Allie Hubers I just returned from an incredible 12-night repositioning cruise with Royal Caribbean from Singapore to Tokyo. This port-intensive cruise was aboard Anthem of the Seas – one of my favorite Quantum class ships.
This Singapore to Tokyo cruise is only offered once or twice each year when Royal Caribbean repositions its ships between Asia and Alaska. You can also book this itinerary in the opposite direction for a Tokyo to Singapore cruise with many of the same ports!
We booked this cruise specifically for the culturally-immersive itinerary. Every port was new to us, and the balance between long days ashore and relaxing sea days made it a perfect mix of adventure and downtime.
My family couldn’t wait to explore these exciting ports of call, especially aboard one of Royal Caribbean’s newer ships.
Our itinerary included stops in:
- Phu My (Ho Chi Minh City), Vietnam
- Hong Kong
- Keelung (Taipei), Taiwan
- Jeju Island, South Korea
- Yokohama (Tokyo), Japan
Here’s a full review of our Singapore to Tokyo cruise, including details about our excursions in each port, destination information, pricing breakdown, weather details, and more!
Embarkation – Singapore
- Port: Marina Bay Cruise Centre
- Distance to city: 15 minutes to downtown by MRT or taxi
Our cruise departed from Singapore, and it’s one of my favorite countries in Asia. We flew into Singapore two nights early to give ourselves time to adjust and enjoy the city.
Singapore is an incredible city, and the perfect country to begin this expansive journey across Asia. We had one full day in the city, along with two nights in a hotel before our cruise. We stayed at Four Points by Sheraton Singapore, which was a great choice. The rooms were spacious, and the breakfast buffet was top-notch.
Since we’d visited Singapore before, we opted for a low-key visit of riding the Singapore Flyer and enjoying dinner near our hotel. Singapore is incredibly easy to navigate, making it easy to sightsee on your own.
In addition, the country is clean, modern, and efficient. Even the train stations are over-the-top with opulent designs. You can tap in and out of the MRT with your credit card, or you can get around the city with Grab ride share (similar to Uber).
Our cruise departed from The Marina Bay Cruise Centre, which is a beautifully-designed cruise terminal. It was easy to reach, efficient, and very well-organized. We had no trouble getting onboard, although we should have pre-arranged transportation to ensure all of our luggage could fit.
Phu My (Ho Chi Minh City), Vietnam
- Port: Phu My, Vietnam
- Distance to city: 90 minutes to 2 hours drive
- Excursion necessity: Absolutely yes
- Note: U.S. passengers need an e-visa to visit, and this was required to board in Singapore
I was most excited to visit Vietnam during our Singapore to Tokyo cruise, and it didn’t disappoint! Because of the long distance to the city and chaotic traffic, we booked a full-day “Ho Chi Minh City Highlights” excursion through Royal Caribbean, and I highly recommend doing the same. Over half the ship chose a cruise-sponsored tour here for peace of mind.
Our tour was packed with highlights: the Jade Emperor Pagoda, Reunification Palace, National History Museum, the famous old post office, and Ben Thanh Market. We had a delicious buffet lunch at a five-star hotel, and everything about the day was seamless.
Ho Chi Minh City is wild with scooters zipping everywhere, and the city is full of energy and history. I especially enjoyed bargaining at the Ben Thanh market, even though it was a little hot and musty. I wish I had more time to write and send a postcard from the beautiful old post office, but I appreciated how much we could see during our tour.
However, obtaining the Vietnam E-visa was a huge pain. The website was glitchy, and I was accidentally charged twice for the visa. My parents ended up using a visa service to avoid the hassle, which was $200 each. However, my sister got her visa easily and quickly.
In addition, Royal Caribbean provided detailed information for passengers about visa requirements and documentation needed to board. We were required to have the Vietnam e-Visa printed for boarding, along with copies of our passport. These were carefully checked in Singapore during embarkation.
Hong Kong
- Port: Kai Tak Cruise Terminal (the old airport!)
