47 nights · NSW Australia · Departs Sydney (Australia) · Visiting Mooloolaba, Airlie Beach, Cairns, Darwin, Benoa, Semarang, Jakarta, Singapore, Saigon, Da Nang, Hong Kong, Keelung, Miyakojima Island, Naha, Kochi City, Kobe-Osaka, Hiroshima City, Beppu, Kitakyushu, Sasebo, Busan, Sakaiminato-Matsue, Kanazawa, Niigata City, Akita City, Aomori City, Tokyo · Aboard Azamara Cruises on the Azamara Pursuit
Image courtesy of Azamara Cruises ©
| Cruise line | Azamara Cruises |
|---|---|
| Ship | Azamara Pursuit |
| Duration | 47 nights |
| Port calls | 28 |
| Departures | 1 sailings |
| From fare | $20,379 per person |
| Year built | 2001 |
| Guests | 774 |
| Cabins | 352 |
| Crew | 400 |
| Length | 181 m |
| Beam | 25 m |
| Cruising speed | 18.0 kn |
From the water, Sydney’s harbour frames the Opera House, Harbour Bridge and ferries crossing between historic quays. Beyond the waterfront, central Sydney pairs nineteenth-century buildings with contemporary architecture and leafy streets. Walk the Royal Botanic Garden for harbour views, or take a ferry to Manly for a coastal perspective. Allow time to explore The Rocks, where the city’s colonial beginnings meet galleries, cafés and a lively weekend market.
Set on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, Mooloolaba pairs a broad, patrolled beach with a working marina and an easygoing seaside centre. Walk the Esplanade for cafés, boutiques and views across the water, or follow the coastal path towards Alexandra Headland. Mooloolaba prawns are a local speciality, best enjoyed overlooking the marina. SEA LIFE Sunshine Coast offers a look at the region’s marine life. Beyond the shore, the hinterland rewards a longer excursion with villages and the Glass House Mountains.
Airlie Beach is the mainland gateway to the Whitsunday Islands and the Great Barrier Reef, on Queensland’s Coral Sea coast. Boats leave its marina for island beaches, reef snorkelling and sailing, on day trips or overnight cruises. The foreshore lagoon offers a saltwater swim and bay views; cafés and shops line the town centre. Conway National Park’s rainforest trails provide a quieter inland counterpoint.
Cairns puts two World Heritage landscapes within reach: the Great Barrier Reef and the Wet Tropics rainforest. Boats leave the marina for coral reefs and islands. Inland, the scenic railway and Skyrail connect Cairns with Kuranda, a mountain village above the rainforest. The Esplanade’s waterfront lagoon offers a refreshing pause in the tropical city. Allow time for Cairns itself: its markets, cafés and relaxed waterfront reward a slower pace between excursions.
Darwin is Australia’s northern gateway, where the Timor Sea meets a city shaped by tropical heat and Asian influence. Its compact waterfront puts the harbour within easy reach. The Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory offers insight into Indigenous cultures and the region’s wartime past. Beyond town, Kakadu’s wetlands and Litchfield’s waterfalls reward a longer stay. Visit in the dry season for easier travel and clear, warm days.
Benoa is Bali’s principal cruise gateway, set on the island’s sheltered southeast coast. From the pier, Bali’s contrasts are close at hand: Nusa Dua’s resorts and Sanur’s seafront. Denpasar offers markets, museums, and a glimpse of daily life beyond the resort belt. Allow time for traffic; journeys inland can take longer than the map suggests. For a deeper excursion, Ubud pairs galleries and rice terraces with a lively arts scene.
Semarang rewards travelers who look beyond the harbor. Kota Lama’s Dutch-era warehouses and civic buildings recall the city’s trading past. The domed Gereja Blenduk anchors its historic square. Sam Poo Kong, a Chinese temple complex associated with 15th-century admiral Zheng He, reflects Java’s layered heritage. For a longer excursion, Borobudur, the celebrated Buddhist temple complex, lies about 100 kilometers inland. Make time for lumpia, Semarang’s famed spring roll.
