Jewels of Taiwan & Japan cruise with Seabourn

Hong Kong is divided into four sections: Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, the New Territories, and the numerous outlying islands. One hundred sixty-four square miles of dense real estate dominate Hong Kong Island, including enormous skyscrapers with futuristic architecture, opulent hotels, residential compounds on Victoria Peak, and some of the oldest Chinese communities in the region. All these elements create one of the most exotic and exciting ports of call in the world; one that is universally loved by tourists and its own enterprising citizens.

Unwind with a spa treatment or enjoy leisure activities onboard, from cafes to the card room.

Known as the island’s spiritual heart, Tainan invites travelers to explore its quiet lanes, ornate temples, and storied landmarks that whisper tales of dynasties past. Begin your journey at the Confucius Temple, a serene sanctuary of learning, then wander through vibrant markets where the aromas of local delicacies fill the air. Discover the legacy of Dutch and Qing influences at Fort Zeelandia and Anping Old Street, or seek moments of calm in lush gardens tucked behind ancient walls.

Set along the island’s western coast, Taichung blends modern energy with deep-rooted traditions, offering travelers a gateway to Taiwan’s artistic and culinary soul. This vibrant city invites exploration at a gentle pace—where leafy boulevards lead to ornate temples, and contemporary museums stand beside bustling night markets. Discover the serenity of Taichung Park, wander through the colorful lanes of the Painted Animation Village, or step inside the National Taichung Theater, an architectural marvel that mirrors the city’s creative spirit.

Keelung is the second largest port in Taiwan, and a booming trade industry has turned it into a very prosperous city and international seaport. However, the main reason for calling here is to travel inland to visit the contemporary metropolis of Taipei. Not long ago, the scenic valley of the Tanshui River was home to rice and vegetable farmers, but today it is the site of Taiwan’s bustling center of culture, commerce and government.

Closer to Taiwan than to Japan’s main islands, the Yaeyama group is a volcanic archipelago known (though not widely) for its coral reefs and clear waters. Ishigaki is the main hub, and attracts mostly Japanese visitors with inside information about the Caribbean-like appeal of the place. A part of the Okinawa Prefecture, the island is ringed by beaches that vary from sandy expanses to whole strands made up entirely of broken, bleached and tumbled coral. The land itself is mostly given over to palm forests and pineapple plantations.

Okinawa’s capital was heavily damaged during World War II. Its most famous landmark, the Chinese-style Shuri Castle, is a reconstruction, but well worth visiting, especially its impressive Shureimon gate, a UNESCO Heritage Site. Just nearby, a couple of relic sites remain: the stone houses and cobbled walkways of the Shrikinjocho Stone-Path Road, and the tranquil Shikina-en Garden. The Okinawa Prefecture Museum and Art Museum reveals a great deal of the local history. Okinawa has long been famous for a distinctive style of ceramic wares, which are still made in Naha’s Tsuboya neighborhood. Visit the Tsuboya Pottery Museum to earn about the craft, then stroll the shops along Yachimun Street to pick up some examples as souvenirs.

Relax and enjoy the amenities of Seabourn Encore as you continue your journey.

Aburatsu is a charming port town in Miyazaki Prefecture, Japan, known for its scenic beauty, rich cultural heritage, and welcoming atmosphere. Indulge in local culinary delights, from fresh seafood to exquisite sake, crafted with centuries-old techniques. Explore the historic Nichinan Coast, dotted with ancient shrines and lush greenery, providing a glimpse into Japan’s storied past. Don’t miss the Udo Shrine, a stunning cliffside sanctuary dedicated to the Shinto deity Ugayafukiaezu, and the Obijyo Castle Ruins, which offer a fascinating look into Japan’s feudal history.

Japan’s Shikoku island is a popular place of pilgrimage among Japanese Buddhists. Kochi has three of the 88 temples on the route. Chikurinji Temple, with its five-story pagoda, is one of them. Located on Mount Godaisan, it also features an adjacent botanical garden. The town is most famous for its castle, originally built in the early 17th century, but largely rebuilt following a fire in the mid-18th century. It is one of only 12 existing feudal-period castles in Japan. South of the town, Katsurahama beach is a popular destination, although swimming is not allowed due to strong currents.

