THE FAR EAST FROM END TO END ABOARD SAPPHIRE PRINCESS with Qatar Airlines, 17 Nights

We meet our guide at Istanbul New Airport 4 hours before departure and, after check-in, fly to Singapore via Doha. Our Istanbul–Doha flight QR246 departs at 20:10.

After landing in Doha at 00:10 local time and a short connection, we take flight QR948 from Doha to Singapore at 02:05. Upon arrival at Singapore Airport at 14:55 local time, we transfer to the hotel, check in and settle into our rooms. Free time to relax.

After breakfast at the hotel, we transfer to our ship. Guests who wish may join the optional Singapore City Tour organised by our guide at an additional cost. Are you ready to discover the Lion City? Southeast Asia’s luxurious financial centre, Singapore lies at the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula and is one of the world’s few city-states. On today’s tour, we will have the opportunity to get to know the city and discover its award-winning architectural projects. We then transfer to Sapphire Princess, check in, settle into our cabins and begin exploring this beautiful ship. Our ship departs from the port of Singapore at 16:00. Dinner and overnight on board.

NOTE: Guests who do not wish to join the tour will be transferred to the port after checking out of the hotel.

We spend the entire day at sea, a perfect opportunity to enjoy this magnificent ship. You can enjoy breakfast, lunch and dinner at the buffet restaurant, offering a variety of dishes freshly prepared by dedicated chefs to suit every palate, or at your reserved seat in the à la carte restaurant. During the day, you can take yoga and fitness classes, play outdoor tennis, volleyball and basketball, or use the gym equipped with state-of-the-art Technogym equipment, including strength-training machines. After dinner, you can spend time in the ship's lively bars and cafés listening to live music, attend Broadway-style musical theatre shows or try your luck at the casino. Dinner and overnight on board.

After breakfast on board, guests who wish may join the optional Nha Trang tour organised by our guide at an additional charge. Vietnam's most famous seaside resort, Nha Trang attracts visitors with its lush scenery, exceptionally beautiful sea, historic temples and vibrant atmosphere. We visit the Po Nagar Cham Towers, belonging to the Cham, one of Vietnam's oldest peoples. Po Nagar Cham Temple (Po Nagar Cham Towers) is one of the Cham civilisation's most important religious sites. Po Nagar served as both a religious and cultural centre for the Cham. After exploring the mystical history of the Cham towers, we visit Long Son Pagoda, one of the most important religious sites in Vietnam's Buddhist culture, renowned for its reclining Buddha and giant seated Buddha statues. We conclude our tour at Dam Market with exotic flavours and colourful shopping. After the tour, we transfer back to our ship. Dinner and overnight accommodation on board.

We spend the entire day at sea, a perfect opportunity to enjoy this magnificent ship. You can enjoy breakfast, lunch and dinner at the buffet restaurant, offering a variety of dishes freshly prepared by dedicated chefs to suit every palate, or at your reserved seat in the à la carte restaurant. During the day, you can take yoga and fitness classes, play outdoor tennis, volleyball and basketball, or use the gym equipped with state-of-the-art Technogym equipment, including strength-training machines. After dinner, you can spend time in the ship's lively bars and cafés listening to live music, attend Broadway-style musical theatre shows or try your luck at the casino. Dinner and overnight on board.

After breakfast on board, guests who wish may join the optional “Hanoi City Tour” organized by our guide at an additional cost. Upon arrival in Halong Bay, a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site, we travel by road for approximately 3 hours to Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam. Hanoi was declared the capital following the French colonial period and the Vietnam War. Our itinerary includes visits to the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, dedicated to the leader of Vietnam’s independence movement and founder of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, the Presidential Palace, and the One Pillar Pagoda. After free time for lunch, we visit the Temple of Literature and explore the streets of old Hanoi by traditional rickshaw (bicycle carriages). Return to the ship at the end of the tour. Dinner and overnight on board.

Our ship will depart from the port at 07:00 in the morning, and we will spend the entire day at sea.