Cruise ships dock at Tanjung Priok, north of central Jakarta; allow extra time for traffic. Jakarta is Indonesia’s capital, where Dutch-era streets and modern towers share a crowded horizon. Begin in Kota Tua, the old town, with colonial façades, museums and Fatahillah Square. Monas commemorates independence, while the National Museum explores Indonesia’s history; save room for nasi goreng or satay.
Singapore rewards the curious with a rare mix of order, energy and invention. Within a short ride of the waterfront, explore Chinatown’s shophouses, Little India’s temples and Kampong Glam’s Malay heritage. Follow pepper crab and satay aromas into a hawker centre, where local cooks make a persuasive case for lunch. For a quieter hour, Gardens by the Bay pairs dramatic Supertrees with cool conservatories and views across Marina Bay.
Ho Chi Minh City rewards curious travellers with a vivid collision of old Saigon and modern Vietnam. French-colonial landmarks, busy markets and motorbike-filled streets make the centre a study in contrasts. The War Remnants Museum offers a sobering account of the conflict, while local cafés invite a slower pause. For a deeper look at Vietnam’s wartime history, the Cu Chi tunnels make a memorable excursion beyond the city.
Da Nang is Vietnam’s most appealing blend of city energy, broad beaches and easy access to remarkable heritage. The Museum of Cham Sculpture offers an exceptional introduction to the ancient kingdom of Champa. The Marble Mountains rise above the coast; Hoi An’s lantern-lit old town is about 30 kilometres south. Choose a beach day, a museum visit or an outing into central Vietnam’s layered past.
Hong Kong is best approached from the water, where the Star Ferry crosses Victoria Harbour beneath a skyline of towers. Ride the Peak Tram for sweeping views of the harbour and surrounding islands. In Central, colonial landmarks stand beside glass towers; across the harbour, Kowloon’s markets and temples offer a different pace. Cantonese kitchens range from dim sum teahouses to polished dining rooms. Leave time for the harbour after dark, when the city’s lights come into focus.
Keelung is Taiwan’s northern gateway, a busy harbor city with an easy rail connection to Taipei. Taipei’s museums, temples and shopping districts make a rewarding day ashore; Keelung offers local life closer to port. At Miaokou Night Market, sample seafood and Taiwanese snacks beneath the lantern signs. Heping Island Geopark offers wave-shaped rocks and broad coastal views.
Miyakojima, in Okinawa’s southern island chain, offers a quieter Japan of sugarcane fields, coral shores and turquoise water. Hirara Port puts the island’s main town, beaches and coastal viewpoints within reach. Cross the 3.5-kilometre Irabu Bridge for sweeping sea views. Yonaha Maehama’s pale sand and clear shallows reward an unhurried stop. Try Miyako soba, then take in the limestone landscape that gives this reef-fringed island its distinctive character.
Naha is the gateway to Okinawa, where Japan’s subtropical south feels distinct from the mainland. Begin at Shuri Castle, former seat of the Ryukyu Kingdom, now being rebuilt after the 2019 fire. Along Kokusai Street, browse local crafts and taste Okinawan specialties, including bitter melon and sweet-potato treats. For a quieter glimpse of island life, explore Shikinaen, a royal garden with ponds and traditional architecture. Naha rewards curiosity beyond the waterfront.
Kochi rewards curious visitors with Shikoku’s history and easygoing, open-air pleasures. At its heart, Kochi Castle is one of Japan’s twelve castles to retain its original keep. Nearby, the Sunday market and Hirome Market reveal local life through seasonal produce and katsuo no tataki, seared bonito. Follow the coast to Katsurahama, where a statue of samurai reformer Sakamoto Ryoma faces the sea.
Osaka rewards travellers who look beyond its famous appetite. Japan’s third-largest city blends merchant heritage, bold architecture and everyday energy. At Osaka Castle, stone walls and broad moats frame a defining chapter of the city’s past. Follow locals to Dotonbori, where neon reflects on the canal and takoyaki comes hot from the grill. Excellent rail links make Osaka a practical gateway to Kyoto, Nara and Kobe.
Hiroshima is a modern city with a history that reaches far beyond the events of 1945. At Peace Memorial Park, the Atomic Bomb Dome and museum offer a moving, carefully documented account of the bombing. Across the city, local trams make it easy to reach Shukkeien Garden, lively Hondori and the riverside. A short train and ferry journey reaches Miyajima, famed for Itsukushima Shrine and its great torii gate.
