Southeast Asia & Hong Kong

See the legendary highlights of Hong Kong, from its sweeping vistas to its most intimate corners. Set out on a guided drive to Victoria Peak to ascend this 1,800-foot summit that soars over the city’s skyscrapers. Known as “the Peak,” it offers sweeping views of the metropolis, Victoria Harbour and Kowloon Peninsula. Continue along Hong Kong Island’s south shore and visit the open-air Stanley Market, where you will find stalls selling clothing, jewelry, ornaments and more. Next, explore the locale of Aberdeen, a fascinating juxtaposition of modern and ancient, and browse handcrafted jewelry collections that combine East and West design principles. Finally, embark a traditional sampan for a cruise through the harbor’s floating village, where locals live on fishing junks—a stark contrast to the high-rise buildings on the island. After time to explore, return to your ship.

Visit the cultural treasures of mountainous Lantau. The largest island in the Hong Kong archipelago, it is linked to the mainland by the world’s longest two-deck suspension bridge. Transfer with your guide by motor coach to Tai O, a fishing village where people live much the same as their forebears did over a century ago. Here, enjoy a stroll through “Little Venice,” past fishing boats, stilt houses, canals and racks hung with drying fish. Continue to Po Lin Monastery, a  Buddhist retreat that is home to the world’s largest seated outdoor Buddha. After a vegetarian lunch here, visit the visit the village of Ngong Ping 360. Browse the shops before boarding the Ngong Ping Skyrail, a cable car ride with stunning views of Hong Kong, Kowloon and Lantau. After, return to your motor coach and back to your ship.

Experience a close-up look at everyday Hong Kong life as you explore the city’s cultural sites. Drive by motor coach to the Hong Kong Museum of History, home to more than 170,000 items covering archaeology and ethnography, as well as natural and local history. Step inside to gain insight into Hong Kong’s evolution from a sleepy fishing village to a thriving urban center, then head to one of the largest Taoist temples in the city to learn about Taoism and Buddhism, Hong Kong’s primary religions. Enjoy the rare opportunity to observe their daily rituals, followed by a visit to Kowloon Walled City Park. This 15th-century military stronghold was once also a refuge for criminals. Today, it is a superb Chinese garden, which preserves traces of the walled city and features displays depicting the garden’s notorious history. After your visit, return to your ship.

Set out on a guided walk through Hong Kong's streets to discover some of the city’s most iconic sights. After a 45-minute drive, you will be greeted by the smell of incense at Man Mo Temple—Hong Kong’s oldest and most famous. The temple is a tribute to the God of Literature (Man) and the God of War (Mo), both of whom were worshipped by ambitious students hoping to succeed in the civil examinations in the Ming and Qing dynasties. After your visit, walk amid the antique shops, art galleries and curio shops along Hollywood Road, passing the Central Police Station, now a cultural hub.  See the Hong Kong Escalator, known as “the people mover”—this moving sidewalk is the longest outdoor covered escalator system in the world. You will also have time to browse the stalls of Li Yuen Market before boarding the famous Star Ferry to cross Victoria Harbor and return to your ship.

Explore spiritual Hong Kong at a Buddhist nunnery and Taoist temple, then visit a flower market and bird garden. Travel to the Chi Lin Nunnery, a Tang-dynasty style convent surrounded by lush gardens. This large Buddhist complex, originally dating from the 1930s, was rebuilt in 1998 completely out of wood. Next, visit Wong Tai Sin Temple, a well-known Taoist shrine. Many visit the temple in search of spiritual guidance via a practice called kau cim, which involves lighting incense sticks, kneeling before the main altar, making a wish, and shaking a bamboo cylinder until a fortune stick falls out. This stick is exchanged for a piece of paper bearing the same number, to be interpreted by a soothsayer. From here, you will continue to the colorful Flower Market to view its rich collection of flora, then visit the nearby Bird Garden before returning to your awaiting ship.

Experience the martial art of tai chi, and the ritual of a traditional dim sum breakfast. You will begin your day with a short transfer from your ship to the harbor to meet your tai chi instructor. Under the master’s expert guidance, you will be introduced to the graceful flow of this ancient martial art. Following your morning exercise, you will head to a local restaurant to experience a traditional dim sum breakfast. Invented by the imperial chef to please the empress dowager of the Qing Dynasty, a meal of dim sum features dumplings, buns and pastries filled with meat and vegetables. You will have the chance to sample a variety of sweet and savory flavors as you indulge in treats served steaming hot from bamboo baskets. Then, visit a lively food market, where you can watch locals shop for their daily necessities, before returning to your ship.

