to be the first cruise line in Singapore to reconnect holidaymakers with Asia’s beautiful destinations once again. After more than two years, the excitement from guests, both locals and fly cruisers, along with our travel partners is undeniable.”

As more cruisers set their sights on exploring (or re-exploring) Asia, we round up the lines either homeporting or visiting for the upcoming season.

Royal Caribbean

 Starting June 30, Royal sails a series of 3- and 4-night Southeast Asia itineraries from Singapore. Homeported in the country is Spectrum of the Seas, one of Asia’s largest ships that’s designed exclusively for the regional market.

Spectrum will call in Port Klang on three-night voyages, with the addition of Penang on four-night cruises.  From October 21, the port of Phuket will be added into the mix, with a series of 5-night voyages. On February 23, 2023, the line will also offer a longer 9-night sailing to Thailand and Vietnam.

Explore more: royalcaribbean.com

Resorts World Cruises

 The line kicked off its port-of-call sailings from Singapore on July 1st, with 2-night Bintan and Batam weekend cruises on Genting Dream. The vessel also sails from Singapore to Malaysia, with 2-night and 3-night cruises to Kuala Lumpur, Malacca (via Port Dickson) and Penang.

Beginning October 2022, Genting Dream will add a series of new itineraries to more destinations: Malaysia (Langkawi), Indonesia (North Bali and Surabaya) and Thailand (Phuket and Krabi). Those looking for a festive sailing in the tropics can consider the 5-night Surabaya-North Bali Cruise, departing Singapore on December 18.

Explore more: rwcruises.com

Oceania Cruises

2022 marks the return of luxury cruising to Asia as well. Oceania Cruises’ Regatta will embark on a Pacific Passage voyage from September 21, making her way from Los Angeles to Japan. She arrives in Sapporo on October 15, and will end her journey on October 21 in Yokohama.

Regatta will then depart on a 17-day Tokyo to Hong Kong voyage, and subsequently a Hong Kong to Singapore sailing on November 7, calling at ports like Hanoi, Saigon, Sihanoukville, Bangkok and Koh Samui.

From Singapore, she sails Down Under on a 21-day voyage, cruising the Java and Timor seas and calling at Semarang, Surabaya and Bali along the way.

Explore more: oceaniacruises.com

Regent Seven Seas 

Cruisers anticipating the return of small-ship, luxury sailings will also appreciate Regent Seven Seas’ upcoming Asia offerings.

Seven Seas Explorer returns to the region on November 21, sailing from Dubai to Singapore. The 21-night voyage includes calls at Muscat, Mumbai and the Maldives, as well as Penang and Phuket.

From Singapore, she’ll continue for 17 nights to Sydney, and then sail from Sydney to Bali on January 26, 2023. The Sydney to Bali journey encompasses 18 nights, with travellers going through exotic locales like Papua New Guinea, Komodo and Gili Mas in Lombok.

Explore more: rssc.com

Viking

Viking will make its post-pandemic Asia debut in Tokyo this October, when Viking Orion sails in from Vancouver on a 23-night voyage. The sailing is part of a longer, 37-day itinerary which will end in Hong Kong, and hit popular ports like Hiroshima, Nagasaki and Keelung in Taiwan.

Viking Orion then leaves Hong Kong for a 26-night sailing to Bali on October 27, visiting major cities such as Ho Chi Minh, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and Jakarta.

Cruisers can also prepare to welcome Viking Mars, which will sail from Athens to Bangkok on 25 October, traversing scenic routes like the Bay of Bengal. From Bangkok, she sails a 28-night South Pacific Sojourn to Sydney, with the option of a shorter 12-night Bangkok to Bali voyage on November 10.

Explore more: vikingcruises.com

Silversea

Both Silver Muse and Silver Shadow will be making their way to Asia this fall. Silver Muse kicks things off with a series of 14-day Osaka round-trip cruises, commencing September 23. Passengers can look forward to setting foot on destinations like Kyushu Island, Nagasaki, Busan, Akita and Hakodate in Hokkaido.

Silver Shadow sails from Tokyo starting September 27. She will do 10-day round-trip voyages from Tokyo for the months of September and October, then depart from Tokyo to Singapore on October 27, stopping by cities like Shanghai, Hong Kong, Vietnam and Thailand.

Explore more: silversea.com