Japan’s second-largest city is famous for its imposing, photogenic Osaka Castle, set in a park with decorative fruit trees that provide extravagant blooms in the spring. It has always been a merchant city, and the business sections are busy and crowded. For visitors, the city holds numerous shrines and temples, including the Shitenno-ji, Japan’s oldest Buddhist temple from 526 AD, and the Sumiyoshi Taisha, one of the oldest Shinto shrines in the country, from 211 AD. The Peace Pagoda, built in 1963, continues a common Japanese theme. For museum lovers, the city has a National Museum of Modern Art, focused on postwar art, and a five-story Science Museum, as well as a unique Oriental Ceramics Museum with over 2,000 items from Japan, Koreas and China.

Nestled along the southeastern coast of Japan’s Kii Peninsula, the Port of Shingu offers travelers a serene entry point into one of the country’s most spiritually rich and naturally stunning regions. This charming coastal town is a key destination for those seeking both cultural depth and scenic beauty.

Just beyond the harbor lies the Kumano Kodo, a UNESCO World Heritage pilgrimage route that has guided spiritual seekers for over a thousand years. These ancient trails wind through misty forests and over mountain passes, connecting sacred sites and offering a profound journey into Japan’s spiritual heartland.

A busy port located on the Suruga Bay, Shimizu is renowned for the surrounding views of Mt. Fuji. One of the most famous is from Miho no Matsubara, a shoreline lined with groves of lovely pine trees that is a UNESCO Cultural Heritage Site. One tree, said to be over 650 years old, plays a part in a popular folkloric myth. On clear days, the snow-capped cone can also be viewed from the heights of the Nihondaira Plateau overlooking the city and the bay. Near the port, the four-story S Pulse Dream Plaza shopping mall boasts a museum dedicated to sushi!

Welcome to Japan’s cutting-edge capital, the world’s largest city famed for its blazing neon, techno-gadgets, and serious fashion sense. Get a glimpse into Tokyo’s glorious past while strolling the Imperial Palace gardens, or take a rickshaw ride through the Asakusa district with its ancient Sensoji Temple and colorful atmosphere that echoes Old Edo. Wander the Tsukiji Market — aka, “Tokyo’s Kitchen” — the world’s largest fish and seafood market, and raise a glass of rice lager at the Philippe Starck-designed Asahi Beer Hall located near the 2,080-foot-high Skytree, the world’s tallest tower.

Seabourn Encore is as strikingly beautiful and as excitingly innovative as any Seabourn has ever debuted. She crowns a fleet of luxury cruise ships that is already the newest, most modern and most acclaimed in the ultra-luxury segment. Modeled on the award-winning trio of ships that came before her, Seabourn Encore represents another welcome stage in the evolution of small ship cruising, which Seabourn pioneered and has consistently expanded and enriched for all of our small ship cruises.

An evolution of Seabourn’s oceangoing fleet, this ultra-luxury ship offers 13 categories of oceanfront suites with private verandas, capacity for 600 guests, one additional deck, and an enhanced and central common living space with a reimagined Seabourn Square. Suites range in size from 251 to 1,306 square feet of indoor space, with verandas adding an additional 68 to 960 square feet of outdoor living area. All suites offer sweeping ocean views through the glass doors of their verandas.

• A full-length window

• Glass door to private verandah

• Comfortable living area

• Queen-size bed or two twin beds

• Dining table for two

• Walk-in closet

• Interactive flat-screen television with music and movies

• Fully stocked bar and refrigerator

• Makeup vanity

• Spacious bathroom with separate tub and shower
*Wheelchair accessible suites are roll-in shower only.

All Verandah Suites feature a full-length window and glass door to private verandah, comfortable living area, queen-size bed or two twin beds, dining table for two, walk-in closet, interactive flat-screen television with music and movies, fully stocked bar and refrigerator, makeup vanity, spacious bathroom with separate tub and shower.

• Glass door to private verandah

• Comfortable living area

• Separate bedroom

• Queen-size bed or two twin beds

• Dining table for two to four

• Walk-in closet

• Two flat-screen TVs

• Fully stocked bar and refrigerator

• Makeup vanity

• Spacious bathroom with separate tub and shower
*Wheelchair accessible suites are roll-in shower only.

