What is the best time to cruise Asia?

For Japan, spring (late March to May) and fall (October and November). For Southeast Asia, roughly December to April, the drier season. Typhoons are most likely from about July to October.

Do I need visas for an Asia cruise?

It depends on the itinerary. Japan currently allows US citizens short tourist stays without a visa, but countries such as Vietnam or China may require visas or special cruise arrangements. Your cruise line will publish requirements for your sailing; check current rules before you travel.

Where do Asia cruises depart from?

Common embarkation ports are Tokyo (Yokohama), Singapore, Hong Kong, Kobe and Bangkok (Laem Chabang).

How far are the ports from the cities?

Some are close, like Singapore and Hong Kong. Others are far: Bangkok is roughly two hours from Laem Chabang and Ho Chi Minh City is about two hours from Phu My.

Asia Cruises: When to Go, Ports and Tips

Asia cruises cover a huge area, and most itineraries focus on one of two regions. Japan cruises, often round trip from Tokyo (Yokohama), visit ports such as Osaka or Kobe for Kyoto, Nagasaki, Hiroshima and sometimes South Korea or Taiwan. Southeast Asia cruises sail from Singapore, Hong Kong or Bangkok to Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia.

A cruise solves the hardest part of Asia travel for many Americans: getting between countries and cities without a string of flights and hotel changes. You can see Kyoto's temples, Ha Long Bay's limestone islands, Ho Chi Minh City's markets and Singapore's gardens on one trip, and come back to familiar food and a familiar cabin each night.

Distances between ports can be long, and some major cities are a drive from the cruise terminal (Bangkok from Laem Chabang, Ho Chi Minh City from Phu My, Beijing from Tianjin). Entry rules differ by country and change often, and some ports require visas arranged in advance, so read your line's documents guidance carefully.

Asia cruise season by month with average high and low temperatures in Singapore

Best time
Shoulder season
Cruises run
Few or none

Temperatures in Fahrenheit, long-term averages. Climate source.

Cruises run year-round somewhere in Asia. Japan is best in spring (cherry blossoms around late March and early April) and fall (October and November). Southeast Asia is driest from about December to April. Typhoons can affect the region from roughly May to November, most often from July to October.

Weather to plan around: Typhoons in the western Pacific can occur in any month but are most common from about July to October, affecting Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, the Philippines and Vietnam; itineraries are adjusted when storms approach. Southeast Asia has monsoon seasons that bring heavy rain, and Singapore is hot and humid year-round with frequent thunderstorms. Japan and Korea are cold in winter.

Ports you'll likely visit

Singapore, Singapore
Gardens by the Bay, hawker centers and a major start and end port for Southeast Asia.
Yokohama (Tokyo), Japan
The usual port for Tokyo, about 30 to 45 minutes away by train.
Osaka or Kobe (Kyoto), Japan
Kyoto's temples and shrines, Nara's deer park and Osaka's street food.
Nagasaki, Japan
The Peace Park and Atomic Bomb Museum, plus a historic harbor.
Hong Kong, China (Hong Kong SAR)
Victoria Peak, Star Ferry crossings and dim sum.
Busan, South Korea
Jagalchi fish market, beaches and colorful hillside villages.
Phu My (Ho Chi Minh City), Vietnam
Markets, French colonial buildings and the Cu Chi tunnels, about two hours from port.
Laem Chabang (Bangkok), Thailand
The Grand Palace and temples of Bangkok, roughly two hours away by road.

Highlights

Cherry blossoms and fall color

Japan cruises time spring and autumn sailings for the scenery.

Temples and palaces

Kyoto, Bangkok and Ho Chi Minh City in one trip.

Food capitals

Singapore hawker stalls, Osaka street food and Hong Kong dim sum.

Ha Long Bay

Limestone islands rising from the sea, a stop on many Vietnam itineraries.

How long, and what documents

7-14 nights is typical, such as Japan round trips from Tokyo or Singapore to Hong Kong voyages; longer sailings combine regions, and some lines run 3-5 night cruises from Singapore.

You need a valid passport book, and most Asian countries expect at least six months of validity and blank pages. Rules vary by country and change often. Japan currently allows US citizens short tourist stays without a visa. Singapore requires all arriving travelers to submit the SG Arrival Card. Some countries, including Vietnam and China, may require a visa or special cruise arrangements depending on the port and your plans ashore, and your line may need to arrange or collect documents before the voyage. Read your cruise line's documents guidance for your exact itinerary, and check current requirements with the State Department and each country's official sources before you travel.

Specialist tips

Check visa needs for every country on your itinerary as soon as you book; some must be arranged before departure.
Several big cities are far from the port; ship tours guarantee the ship waits if traffic is bad.
Japan has strict rules on some medications; check before packing prescription drugs.
Spring cherry blossom and fall foliage sailings in Japan fill early.

Asia cruises