Depart: 3:00pm

Enjoy a variety of onboard experiences at sea.

Arrive: 9:00am | Depart: 7:00pm

There is a celebratory air in Akita, where year round festivals and street parades are colourfully integrated into daily life. A key city in the Tohoku region since medieval times, Akita was once a castle town of the Satake clan, but today is a vibrant, prosperous city that seamlessly honours its past but embraces its young energetic spirit. Noted for its burgeoning art community, there are several fine museums to explore including The Hirano Masakichi Art Museum housing a collection of work by Western and Japanese artists, the Akita City Folklore Museum and the Kakunodate Samurai District, a living museum that showcases the samurai way of life. In the neighbouring Oga Peninsula, the region's most famous icon, the terrifying Namahage, has it's won cultural center and festival ritual performed in his name. Surrounding the city, fertile farmland and rice fields produce some of the best sake in the country and nature lovers won't know which way to turn – to the west is the picturesque Sea of Japan and to the north, south and east, majestic mountain ranges including the UNESCO World Heritage sight of Shirakami-Sanchi proudly stand.

Arrive: 9:00am | Depart: 6:00pm

Arrive: 9:00am | Depart: 6:00pm

Kanazawa, which means "marsh of gold," draws its name from an old legend in which a Japanese peasant, digging for potatoes, found flakes of gold in the ground. Today, gold leaf is a major art form synonymous with the city, and even has a designated museum. A City of Crafts and Folk Art, Kanazawa is also known for its intricate kaga-nui embroidery and delicate kutani porcelain, among other handicrafts, making it a shopper's paradise! There's also no shortage of history in this coastal city. Once boasting geisha houses and a labyrinthine samurai village, the city was built around Kanazawa Castle. Fire destroyed all but a few small 16th-century castle structures - namely the elegant Ishikawa Gate and some watchtowers that have become a focus of many a photograph today. Just outside the castle park blooms the enchanting Kenroku-en Garden, one of the Three Great Gardens of Japan, and the home of the country's oldest fountain.

Arrive: 7:00am | Depart: 5:00pm

Arrive: 8:00am | Depart: 6:00pm

The second largest city in South Korea, Busan is your gateway to a fascinating land whose culture is a unique amalgam of old and new. Modern high-rise towers dwarf ancient Buddhist temples. The city's bustling business district offers a stark contrast to the serene grounds of Yongdusan Park. In short, Busan is a microcosm of South Korea, a nation whose startling economic success often obscures one of Asia's most sophisticated and venerable cultures.

Arrive: 7:00am | Depart: 5:00pm

Arrive: 7:00am | Depart: 4:00pm

Arrive: 10:00am | Depart: 7:00pm

Kochi sits on the broad alluvial plain facing Urado Bay. This city in Shikoku takes its name from the great feudal castle that sits at its very heart. Completed in 1611, Kochi Castle was the seat of Yamauchi Kazutoyo, a noted warrior who supported Tokugawa Ieyasu in his successful quest to become Shogun. Tosa Province and Kochi Castle were Yamauchi's reward for faithful service. There is an historical irony here: 250 years later, a Kochi native son - a former low-ranked samurai and now ronin named Sakamoto Ryoma - played a pivotal role in bringing the Tokugawa Shogunate to an end and restoring the Emperor of Japan to political prominence. The prize once awarded for faithful service had become a hotbed of support for the Meiji Restoration.

Arrive: 8:00am | Depart: 11:00pm

Arrive: 7:00am | Depart: 4:00pm

The bustling port of Shimotsu is the gateway to Wakayama Prefecture and its capital city. With over 372 miles (600 km) of coastline, all of the delights of the sea are on offer, including snorkelling, swimming or scuba diving off one of its many white-sand beaches, marvelling at the underwater world on display at the aquarium in the Museum of Natural History, and watching the intricate process of preparing a massive tuna in the Kuroshio Market. Known as 'Onsen Heaven', Wakayama is home to a variety of geothermal bathing experiences, a treasured Japanese tradition for centuries. Nearby are the hilltop Wakayama Castle, with park-like grounds, and the resort island of Wakayama Marina City. For those looking for a more active experience, there is everything from animal encounters at Adventure World to a walking tour along the sacred paths of the 1,200-year-old Koyasan monastery complex, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. When hunger strikes, try some Wakayama ramen made with a tasty soy sauce. And remember that the first matcha green tea ice cream was created in Wakayama City, so be sure to treat yourself.

Arrive: 9:00am | Depart: 6:00pm

Nestled at the mouth of the Pacific Ocean, facing Suruga Bay, the Omaezaki Cape is watched over by the Omaezaki lighthouse, faithfully guiding boats to its harbour since 1874. The coastal winds blow here, and windsurfers can often be seen adding pops of colour to the blue waters. This small "beachy" town with the dramatic Hamaoka Sand Dunes is surrounded by rolling hills of green-tea plants which perfume the air. As one of the biggest producers of green tea in the area, Omaezaki infuses the elixir into many attractions, including plantation visits and treats like green tea ice cream. Experience the art of Zen meditation at Kasuisai Temple, or slip into the healing waters of Daito "Onsen" Seatopia, a therapeutic hot spring. Enjoy the tranquility of the Nihondaira Park Outlook, a scenic spot with panoramic vistas of Mt. Fuji in the distance. Then climb aboard the aerial ropeway and look down at all Omaezaki has to offer as you ascend to hilltop Kunozan Toshogu Shrine, a designated National Treasure.

Arrive: 6:30am