We will sail through the famous Halong Bay between 07:30 and 09:30.

We spend the entire day at sea, a perfect opportunity to enjoy this magnificent ship. You can enjoy breakfast, lunch and dinner at the buffet restaurant, offering a variety of dishes freshly prepared by dedicated chefs to suit every palate, or at your reserved seat in the à la carte restaurant. During the day, you can take yoga and fitness classes, play outdoor tennis, volleyball and basketball, or use the gym equipped with state-of-the-art Technogym equipment, including strength-training machines. After dinner, you can spend time in the ship's lively bars and cafés listening to live music, attend Broadway-style musical theatre shows or try your luck at the casino. Dinner and overnight on board.

After breakfast on board, guests who wish may join the optional Hong Kong City & Outlet Tour arranged by our guide at an additional cost. Hong Kong is an important meeting point between East and West and was handed over by Britain to the People’s Republic of China on 1 July 1997. Today, it is one of the world’s leading financial and trading centres. During our tour, we visit Victoria Peak, also known as The Peak, to enjoy magnificent views and photograph Hong Kong’s skyscrapers from above. We then see architecture built according to Feng Shui principles at Repulse Bay and visit a Chinese temple dedicated to traditional prosperity and the god of seafarers. After seeing the historic Clock Tower and Peninsula Hotel in Kowloon’s Tsim Sha Tsui district, along with the famous Heritage 1881, we enjoy free time for shopping and dining on Nathan Road, the city’s main thoroughfare known as the “golden mile.” Guests who wish may also take a souvenir photograph with the statue of Bruce Lee, the world-famous kung fu master from Hong Kong. At Citygate Outlet, you will have the opportunity to purchase discounted outlet products at very attractive prices from Burberry, Lacoste, Nike, Adidas, Columbia, The North Face, Samsonite, Michael Kors, Clark's, Armani, Skechers and many other brands. At the end of the tour, we depart for the port.

We spend the entire day at sea, a perfect opportunity to enjoy this magnificent ship. You can enjoy breakfast, lunch and dinner at the buffet restaurant, offering a variety of dishes freshly prepared by dedicated chefs to suit every palate, or at your reserved seat in the à la carte restaurant. During the day, you can take yoga and fitness classes, play outdoor tennis, volleyball and basketball, or use the gym equipped with state-of-the-art Technogym equipment, including strength-training machines. After dinner, you can spend time in the ship's lively bars and cafés listening to live music, attend Broadway-style musical theatre shows or try your luck at the casino. Dinner and overnight on board.

After breakfast on board, guests who wish may join the optional Taipei City Tour organized by our guide at an additional cost. Today’s tour takes us from Keelung into the captivating atmosphere of the capital, Taipei. Lungshan Temple – An ancient temple in the heart of Taipei, filled with traditional charms and the echoes of prayers. Colors, scents, and a mystical sense of peace will surround you. Chiang Kai-shek Memorial – An impressive monument bearing traces of Taiwan’s history. As you climb the steps, you will admire both its history and the views. Taipei 101 Shopping Mall – Enjoy shopping in one of the world’s most iconic towers. Luxury stores, local flavors, and the energy of modern Taiwan await you here. Ximending Shopping District – Taipei’s youthful spirit! A vibrant haven filled with colorful streets, street food, and creative boutiques. On the return journey to Keelung, Taipei’s culture, history, and energy will remain fresh in your mind. At the end of our tour, we transfer back to our ship. Dinner and overnight on board.

After breakfast on board, guests who wish may join the optional Miyako Island Tour organized by our guide at an additional cost.

We spend the entire day at sea, a perfect opportunity to enjoy this magnificent ship. You can enjoy breakfast, lunch and dinner at the buffet restaurant, offering a variety of dishes freshly prepared by dedicated chefs to suit every palate, or at your reserved seat in the à la carte restaurant. During the day, you can take yoga and fitness classes, play outdoor tennis, volleyball and basketball, or use the gym equipped with state-of-the-art Technogym equipment, including strength-training machines. After dinner, you can spend time in the ship's lively bars and cafés listening to live music, attend Broadway-style musical theatre shows or try your luck at the casino. Dinner and overnight on board.

