Cruise Description

Seven Seas Explorer® took luxury cruising to the next level, from the palatial Regent Suite to the hand-picked art accentuating her halls.

Beijing (Tianjin), China
This dynamic city has dazzled travelers since the days of Marco Polo. From the enchanted serenity of the Summer Palace Gardens to the ‘Bird’s Nest’ Olympic Stadium, past and present Beijing, swirl by in a kaleidoscope of unforgettable memories. Begin your tour in China’s largest man-made port city, Tianjin, and explore such sites as Confucius Temple, Ancient Culture Street with its traditional Qing-dynasty style shops and stalls and the impressive Shi Family Mansion. Excursions to Beijing showcase The Forbidden City, the best preserved imperial palace in China and the largest ancient palatial structure in the world. Historic Tiananmen Square is the world’s largest city square, and holds about one million people for public gatherings. Around the square view the Monument of the National Heroes, the Great Hall of the People, the National Museum of China and the Mausoleum of Mao Zedong. Further afield, discover one of the great ancient engineering marvels still in existence, China’s Great Wall.

Shanghai, China
Shining brightly on the banks of the Yangtze River Delta in East China, this historic and glamorous city beckons with dazzling architecture, a universe of dining options and buzzing streetscapes. Stroll Shanghai legendary waterfront – known locally as ‘The Bund’ – for skyline views and colonial-era buildings. Pay homage to the famed pair of Buddhas at the Jade Buddha Temple in bustling downtown, learn the city’s fascinating story at the Shanghai History Museum in the Pudong district and head to the Old City to explore the 400-year-old Yuyuan Garden. You’ll be tempted by Shanghai’s fabled street food wherever you go, from crab shell pies to paper-thin soup dumplings.

Kagoshima, Japan
Kagoshima is Japan’s southernmost major city, and is nicknamed the “Naples of the Eastern World,” based on its caldera bay location, hot climate, and volcano. The majestic view of Mt Sakurajima, one of the world's most active volcanoes, dominates the city's landscape, towering over the beautiful Kinko Bay. The city abounds in historic sightseeing spots such as the memorial site of St. Francisco Xavier, who landed in Kagoshima and first introduced Christianity to Japan.

Beppu, Japan
Lovers of hot spring resorts, rejoice. Perched hillside on the southern Japanese island of Kyushu, Beppu bubbles with life thanks to a preponderance of onsen (hot springs). Enjoy a variety of rejuvenating bath types, from heated sand to traditional steam to hot mud. As one of the country’s most popular spots for enjoying a long, hot soak, most visitors find Beppu to be a delightful opportunity to absorb the more relaxed side of Japan’s vibrant culture.

Hiroshima, Japan
Surrounded by dense forests and enticing hot springs, cosmopolitan Hiroshima is a symbol of rebirth and resilience. Moving memorials to the world’s first atomic bomb attack of August 6, 1945 include the Peace Memorial Park and its Atomic Bomb Dome, a haunting symbol of the bomb’s devastation and a World Heritage site since 1996, and Children's Peace Monument. Take a ferry to the Island of Itsukushima, a holy place of Shintoism that’s Cultural Heritage-listed and site of the iconic ‘floating’ torii gate. After walking the wide boulevards of this vibrant city, sample the delicious, savory, street-food classic, Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki.

Kochi, Japan
Kochi boasts beautiful and abundant natural landscapes, from an expansive coastline running with the Kuroshio Current to the clear Shimanto River and the deep green forests that surround it. Located in the south of Shikoku, Kochi is ringed by rugged mountains to the north, and its arc-like southern coastline traces the outline of Tosa Bay. To the east is Cape Muroto, and to the west, Cape Ashizuri, with gently undulating sandy beaches stretching between these two extreme points. The prefecture also boasts the mystical limestone caves of Ryu-ga-do, and the beautiful sands and green pines of Katsura-hama Beach.

Nagoya, Japan
It may lack the name recognition of Tokyo and Osaka, but cosmopolitan Nagoya impresses with an array of museums, temples and green spaces. In this birthplace of Toyota absorb the ancient spirituality of Atsuta Shrine, one of Japan’s three most important Shinto shrines and a perfect spot to enjoy a lunch of kishimen (flat noodles), a local specialty. Immerse yourself in over 10,000 pieces of Japanese art, theater, fashion, samurai culture and more at Tokugawa Art Museum. Gain an instant appreciation for Japanese postwar history at SCMAGLEV and Railway Park, a fully hands-on museum featuring actual trains and simulators. Your inner train-loving-child will approve.

Tokyo, Japan
From Yokohama, travel to the world’s most dazzling city. Once the modest fishing village of Edo, modern Tokyo is a sprawling metropolis of unique neighborhoods. Choose from museums covering every aspect of Japanese history and culture. Visit the glorious Imperial Palace and Senso-ji temple in the ancient district of Asakusa. Dive into an urban food scene that rewards the intrepid. And, of course, snap a selfie in Shibuya Crossing. In Yokohama, bask in the city's hospitality before visiting Japan’s largest Chinatown or the vast Sankeien Garden, where seventeen historical structures relocated from Kyoto, Kamakura and elsewhere enhance the magnificent landscapes.