- Distance to city: ~20 minutes by taxi
- Excursion necessity: Not necessarily
I started the morning with complimentary room service so I could enjoy breakfast on the balcony with the backdrop of Hong Kong. Our ship docked at the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal, located right in the city. This makes Hong Kong one of the easier ports to explore independently on this itinerary.
For this port, we booked a five-hour tour through Royal Caribbean that included a funicular trip up to Victoria Peak, a sampan ride through Aberdeen Harbor, and shopping at Stanley Market.
Unfortunately, the fog rolled in at Victoria Peak and we couldn’t see the iconic view. Normally, the peak provides a stunning view of Hong Kong’s famous skyline. Booking an independent tour would have given flexibility to skip this stop based on the weather, but our cruise-sponsored excursion wasn’t changeable.
Our sampan ride through Aberdeen harbor was lovely, and definitely a highlight of our time in Hong Kong. Finally, Stanley Market was a fun, local experience. I picked up a leather backpack, some fun knock-off purses, and a few hand-painted pieces of art that are now framed in my home.
If you’re taking a Singapore to Tokyo cruise, this is probably one port where you don’t need a tour, but we enjoyed the convenience. You can also easily spend the day enjoying local cuisine or exploring on your own. We capped the evening by watching the skyline light show from our cabin balcony, which was the perfect end to our day.
Keelung (Taipei), Taiwan
- Port: Port of Keelung
- Distance to city: ~45 minute drive
- Excursion necessity: Yes, for visiting Taipei. Not needed to explore Keelung.
My sister and I booked a full-day “Treasures of Taipei” excursion through Royal Caribbean, which gave us a great overview of the city. On the other hand, my parents chose a shorter half-day tour instead, which included Taipei’s main highlights and a pineapple cake–making class. They had a great time and appreciated the slower pace.
Our ship docked in Keelung, which is a smaller village outside of Taipei. My parents ended up walking around the port area for some last-minute shopping before all-aboard time. They liked the authentic experience.
My sister and I enjoyed our excursion, which included time at the National Palace Museum, Martyr’s Shrine, and the Taipei 101 building. Our tour also provided another fabulous buffet lunch at the Grand Palace Hotel, which was a sight to see.
The museum portion of the day was a little long, and by the time we got to Taipei 101, it was raining heavily, so we didn’t get to see much. Still, we covered a lot of ground and enjoyed seeing the city’s blend of tradition and modernity.
At the end of the day, we were taken to a jewelry shop for some cruise-sponsored shopping, which I wasn’t expecting but didn’t mind. You’ll have many opportunities to purchase local jewelry and one of the country’s famous pineapple cakes!
Jeju Island, South Korea
- Port: Seogwipo Gangjeong Cruise Terminal (south side of the island)
- Distance to city: 15 minutes to Olle Market or ~1 hour drive to Sunrise Peak
- Excursion necessity: Varies, depending on where you dock and what you want to see. Yes, if you want to optimize a short visit and venture far from the port.
Jeju Island was our shortest stop, and our time in port was cut short due to the ship’s operating under speed restrictions. To top it off, it was pouring rain when we arrived.
Thankfully, we had rain jackets and layers packed, and we were still able to make the most of our day. We had never visited South Korea before, and Jeju Island felt like a charming and sleepy vacation destination.
We visited Seongsan Ilchulbong (Sunrise Peak), although we decided not to climb due to the heavy rain. Instead, we explored nearby shops with adorable tangerine-themed souvenirs. I found a fantastic chapstick and lotion!
We also visited the Olle Market and a traditional folk village to learn more about Jeju’s cultural history.
Our five-hour excursion cost about $50 and was partially refunded due to the shortened stop. We were the very last group to board the ship, but there was no stress, thanks to the cruise line’s excursion policies.
If you just want to explore near the port, you probably don’t need a tour. But if you want to see more of the island, an organized excursion is worth it.
Note: Royal Caribbean’s Quantum class ships dock in the south side of the island. Smaller ships will likely dock at the island’s northern port.