All Penthouse Suites on board feature a comfortable living area, glass door to private verandah, queen-size-bed or two twin beds; walk-in closet with personal safe, two flat-screen TV with music and movies, fully stocked bar and refrigerator, writing desk with personalized stationary, makeup vanity, spacious bathroom with separate tub and shower, plush robes, slippers hair dryer and 110/220V AC outlets.

• Glass door to private verandah

• Comfortable living area

• Separate bedroom

• Dining table for two to four

• Walk-in closet

• Two flat-screen TVs

• Fully stocked bar and refrigerator

• Makeup vanity

• Bathroom with whirlpool bathtub
*Wheelchair accessible suites are roll-in shower only.

All Penthouse Suites on board feature a comfortable living area, glass door to private verandah, queen-size-bed or two twin beds; walk-in closet with personal safe, two flat-screen TV with music and movies, fully stocked bar and refrigerator, writing desk with personalized stationary, makeup vanity, spacious bathroom with separate tub and shower, plush robes, slippers hair dryer and 110/220V AC outlets.

• Expansive ocean views

• Forward-facing windows

• Comfortable living area

• Separate bedroom

• Queen-size bed or two twin beds

• Dining for four

• Walk-in closet

• Pantry with wet bar
Two flat-screen TVs

• Complimentary Internet/Wi-Fi service.

• Guest bath

• Makeup vanity

• Bathroom with whirlpool bathtub
*Wheelchair accessible suites are roll-in shower only.

Suites on board feature a comfortable living area, private verandah, queen-size-bed or two twin beds; walk-in closet with personal safe, interactive flat-screen TV with music and movies, fully stocked bar and refrigerator, writing desk with personalized stationary, makeup vanity, spacious bathroom with separate tub and shower, plush robes, slippers hair dryer and 110/220V AC outlets.

A more casual, indoor/outdoor alternative for breakfasts and lunch, and regionally-themed dinners with table service nightly.

Each evening, the skilled Earth & Ocean chefs create an imaginative array of fresh, inventive dishes—a sophisticated menu celebrating eclectic traditional flavors from around the world, served in a relaxed setting under the stars for a distinctive dining experience unlike any other on board.

Offering luncheon buffets, salads, soups and freshly baked pizza. Dinners feature a full menu in an al fresco setting.

Come when you like, with whom you please, and be seated as you wish. The cuisine is exquisite and the service is flawless.

A place to enjoy your newspaper or to socialize with your fellow passengers, Seabourn Square is what you’re looking for.

The Sky Bar on our expedition ships is a place to enjoy a refreshing tropical beverage during the day, or an evening cocktail under the stars. Two small whirlpool spas bracket the open terrace.

Offering light, modern Mediterranean cuisine bursting with color and character, prepared fresh and entirely from scratch.​

Solis will showcase a vibrant, chic atmosphere with feel-good background music and a menu reminiscent of our favorite travel memories.​ Solis was developed in collaboration with longtime Seabourn partners, Master Chef and Culinary Partner Chef Anton Egger, and Senior Corporate Chef Franck Salein.

Seabourn’s spas offer a wide spectrum of massages, facials, and beauty treatments, blending traditional practices from around the world with the most up-to-date techniques. Seabourn’s spas are suitable for guests wishing to maintain a personal fitness regime or discover a new one. A well-equipped ocean-view gym and Motion Studio is staffed by professional fitness trainers, and a full-service salon for men and women complement the spas.

The Fitness Center features high performance Technogym equipment for cardio and strength training. We also offer a series of complimentary classes including yoga, Pilates and Tai Chi. Or, if personal attention is preferred, our personal trainers will design a nutrition and exercise plan that will help you achieve results. Based on your body’s particular needs, this personalized session will expose you to the wellness program that works best with your body. Aboard Seabourn Sojourn and Seabourn Quest you may try the Kinesis System. Using a tri-dimensional pulley system, our personal trainers will guide you through a series of exercises designed to improve balance, flexibility and strength.