Explore the colorful tapestry of Southeast Asia and unveil a captivating blend of ancient cultures. Witness the beauty of Bali as you discover its intriguing world of temples and centuries-old crafts. Sample flavorful cuisine and delve deep into the history of Ho Chi Minh City, formerly known as Saigon. Enjoy the serenity of Koh Samui and cosmopolitan Singapore’s cultural diversity. Overnight stays in three ports bring a wealth of exciting experiences.
Itinerary
Arrive in Bali for a one-night stay, allowing ample time to explore and immerse yourself in Bali's customs and traditions. As we remain docked overnight, take the opportunity to dine al fresco during an evening tour and enjoy a cultural performance amid a stunning setting.
You have another day to experience the vibrant culture and magnificent landscapes of Bali. Continue uncovering the wonders of Denpasar, or opt to immerse yourself in the island's spirituality and arts during an optional excursion. Alternately, see how the Balinese traditionally once lived and witness the creativity of talented artisans during an arts and crafts tour.
Spend the day relaxing on board as you cruise the Java Sea. Evidence points to the floor of the Java being above water before sea levels rose following the last ice age. This shallow body of water was also the site of a disastrous naval battle during World War II, when Allied forces were defeated by the Japanese on February 27, 1942.
Today, call on Semarang on the island of Java. Stop for photos of the oldest church in Central Java, visit a historic Chinese Muslim temple and walk through the stunning Rainbow Village on an included tour. Alternately, you may choose to board a vintage railcar for a ride through the Javanese countryside before visiting a coffee plantation.
Sail the Java Sea today. As you cruise, you will have a chance to sample some cuisine of the islands such as rijsttafel, a rice meal adopted by the Dutch and still enjoyed throughout The Netherlands.
Relax on board your ship as you cruise the South China Sea. Unwind in The Spa, where you can enjoy the Snow Grotto and Sauna, or by taking a dip in the Infinity Pool.
Relax on board your ship as you cruise the South China Sea. Unwind in The Spa, where you can enjoy the Snow Grotto and Sauna, or by taking a dip in the Infinity Pool.
Call on Ho Chi Minh City today, formerly known as Saigon. Explore a heady mix of French and Vietnamese cultures here, where baguettes and croissants are sold alongside pho, Vietnam's beloved noodle soup. Or view the Reunification Palace, the Central Post Office and Chinatown, and meet artisans at a lacquer workshop.
Enjoy another day exploring the cultural treasures of Ho Chi Minh City, absorbing its French colonial accents and bustling markets. Stop by its oldest and largest, Bến Thành Market, to experience Old Saigon at its most authentic. If you wish, you can visit the legendary tunnels of Cu Chi, a vast network of subterranean passageways used by the Viet Cong during the Vietnam War.
Take the morning to further explore Ho Chi Minh City. Perhaps take a tour by pedal cab and experience the energetic streets of Old Saigon in a traditional way. Or you may choose to enjoy the city's modern bustle and colonial charm on your own.
Tucked among mainland China, Vietnam and the Philippines, the South China Sea is one of the world's most important waterways. One-third of commercial shipping passes through these waters. It is a tradition that stretches back untold centuries, to when dynastic emperors and the barbarians who opposed them sailed their ships here. Later, 16th-century Portuguese traders called it Mar da China, the China Sea. As you sail these waters today, perhaps take in a lecture in The Theater to learn of the enriching destinations to which they lead.
Explore the Thai island of Koh Samui, a paradise of sandy beaches, coral reefs and coconut trees. Thailand's second-largest island after Phuket, this self-sufficient community had no roadways until the early 1970s. Today, it is a favored spot for sun-loving beachcombers from Thailand and beyond. Visit the island's revered temples and witness some of the scampering monkeys that have been trained to harvest coconuts from the treetops.
Cruise through the Gulf of Thailand today. As you do so, perhaps soothe your body with a hot sauna and a few minutes amid the fluffy snow of the Snow Grotto. This evening, enjoy cocktails in the Explorers' Lounge and a dinner of authentic Thai dishes in The Restaurant.
Arrive in Singapore today. This diverse city is a melting pot of varied influences, as you will see during visits to the Colonial District, Little India, Arab Street and Chinatown on an included tour. If you like, join an optional excursion to visit Gardens by the Bay, with its futuristic Supertree Grove, and take in sweeping views of the city from atop the Marina Bay Sands SkyPark.
Disembark in Singapore today, one of Asia's most cosmopolitan cities. Transfer to the airport for your flight home, or explore more during a post-cruise extension.