Yokohama (Tokyo), Japan – Disembarkation
- Port: Port of Yokohama
- Distance to Tokyo: ~40 minutes by train or ~1 hour by car
- Port access: Not walkable; shuttle or transit required
- Immigration: Face-to-face process required for all passengers
Disembarking in Yokohama was a bit of a process. Japan requires face-to-face immigration for cruise passengers, and it took about 4–5 hours for the whole ship to get cleared. We went early to get an early disembarkation group, which helped a bit.
Because of our delayed arrival at 3 p.m., all ship excursions were canceled. Instead, we booked a Royal Caribbean transfer to Sakuragicho train station and took the bullet train to Shibuya in Tokyo.
Navigating Japan’s train stations is not for the faint of heart. Some only accept cash, and signage can be confusing. I used Apple Maps to follow the route, which helped, but a guide or pre-booked tour would have made it easier. Make sure to take the bullet train for the quickest route!
On the second day, we ended up booking a transfer with Royal Caribbean for an airport drop-off. Planning here proved to be a challenge, so plan early!
Disembarkation happened during Golden Week, which is a busy holiday week for Japan, so taxis and services were limited. I couldn’t find any post-cruise tours that included airport drop-off, and everything needed to be pre-arranged.
Weather
Our itinerary took place in mid-April, and the weather became cooler as we cruised north towards Japan.
In Singapore and Vietnam, the weather was hot, stuffy, and humid. Be sure to pack for the warm temperatures and prepare to be sweaty in these ports! Hong Kong and Taiwan were slightly cooler, but the humidity was stifling. It was also foggy and rainy occasionally.
In Jeju Island and Tokyo, the weather was cooler and rainy. With the pouring rain in Jeju Island, I was grateful I packed a small raincoat and warmer leggings for the cold weather. I recommend packing a variety of clothes for this itinerary, including cooler summer outfits and longer, warmer clothes.
I was surprised at how bad the air quality was and noticed my asthma acting up. If you’re traveling in the spring, expect a big swing in weather from Southeast Asia to Japan.
Costs and expenses
For my portion of the trip, I paid over $6,000 for all expenses. This included flights, hotels, transfers, excursions, onboard purchases, and souvenirs. The bulk of these expenses were the cruise fare and flights.
I paid around $2,888 for my share of the cruise fare in a balcony cabin with my sister. The room was spacious and perfect for a longer itinerary—we loved having a private balcony for scenic sailaways and views of the Hong Kong skyline.
Flights were pricey because we booked a multi-city itinerary with flights into Singapore and out of Tokyo. Our total airfare with Delta was about $2,300.
My parents splurged on business class for the outbound flight and said it was worth every penny. The flights to Asia from North America are long and grueling, so book comfortable seats and prepare accordingly!
Excursions
We booked an excursion for each port, and I don’t regret splurging to make the most of our time in these countries. The cruise-sponsored excursions were surprisingly affordable for the entire itinerary.
Most full-day tours were under $100, with Vietnam being the one where I think a cruise line excursion is absolutely necessary due to distance and traffic.
In Hong Kong and Taiwan, independent tours would work just fine if you’re comfortable navigating on your own. Japan had the most expensive excursions, and our delayed arrival limited options, but it was nice to have an overnight there to explore on our own.
Should you take a cruise from Singapore to Tokyo?
I’ve been on more than 50 cruises, and this was one of my favorite itineraries to date. The culturally-immersive ports of call were enriching to visit, and I learned so much about visiting this part of the world. Being able to visit multiple countries across a huge continent was one of the best parts!
In particular, Royal Caribbean impressed me throughout the journey. They communicated visa requirements and logistics well in advance, provided cultural enrichment lectures for each destination, and issued prompt refunds when things didn’t go as planned, like internet issues near China and the shortened Jeju excursion.
This wasn’t the easiest cruise to plan between the visas, long travel days, and tricky logistics adding layers of complexity. This also wasn’t the cheapest cruise I’ve taken, and as a budget-conscious cruiser, it was a little more than I usually spend on a cruise.
However, the experience was totally worth it. Every port brought something new, and cruising was an ideal way to explore multiple countries in one trip without unpacking every night.
If you’re craving something beyond the Caribbean and looking for a cruise that’s equal parts cultural and adventurous, I can’t recommend this itinerary enough.
