Crimson Lacquer – Hakodate, Busan & Kanazawa

About this cruise

Somewhere around day five the ship stops being transport and starts being home. This 14-night sailing from Yokohama on October 30, 2027 visits Hitachinaka, Hakodate and Akita, with additional stops along the Japan, Korea, China & Taiwan. There's a stretch of back-to-back port days, so those days are busy, but the sea days around them give you time to recharge. Karaoke bars, hot springs, and temples draped in moss. East Asia does culture and chaos in equal measure. Most ports give you about 9 hours, so you can do more than just tick off the main sights. As for the ship itself, Diamond Princess keeps you well fed. 12 places to eat, with 7 included in the fare and a few specialty spots if you're in the mood. 14 nights is long enough to build a routine on board: favourite restaurant, favourite deck chair, favourite people. It starts to feel like a floating village. A proper voyage for people who like to take their time and hate rushing through destinations. Being shoulder season helps: golden light, comfortable weather, and shorter queues at the popular spots. Hard to ask for much more than that, honestly.