Wonderful Cruise Sydney to Auckland NZ 2Sue and Bruce, QLD, Australia, Dec 2023
What an amazing experience! From the time we boarded the Viking Orion in Sydney to disembarking in Auckland our expectations were exceeded at every point. The staff were very friendly and accommodating - nothing was a problem. The entertainment was brilliant and the food terrific. What was very noticeable was the high standard of cleanliness that ...read more was maintained throughout the ship - it made us very confident that we would be unlikely to become ill because of some bug on the ship. Well done Viking - we have booked another cruise with you and Global Journeys.
Great to start in Anchorage 4Chris , QLD, Australia, Aug 2023
Thanks Jemma for everything to organise another great holiday for us. We really appreciated starting in Anchorage, and the 2 day pre-cruise extension was absolutely a great start. Marriott was well located and we loved the included orientation tour and then spending time exploring on our own. The transfer to the ship at Seward was very valuable as it's ...read more an awkward transfer if done independently. The cruise was good - but food was very American oriented - so lots of fried, fatty foods with not a lot of fresh - still - plenty to eat. Viking comfort and amenities were tops - as usual.
Stops we particularly liked were Icy Strait Point, Sitka and Ketchikan. Haines was a disappointing stop as there's really nothing to do there and the "famed" Raptor Centre turned out to be a few sad bald eagles in very small cages and lots of stuffed wildlife specimens. Skagway would have been preferable. Wildlife sightings didn't happen - but the weather was perfect - so you can't have everything! Hubbard Glacier was also good - although a long day in fog to get to actually see the mammoth glacier! Finishing in Vancouver was great as it meant just one flight home - instead of the 2 to get to Anchorage and the reasonably long transit between which made for a very long start to the trip. Thanks Jemma - talk soon again...about our next travels!!
The Viking "Far Eastern Horizons" cruise was fantastic. The shore excursions were led by very experienced Japanese guides. The excursions gave us a snapshot look at some great Japanese cities- Nagasaki, Hiroshima, Osaka, Tokyo etc. and Taipei in Taiwan. The on board lectures given by historians on the history, culture and food of Japan were a wonderful ...read more adjunct for understanding our experience. The accommodation, food and entertainment on the ship were first class. Would thoroughly recommend this Viking experience. Attached a view of Mt. Fuji photographed from the dining room at breakfast!
First time Viking cruise 5Brigitte and John, VIC, Australia, Apr 2023
Georgie from Global Journey efficiently made the whole booking for such a long trip easy answering all our questions and making late changes stress free.
Viking Orion was a magnificent ship having everything included (except spa) made for a relaxing cruise. Crew were fantastic and food exceptional. Japan was wonderful with plenty of time to take ...read more in the culture and beauty. Scenery and wildlife in Alaska was spectacular although we were disappointed that 3 excursions were cancelled and some ports visits were short. The shuttle buses provided by Viking made it an ease to go downtown and we always got a warm welcome back! Crossing from Japan to Alaska, 7 days at sea was a bit long for us. Extension of Vancouver we would have been better to have done on our own. We made incredible friendships we would definitely cruise with Viking again and book with Georgie at Global Journeys. Big thanks 🌺
Japan, Taipei and Hong Kong 18Gareth, NSW, Australia, Sep 2019
The quality of the Viking Orión was stunning. The food was excellent with good variety and choice. The crew were attentive and nothing was too much trouble. The shore excursions were generally informative and interesting. Time on the ship went quickly due to the wide choice of entertainment, talks and topical information provided.
Five Star in every respect. 18Peter & Anne Maree , VIC, Australia, Jul 2019
This cruise was wonderful. The scenery was spectacular. An included optional excursion was available at every port and the arrangements for these ran like clockwork. Additionally there were a number of optional trips for which there was a charge. The times for these could be booked online pre cruise and so your personal itinerary was created. The cruise ...read more catered for approximately 900 passengers and because the ship was extremely well designed with a variety of spaces you never ever felt "crowded".
We really enjoyed the high quality of the food and we especially liked being able to book into the fine dining "Chef's Table" or the Italian "Manfredi's restaurant" if we pleased (available to all at no extra charge). A real highlight for me was participating in a French cooking lesson with 11 others. It was run by one of the chefs on the cruise. We also appreciated the talks given by the resident historians and specialists on board.
We certainly would book another cruise with Viking - in fact we have already done so! Jemma at Global Journeys was excellent. She responded to any enquiries relating to the trip very promptly and ensured all paperwork was in place in a timely manner. Thank you Jemma.
Availability
Click on prices below to view cabin upgrades and details
Note
Tour & cruises prices are per person. Prices shown have savings applied, are subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time without notice. Pricing and trip details are correct at this point in time, however are subject to confirmation at the time of booking and are subject to change by Viking. For cruise itineraries, cabin images are sourced from Viking. These should be treated as indicative only. Cabin inclusions, upholsteries and room layout may differ to the image(s) shown depending on the ship selected and your sailing dates.