Steam curls above Beppu, Japan’s celebrated hot-spring town. On Kyushu’s east coast, mineral-rich waters feed public baths and traditional inns. The famous Eight Hells are vivid geothermal pools, best admired rather than entered. Choose a soak in a neighborhood bathhouse, or sample cuisine cooked with volcanic steam. Beppu rewards travelers who make time for the water.
Kitakyushu sits at Kyushu’s northern tip, facing Honshu across the Kanmon Strait. Its waterfront tells two stories: Mojiko’s restored Meiji-era port buildings and the steelworks that helped shape modern Japan. Explore Kokura Castle, then browse Tanga Market, where local cooks and shoppers keep the city’s food culture in view. Come for a port city with substance: industrial history, waterside architecture and a lively gateway to western Japan.
Sasebo, on Kyushu’s western coast, is a working port with a strong maritime identity. Its sheltered harbor opens toward Kujukushima, a maze of more than 200 islands and wooded islets. At Huis Ten Bosch, canals, gardens and Dutch-style buildings recreate a European town on a grand scale. For a quieter outing, cruise from Kujukushima Pearl Sea Resort and watch the islands rise from the water.
Busan pairs the scale of a modern port city with easy access to temples, markets and broad beaches. Visit Gamcheon Culture Village, browse Jagalchi Fish Market or ride Songdo’s cable car over the sea. The city’s best-known sights are spread across several districts, so plan your day around one area. For a quieter pause, visit Beomeosa Temple on the forested slopes of Geumjeongsan.
Your arrival at Sakaiminato opens a quieter side of Japan, where fishing-town character meets samurai history. Follow Mizuki Shigeru Road past bronze figures from the manga artist’s supernatural world, then sample fresh crab and seafood. Matsue lies about 40 kilometres away, its original castle among Japan’s National Treasures, with canals and Lake Shinji nearby. A day ashore can move from lively local flavour to the measured elegance of old Japan.
Kanazawa rewards visitors who look beyond Japan’s best-known cities. On the Sea of Japan, it preserves a samurai quarter, historic castle and teahouse district. Stroll Kenrokuen, one of Japan’s Three Great Gardens, then explore Omicho Market for seafood from nearby waters. The 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art and gold-leaf workshops reveal a modern city with a rich craft tradition.
Niigata faces the Sea of Japan, where waterways and a fertile rice plain have shaped the city’s character. One of Japan’s leading rice-producing regions, it is celebrated for fine sake brewed with local grains and pristine water. Walk the waterfront, cross graceful Bandai Bridge, then explore Furumachi’s old merchant quarter. Nearby, the Northern Culture Museum reveals the elegance of a prosperous rural estate. At table, local rice, Sea of Japan seafood and sake make a persuasive case for staying awhile.
Akita offers a quieter, distinctly Japanese day ashore, with samurai-era history and celebrated regional food. Senshu Park occupies the former grounds of Kubota Castle. At the Akita Museum of Art, a striking mural by local-born painter Tsuguharu Foujita commands attention. Try kiritanpo, rice mashed, shaped around cedar skewers and grilled, alongside local sake. In August, the Kanto Festival brings towering lantern poles into the streets, carried with remarkable balance.
Aomori brings Japan’s northern frontier within easy reach, with the Tsugaru Strait beyond its harbor and mountains on the horizon. The city is known for crisp apples, fresh seafood and Nebuta, its dramatic summer festival of illuminated warrior floats. At Wa Rasse museum, the floats command attention year-round. Travelers can visit the Sannai-Maruyama archaeological site or journey to Hirosaki for its castle and celebrated cherry trees.
Tokyo is a city of contrasts best explored one neighborhood at a time. In Asakusa, Senso-ji’s lantern gates lead to a centuries-old Buddhist temple; nearby, the Sumida River frames the skyline. Ride the efficient rail network to sleek Ginza, quiet Meiji Shrine, or the high-rise streets of Shinjuku. Come hungry: sushi counters, ramen shops, and department-store food halls make eating well remarkably easy. Tokyo’s scale is immense, but its details reward curiosity.
Published September 16, 2026
Last updated October 3, 2026
Author: J. Richard
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