Naha,Keelung,Miyako Is.,Naha

Naha is the largest city in Japan's Okinawa Prefecture -- and one of the country's most well-known. While visitors could spend a week or more exploring the city, there is also much to be seen in a day or two from busy public markets offering local foods to castle ruins to architecturally breathtaking temples, art museums and a historic mausoleum. Okinawa has a fascinating history: As capital of the Ryukyu islands -- which stretch in a 700-mile arc from the Japan's southernmost large island, Kyushu, to within sight of Taiwan (on a clear day) -- the 55 islands were run as an independent kingdom for a hundred years, trading with China, Malaysia and China. As a result, the islands have a culture, cuisine and language distinct from the rest of Japan, with a vibe and a feel more similar to Hawaii (on the same parallel, though 1,100 miles to the east) than the rest of the country. The best-preserved example of the time was the magnificent Shuri Castle, but it tragically burnt down in 2019. In more recent history, Okinawa is best known as the site of a massive Allied invasion in the closing stages of World War II, immortalized in countless books and films. A must-visit attraction is the Okinawa Prefectural Peace Memorial Museum, which recounts the battle. Okinawa is also famous as the birthplace of karate, and you can organize a visit to see a demonstration during your time here. The climate is sub-tropical with year-round temperatures averaging 72 Fahrenheit, with hot, wet summers, while winters are dry and mild. Naha, Okinawa has plans to become a turnaround port (where cruises begin and end) as it's well served by direct flights from Tokyo, Taiwan, mainland China and Hong Kong. A second berth to increase capacity is reportedly in the works, as well as a large cruise complex with shops and restaurants, due to open in 2021. --By Adam Coulter, UK Editor

Relax and enjoy the facilities and entertainment onboard your ship. If the weather is good take some sun and sunbathe on the pool deck. Otherwise explore below deck the wide range of activities that will be available during the day. Perhaps you prefer to find a quiet spot and catch up on your reading.

Taipei is a busy city of more than two and a half million people situated at the northern tip of Taiwan. Founded by Chinese traders in the 17th century, the city became the country's capital in 1885 and, like the entire country, has been occupied at various times by the Dutch, the Spanish and the Japanese. Today, the city is a thriving hub of business and tourism that will feel familiar to anyone who has spent time in any of the world's big cities. There are English signs everywhere, American fast-food stops and clothing and shoe shops with recognizable names like Benetton, Sketchers and Aldo. The city's Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) system is easy to navigate, and if you keep your eyes on the towering Taipei 101, you can usually figure out which direction to go. Like the world's big cities, Taipei is crowded. Locals and tourists alike compete for space, motor scooters are an ever-present danger and skyscrapers dominate the horizon. But interspersed among all the noise are pockets of quiet and reflection. Temples, like churches in the Western world, are everywhere, and two of the city's most popular tourist sites -- the Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall and Martyr's Shrine -- request respectful silence. Not all of the city's tourist attractions are quiet, the most notable exception being the National Palace Museum, which receives thousands of visitors a day. Originally located in Beijing's Forbidden City, the more than 600,000 objects in the collection were moved, first to China's south to avoid the Japanese invasion in 1931, and then to Taiwan in 1949 because of the civil war between the Nationalist Government and the Communists. With the largest collection of Chinese cultural and artistic objects in the world, tourists, especially those from mainland China, flock to the city to visit it.

The Miyako Islands, part of Okinawa Prefecture, are a Japanese paradise boasting pristine beaches, crystal-clear turquoise waters, and vibrant coral reefs.  Offering fantastic snorkelling, diving, and a relaxed tropical atmosphere, they're perfect for those seeking a tranquil island escape.

Naha is the largest city in Japan's Okinawa Prefecture -- and one of the country's most well-known. While visitors could spend a week or more exploring the city, there is also much to be seen in a day or two from busy public markets offering local foods to castle ruins to architecturally breathtaking temples, art museums and a historic mausoleum. Okinawa has a fascinating history: As capital of the Ryukyu islands -- which stretch in a 700-mile arc from the Japan's southernmost large island, Kyushu, to within sight of Taiwan (on a clear day) -- the 55 islands were run as an independent kingdom for a hundred years, trading with China, Malaysia and China. As a result, the islands have a culture, cuisine and language distinct from the rest of Japan, with a vibe and a feel more similar to Hawaii (on the same parallel, though 1,100 miles to the east) than the rest of the country. The best-preserved example of the time was the magnificent Shuri Castle, but it tragically burnt down in 2019. In more recent history, Okinawa is best known as the site of a massive Allied invasion in the closing stages of World War II, immortalized in countless books and films. A must-visit attraction is the Okinawa Prefectural Peace Memorial Museum, which recounts the battle. Okinawa is also famous as the birthplace of karate, and you can organize a visit to see a demonstration during your time here. The climate is sub-tropical with year-round temperatures averaging 72 Fahrenheit, with hot, wet summers, while winters are dry and mild. Naha, Okinawa has plans to become a turnaround port (where cruises begin and end) as it's well served by direct flights from Tokyo, Taiwan, mainland China and Hong Kong. A second berth to increase capacity is reportedly in the works, as well as a large cruise complex with shops and restaurants, due to open in 2021. --By Adam Coulter, UK Editor