Japan with Taiwan Hosted Cruise – 20 Nov to 7 Dec 2020 from A$3,069
17 night hosted cruise sailing from Yokohama round-trip aboard Diamond Princess with a curated pottery and ceramics themed shore excursion programme.
Cruise only cost
- Inside cabin from A$3,069 per person twin share; Single with sole use of cabin from A$6,138
- Oceanview cabin from A$4,400 per person twin share; Single with sole use of cabin from A$8,800
- Balcony cabin from A$5,399 per person twin share; Single with sole use of cabin from A$10,798
Shore excursion programme
In brackets below are the options for a curated Clay and Culture shore excursion programme to be released early 2020 - these shore excursions are not included in the cruise price and are only available to guests booked on the cruise through Newport Travel.
CRUISE ITINERARY
Date Port Arrive Depart
20/11 Yokohama, Japan 05:00 PM
21/11 Toba, Japan 07:00 AM 03:00 PM (Shigaraki Ceramic Cultural Park)
22/11 Takamatsu, Japan 09:00 AM 05:00 PM (Naoshima Art Island; Otani-Yake pottery village)
23/11 Kochi, Japan 07:00 AM 06:00 PM
24/11 Matsuyama, Japan 07:00 AM 06:00 PM (Tobe - Tobeware Pottery Village)
25/11 At sea - -
26/11 Busan, (Pusan) South Korea 07:00 AM 04:00 PM
27/11 At sea - -
28/11 Shimizu (Shizuoka), Japan 11:00 AM 09:00 PM (Hakone - open air museums and galleries with views of Mt Fuji)
29/11 Yokohama, Japan 06:30 AM 05:00 PM
30/11 At sea - -
01/12 At sea - -
02/12 Okinawa, Japan 07:00 AM 06:00 PM
03/12 Ishigaki, Japan 08:00 AM 06:00 PM (Visit to the "pottery island" of Taketomi)
04/12 Keelung, Taiwan 07:00 AM 05:00 PM (Taipe museum visit - the Taiwan Ceramics Biennale exhibition)
05/12 At sea - -
06/12 At sea - -
07/12 Yokohama, Japan 06:30 AM
For enquiries or to book, call 02 9997 1277 or email info@newporttravel.com.au
The Ship
Diamond Princess is a treasure trove of exceptional delights waiting to be discovered. Dine on freshly prepared sashimi in Kai Sushi, watch street performers in the dazzling Atrium, or take in a lavish production show in our state-of-the-art theater. And for a unique treat visit the Izumi Japanese Bath, the largest of its kind at sea.
Ports of call
Yokohama
Yokohama and Edo began life as sleepy fishing villages. That changed in the early 17th century after Tokugawa Ieyasu became Shogun. Edo became the center of political power in Japan, a position the city retained even after the restoration of Imperial rule in 1866.
Contemporary Tokyo may be the most astonishing city on earth. It's a paradoxical mix of ancient tradition and postmodern culture. The Ginza - an international shopping mecca - stands near the serene grounds of the Imperial Palace, and the hyper-speed of 21st century consumerism is mysteriously reconciled with the elegance and serenity of traditional culture. Tokyo provides the traveler with a dizzying experience.
With the Meiji Restoration of 1868, Edo was renamed Tokyo, the "Eastern Capital," to distinguish it from the old imperial capital at Kyoto, the "Western Capital."
Kochi
Kochi sits on the broad alluvial plain facing Urado Bay. This city in Shikoku takes its name from the great feudal castle that sits at its very heart. Completed in 1611, Kochi Castle was the seat of Yamauchi Kazutoyo, a noted warrior who supported Tokugawa Ieyasu in his successful quest to become Shogun. Tosa Province and Kochi Castle were Yamauchi's reward for faithful service. There is an historical irony here: 250 years later, a Kochi native son - a former low-ranked samurai and now ronin named Sakamoto Ryoma - played a pivotal role in bringing the Tokugawa Shogunate to an end and restoring the Emperor of Japan to political prominence. The prize once awarded for faithful service had become a hotbed of support for the Meiji Restoration.
Kochi is one of the wettest places in Japan - and a frequent target for cyclonic storms or typhoons. Southeast of the city, warm oceans currents washing against the Aki Mountains create a subtropical landscape of hibiscus, palm and ficus at Muroto-Anan Quasi-National Park.
Matsuyama
Matsuyama, Japan, is a peaceful haven where you can indulge in the healing waters of hot springs, satisfy your sweet tooth with amazing Japanese confections, and discover the area's rich literary tradition. The largest city on the island of Shikoku, Matsuyama developed around its celebrated 17th-century castle. Lined with cherry trees, this extensive fortress is a museum of historic relics from weaponry to armor, calligraphy and art. It also offers phenomenal views of the city and the Seto Inland Sea from its hilltop perch. Another city hotspot is Dogo Onsen, Japan's oldest hot springs. Known throughout Japan as a popular setting in the late author Natsume Soseki's famed novel, Botchan, Dogo Onsen features an elegant and inviting public bathhouse where many a visitor renews their spirit. Matsuyama is also the birthplace of Masaoka Shiki, considered the "Father of Modern Japanese Haiku Poetry," and there are several monuments to the haiku located throughout the city. From the hospitality at the hot springs to the renowned Matsuyama tarts and botchan dango (rice dumplings in bean paste), you won't want to leave this port!
Okinawa
The largest island in the Ryukyu Archipelago, Okinawa has been a center of trade and a source for conflict through its history. The island has been an independent kingdom, the feudal possession of a Japanese daimyo and a prefecture of Japan following the Meiji Restoration of 1866. Okinawa was the scene of bitter fighting during the closing days of World War II. Over 100,000 civilians perished and the island was left in ruins. A US military possession, Okinawa returned to Japanese rule in 1972. Naha is the island's largest city and the capital of Okinawa Prefecture.
Okinawa is the birthplace of karate. One of the world's most popular martial arts, karate is a fusion of Chinese kung fu and traditional island martial arts.
Ishigaki
The balmy, subtropical climate draws countless visitors to its sandy shores, but Ishigaki offers much more than your typical island getaway. It is the cultural, political and economic center of the Yaeyama Islands, originally founded in 1908 as Yaeyama Village and becoming Ishigaki Town in 1926. Ishigaki was elevated to city status on July 10, 1947. A hilltop Shinto shrine which dates back to 1614 is the perfect place to start your exploration of this lovely town. Noted for its white-sand beaches and turquoise waters to which snorkelers flock for a glimpse of the island's famed manta rays, Ishigaki Island offers many opportunities to commune with nature. Ishigaki has palm forests, mangrove-lined rivers suited for kayaking, and jungle-covered mountains perfect for hiking adventures. Amidst such natural beauty, you'll find an abundance of cultural sites with ties to the island's rich history. The Yaeyama Museum displays historic artifacts as well as traditional cultural items, and a visit to the well-preserved Miyara Dunchi, built in 1819, is a rare example of a samurai-style residence. Be sure to leave time in your busy day to sample some of the sweet island pineapple and to shop for the island's famed black pearls, a most special souvenir.