After breakfast on board, guests who wish may join the optional Nagasaki City Tour & Atomic Bomb Museum excursion organized by our guide at an additional cost. Departing from the port, we pass Megami Ohashi Bridge and the Mitsubishi Shipyard before arriving at Peace Memorial Park. Located near the hypocenter of the explosion on 09 August 1945, the park offers detailed insights into the city at that time. We then continue to the rebuilt Urakami Cathedral and the one-legged Torii gate. After a short period of free time here, we head to Glover Garden, home to seven historic buildings, including Japan’s first Western-style wooden house. After enjoying time in this beautiful garden and visiting the city’s key sights, we conclude our tour with free time.

We spend the entire day at sea, a perfect opportunity to enjoy this magnificent ship. You can enjoy breakfast, lunch and dinner at the buffet restaurant, offering a variety of dishes freshly prepared by dedicated chefs to suit every palate, or at your reserved seat in the à la carte restaurant. During the day, you can take yoga and fitness classes, play outdoor tennis, volleyball and basketball, or use the gym equipped with state-of-the-art Technogym equipment, including strength-training machines. After dinner, you can spend time in the ship's lively bars and cafés listening to live music, attend Broadway-style musical theatre shows or try your luck at the casino. Dinner and overnight on board.

Our ship will dock at Tokyo port at 06.00 in the morning. After breakfast, we complete disembarkation procedures. We transfer to our hotel in the private vehicle waiting for us at the port. As hotel check-in is at 15:00, guests who wish may join Part 1 of the optional Tokyo City Tour organized by our guide at an additional cost. Our first stop is Meiji Shrine, one of Japan’s most visited shrines. Dedicated to Emperor Meiji, deeply respected as the founder of modern Japan, and his wife Shōken, the shrine is reached by walking along the sacred path through the expansive Yoyogi Park. During our visit, you may make a wish as the Japanese do. Our next stop is Takeshita Street, one of Tokyo’s most striking streets. Particularly known for the distinctive styles and outfits of young Japanese visitors, this street also attracts the attention of the fashion world. Be sure to photograph your own image on the live screens at the entrance. We walk through this lively street to the famous Omotesando shopping avenue and board our coach. Next, we visit the world-famous Shibuya Scramble Crossing and the statue of the faithful dog Hachiko. We record videos as we cross and take a souvenir photo with Hachiko. After free time on Ginza, Tokyo’s most beautiful avenue, we transfer to our hotel.

NOTE: Guests who do not wish to join the tour will be transferred to the hotel after disembarkation procedures. Hotel check-in time is 15:00.

After breakfast at our hotel, we check out and transfer to the airport. Guests who wish may join Part 2 of the optional Tokyo City Tour organized by our guide at an additional cost. We begin our tour with a coach journey to another of Tokyo’s attractions, Asakusa. Asakusa is one of Tokyo’s oldest neighborhoods. After visiting Sensōji Temple, an essential stop on any Tokyo itinerary, we have a short period of free time on the historic Nakamise shopping street in front of it. Here, you can discover street food and buy a few gifts along this 250-meter street lined with approximately 90 shops. Continuing by coach, we visit the Kaminarimon area and then Hama Rhyu, an elegant feudal lord’s garden dating from the Edo period. At the end of our tour, we transfer to the airport. After check-in and passport procedures, we depart for Istanbul via Doha at 21:55 on Qatar Airways flight QR807. Overnight on board.

NOTE: As this tour takes place on the day we check out of the hotel and travel to the airport, guests who do not wish to join will be transferred directly to the airport after checking out in the morning.

After landing in Doha at 04:45 local time and a short wait, we depart for Istanbul at 07:45 local time on Qatar Airways flight QR239. Arrival at Istanbul New Airport at 12:20 local time. End of our tour.