Singapore's Gardens by the Bay at night

Port in focus: Singapore

Trading ships from as far back as the 12th century have plied Oriental waters but today cruise ships are appearing with increasing regularity on the eastern horizon. Revelling in their cultural diversity, Far East nations share a history of commerce, due to their geographical proximity. Herein lies the magic - for the seas that separate...

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Friends enjoying champagne in Sansibar on a Hapag-Lloyd cruise ship
When the German transatlantic liner Augusta Victoria set out from Cuxhaven on the first ever ‘pleasure cruise’ back in January 1891, it inaugurated the concept of cruising as we know it today. That historic 57-night Mediterranean cruise was conceived by Albert Ballin, chairman of the Hamburg-Amerikanische-Paketfahrt-Aktien-Gesellschaft (HAPAG) – better known at the time as Hamburg-America...

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Cruising is sublime at any time of year, but there are certain periods during the contrasting seasons when corners of Mother Earth become particularly magical. Autumn, the season of mists and mellow fruitfulness, when nature’s fireworks display is at its most magnificent, is the main reason cruises head to New England and the Canadian Maritimes...

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The exterior of Hapag-Lloyd's Europa 2 as it sails through the ocean
Every detail on-board Hapag-Lloyd's MS Europa 2 has been meticulously planned. The vibe is a blend of casual elegance combined with state-of-the-art technology; catering to a sophisticated, international and cosmopolitan audience. At 40,000-tonnes, MS Europa 2 accommodates 500 luxury cruise passengers who are looked after by a crew of 370. With one of the highest passenger-to-crew...

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Stunning panorama of Hong Kong's skyline of skyscrapers and mountains

Port in focus: Hong Kong

Hong Kong is a unique meeting place for East and West, blending Chinese heritage, British colonial influences, high-tech modernity and Cantonese gusto. ‘Fragrant Harbour’ - the Chinese translation of Hong Kong - couldn’t be more appropriate for cruise passengers getting their first glimpse of such a frenetic, romantic, almost absurdly beautiful port. Indeed, life centres...

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Lush rainforest canopy stretching out over Malaysia
Trading ships from as far back as the 12th century have plied Oriental waters, but today, floating pleasure palaces are appearing with increasing regularity on the eastern horizon. Revelling in their cultural diversity, Far East nations share a history of commerce due to their geographical proximity. Herein lies the magic for latter-day visitors - for...

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Along the Côte d’Azur in the summer months, ‘Riviera Society’ steps from yacht to villa, while bohemians blend with billionaires and rock stars mingle with royals. However, there are some sequestered villages that are far removed from the paparazzi, and they are all the more enchanting for it. Dating back to 1295, the village of…

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The Celebrity Eclipse cruise ship sailing through the sea around Miami

In the past few years cruise ship design has veered away from being a triumph of style over substance. Architects have had it with overzealous décor and overly self-conscious interiors, reflecting passengers’ desire for something more approachable though no less stylish. No ship has encapsulated this new ethos better than Celebrity Eclipse since her launch…

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The Celebrity Millennium cruise ship sailing past the Hubbard Glacier in Alaska

Founded in 1989, Celebrity Cruises has a long-held and well-earned reputation for punching above its weight when it comes to sassy ship design. The company was created by the Greek family-owned Chandris Line, who had operated cargo and passenger ships since 1915. In a visionary move, they wanted to establish a high-quality, premium cruise product…

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