Enjoy a scenic tram ride along the northern side of Hong Kong Island and experience a lively night market. Embark your vintage double-decker tram for an evening tour of the island’s northern districts. Your guide will point out landmarks and relate the area’s history as you wind your way from the Western Market to Causeway Bay, then back again. After an eight-course meal at a local restaurant, head to Hong Kong’s “Golden Mile”—Nathan Road. This two-mile stretch is a cacophony of colorful signs, shops and eateries. Stop at the bustling Temple Street Night Market, one of the city’s popular bazaars featuring rows of brightly lit stalls. Enjoy free time to explore this vibrant venue. You can choose to haggle with the vendors over a desired item or watch as locals mix with tourists and fortune tellers. Afterward, return to your ship.

Experience the energy of Hong Kong after the sun goes down during visits to a Chinese garden and a night market. Start your evening with a short drive by motor coach to the Nan Lian Garden, a serene retreat nestled in the heart of the city. Stroll its paths and view the carefully placed rocks, trees and water structures, each aligned with Tang dynasty design principles. After your visit, continue to a local restaurant for a traditional eight-course Peking duck dinner. Then, head to the “Golden Mile”—Nathan Road. This two-mile stretch is home to colorful signs, shops and eateries. Stop at the Temple Street Night Market, a popular bazaar featuring rows of brightly lit stalls that display an array of goods, where you will enjoy free time to explore. You can choose to barter with the vendors over or simply watch as locals mix with tourists and fortune tellers. After, return to your ship.

Get away from the hustle and bustle of Hong Kong and embrace the laid-back atmosphere of Lamma Island. Hong Kong’s third-largest island, car-free Lamma attracts visitors drawn to its peaceful vibe and beautiful natural scenery. Board your vessel and depart Aberdeen, taking in the views of the harbor as you set sail for Sok Kwu Wan, located on Lamma’s sloping eastern shores. Upon arrival, enjoy a delicious, Hong Kong-style seafood lunch at an open-air restaurant overlooking the South China Sea, before setting out on a short walk. Then, reboard your vessel and continue your journey, passing Ap Lei Chau and the sheltered waters of Deep Water and Repulse Bays, home to the opulent residences of many of Hong Kong’s tycoons. Disembark in Stanley, then return with your guide or you may choose to stay and explore the market on your own, before making your way back to your ship.

Embark on a colorful journey through vibrant traditional markets as you stroll the streets of Hong Kong. Famed for its variety of offerings, Hong Kong is known as the shopping capital of Asia. Start at the Jade Market, where you will find more than 200 vendors displaying a selection of jewelry, trinkets and hand-made accessories crafted from this much-loved, semi-precious stone. Long associated with long life and good health in Chinese culture, it is a popular material for good luck charms. Next, head to the Ladies Market, where vendors have offered clothes, beauty products and more since the 1970s. Continue to the flower market and take in the heady scent of the flora, then cap your day with a stop at the Yuen Po Street Bird Garden. Listen to melodic birdsong as you stroll through its gardens and pass by vendors selling songbirds, bamboo cages and other bird-related items.

Explore Hong Kong’s rich cultural offerings at Tai Kwun and enjoy high tea at a historic local hotel. Drive to the tram station, where you will board one of Hong Kong’s famed “Ding Ding” trams. Nicknamed for the signature bell sound that they make as they travel through the streets, these trams are an iconic symbol of the city. Travel by tram to Central and visit Tai Kwun, a former police station, courthouse and prison complex that now serves as a major cultural center. Here, discover an array of exhibitions and see the contrast between the restored Victorian-era architecture and the modern additions designed to revitalize the space. You may also explore the prison cells and learn more about the site’s long history. Continue to a historic hotel for high tea, where you will enjoy pastries, finger sandwiches and a selection of premium teas, then return to your awaiting ship.

Visit the Chi Lin Nunnery, enjoy a classic tea demonstration and learn about Chinese culture at a local museum. Following a short drive, you will arrive at the Buddhist Chi Lin Nunnery, considered one of the finest examples of Tang-style architecture in Hong Kong. Its buildings are constructed almost entirely from cypress wood using interlocking joinery techniques. As you explore, view the exterior of the temple halls, the bell tower and the impressive pagoda. Continue to the adjacent Nan Lian Garden, a classical Chinese garden maintained by the nunnery. Here, you will enjoy a traditional tea demonstration and learn about the significance of tea to Chinese culture. Cap your excursion at the Hong Kong Palace Museum, where you will view exhibits showcasing Chinese art, history and culture through imperial paintings, calligraphy, jade objects and more. After, return to your ship.