IF cruising Asia sounds appealing, but Alaska equally tempts, Cruise Holidays has a most unusual luxury voyage aboard one of the world's biggest liners – the 116,000 tonne Diamond Princess – that embraces both regions over 23 days for an enjoyable mix of both shore adventures and blissful days at sea.
And they've combined it with economy air and taxes* from Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne to Beijing, four nights pre-cruise there, a night post-cruise in Vancouver, and economy air and taxes* back to Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne, and all priced from just $5899pp twin-share.
The Beijing stay includes two full day tours with lunches taking-in the Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace, Tiananmen Square, Great Wall and Ming Tombs-Changling.
This rare 28-night package begins on April 28th next year with the flight to Beijing. After their 4-nights there guests join Diamond Princess for her cruise to Dalian in China, Busan (South Korea,) Japan's Osaka and Tokyo, and six leisurely days across the North Pacific to Anchorage in Alaska for a 15-hour visit there.
Next day Diamond Princess spends five hours cruising by the massive Hubbard Glacier, followed by a day in spectacular Glacier Bay National Park, and days ashore in Skagway, Juneau and Ketchikan, before arriving in Vancouver for a day and a hotel night there and the flight back to Australia.
For full details phone Cruise Holidays on 1300 305 920 or visit www.cruiseholidays.com.au. *Air taxes can change without warning.
ADDITIONAL SHIPBOARD INFORMATION: The 2700-guest Diamond Princess has no fewer than ten restaurants and cafés ranging from formal to ethnic, a grill, a pizzeria and a buffet, plus an ice-cream bar, traditional afternoon tea, room service for those who wish, and a half dozen lounges, bars and nightclubs.
There's a live-stage theatre, live concerts, movies under the stars, four pools, a kiddies' splash pool, child centre, casino, spa and fitness centre, a shopping arcade, and activities can range from art auctions to hands-on lessons in napkin folding.
