Cruise Line: Crystal Cruises Ship: Crystal Symphony Region: Asia Departs: Mar 27, 2009 From: Hong Kong

12 Nights from 5995.00 USD

Itinerary

Description

12 Night Cruise sailing from Hong Kong to Beijing aboard Crystal Symphony. 12 Night Cruise sailing from Hong Kong to Beijing aboard Crystal Symphony.

From the moment you step into the brilliant atrium of Crystal Plaza, you'll sense the relaxed elegance and attention to detail called the Crystal Experience. It is as if a weight has lifted from your shoulders. You feel yourself at ease, with room to breathe, stretch and relax.

Take a look around at the lavish Crystal Dining Room with its vista of the sea; the elegant Galaxy Lounge showroom; sunlit Palm Court, furnished in charming white wicker like a scene from a Somerset Maughan novel. Along the marble walkway of the Avenue of the Stars, you'll find a glittering gallery of handsome shops. And outside, generous teak decks encircle expansive pools and Jacuzzis. No other ships of this size offer so much space for each guest on board.

A Selection of Your Ports of Call:

Hong Kong
Although Hong Kong has returned to its original Chinese roots, it still remains a cosmopolitan city with influences, languages and accents from around the world. Here East meets West and the result is electric. Soaring skyscrapers rise from the hills and harbor, blending geography and nature with commercial concrete, steel and pulsating neon in a way that brings traditional Chinese culture and Western-style commerce into perfect harmony.

The bustling city streets are lined with teeming markets and sophisticated boutiques tucked tightly into any available crevice. Some of the world's best shopping is found in Central, located on Hong Kong Island and only a short ferry ride away.

Hiroshima
Thriving Hiroshima lies on the Ota River Delta at the mouth of Hiroshima Bay and is one of Japan's largest cities. Its name originates from the castle of Hiroshima-jo (meaning Broad-Island Castle), built during the 16th century.

Since the traumatic events of August 6, 1945, Hiroshima has regained its status as an important Japanese industrial area and the center of the worldwide movement against atomic weapons.

Once ashore, commemorate the past at the Peace Memorial Park, view the city's beautifully restored castle or venture out to the highly revered shrine on Miyajima Island.

Shanghai
Shanghai, located just inside the mouth of the great Yangtze River, marks the point where Asia's longest and most important river completes its 3,400-mile journey to the Pacific. The city's unique location is the source of its existence and has determined what it is today.

Until 1842, Shanghai was merely a tiny fishing village. Following the first Opium War, Shanghai became a treaty port, which opened the city to foreign influence and resulted in the development of numerous British, French and American colonial settlements within the city and along the Yangtze River. Today, Shanghai is the center of China's economic resurgence and its skyline attests to this development in the form of towering skyscrapers, brightly lit commercial high-rises and the unsettling Oriental Pearl Tower.

A testimony to Shanghai's colonial era, stately European buildings in art deco style line the Bund, the city's spacious waterfront promenade. An endless flotilla of sampans edge the Huangpu River, dividing old and new Shanghai. Beyond the rush of the city, serene ponds and gardens offer a gentle respite.

Must-see sights include the Jade Buddha Temple and tranquil Yu Garden, impressive monuments to China's history and style. Inland lies Suzhou, with its majestic Grand Canal and classical gardens, as well as equally significant Hangzhou, terminus of the Grand Canal and the center of China's legendary tea industry.

Beijing
Tianjin is the gateway to Beijing, the cultural and political heart of modern and historic China.

For centuries, Beijing has played a major role in China's imperial rule. It was Khubilai Khan, a grandson of Genghis Khan, who reunified the Chinese territories and transferred the capital to Beijing during the 13th century. Beijing was not only a lasting imperial city, but also a thriving trading city that served as the easternmost terminus of the caravan routes of the Silk Road.

Today, Beijing remains as it was centuries ago-a great center of power and commerce. It is a bustling metropolis of soaring high-rises, gaudy billboards, teeming highways and a growing international stature. Although a number of Beijing's historical sites are slowly being preserved, many of the city's ancient neighborhoods have been razed in recent years to make way for glitzy commercial skyscrapers and apartment blocks.

Nevertheless, Khubilai Khan's imperial spirit remains in the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, the Great Wall and the Summer Palace. Explore these wonders and more on our exciting three-night complimentary land program in Beijing.

Call Now 1300 308081 or email res@platinumcruising.com