Ocean cruises

Set sail for shimmering new horizons on a modern breed of ship that’s setting the bar in luxury travel. From the Caribbean to the Mediterranean, cruising just got personal with six-star facilities, spacious suites, butler service and gourmet dining. They even have mega toys like zodiac boats and two-man subs. Your key to the world, ocean cruising hasn’t just recaptured the spirit of its glamorous heyday, it’s elevated it to art form.

Ocean cruises
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Explora Journeys Cruises

Explora Journeys brings a refreshing approach to the cruise scene, by redefining the luxury ocean experience. Focusing on guests who have never been on a cruise before and are ‘cruise curious’, with small ships designed to be more like luxury hotels at sea.

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Oceania Cruises

Oceania is passionate about taking you all over the globe, all the while offering small luxurious ships with personal attentive service. Dedicated to creating in-depth itineraries so you can experience immersive tours in the heart of culinary and cultural traditions.

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Ponant Cruises

Ponant endeavours to bring you bespoke and intuitive service, luxury facilities and immersive itineraries, creating intimate voyages with eco-sustainability at its core. Every cruise and experience programme is planned with the utmost care, knowledge and passion, responding with the first-class courtesy you deserve.

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Regent Seven Seas

Embark on an unparalleled journey with Regent Seven Seas Cruises, where every detail is meticulously crafted to exceed expectations.

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Scenic Eclipse Cruises

Experience an unforgettable blend of all-inclusive luxury and the ultimate in sustainable adventures with Scenic Cruises, making it a truly unique travel experience on the open water. Each ship offers world-class amenities with immersive exploration, offering a unique blend of relaxation and discovery.

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Seabourn Cruises

Lose yourself in refined luxury with Seabourn. With a private yacht-like atmosphere you will experience premium service from the highly trained attentive crew, along with a sensational-inclusive offering and exhilarating expedition cruises that aim to bring you closer to nature.

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Silversea Cruises

Intimate and personalised, offering the creature comforts of an ultra-luxury cruise while the boat size is kept small enough to ply the narrow waterways or bring you to smaller ports where the others can’t go. Outstanding service with nearly one crew member for every guest, and all suites benefit from dedicated butler service.

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The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection

The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection brings together impeccable cuisine with seamless service and luxurious surroundings, with modern comfort and casual elegance in mind.

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Ponant Le Soléal

Treasures of Japan by Sea – with Smithsonian Journeys with Ponant Le Soléal

8 nights
Departing 12th April 2025 from Kobe

In alliance with Smithsonian Journeys.

This cruise is part of a collection of PONANT voyages that are specially-tailored for English-speaking travelers who want to engage with the world. In addition to the usual elements of the PONANT experience, the listed price for these voyages includes transfers to and from the ship, talks and discussions aboard ship by world class experts, and a shore excursion or activity in each port of call that encourages guests to embrace the sights, sounds, tastes, and smells of the local environment and culture.

Set sail with PONANT aboard Le Soléal for a 9-day cruise to discover the many traditions and emblematic sites of the Land of the Rising Sun.

Your voyage begins in endearing Kobe, one of the first Japanese ports to open to international trade in the 19th century and home to its famous eponymous marbled beef.

Arrive in the port of Takamatsu, the largest city on the island of Shikoku. You will find the splendid Ritsurin Garden here, a masterpiece constructed during the early Edo period as an escape from the bustle of daily life. Takamatsu is also renowned for its most famous dish – udon noodles – and you can try your hand at preparing them here.

Continue to Hiroshima, whose UNESCO World Heritage-listed Hiroshima Peace Memorial bears witness to the horrific aftermath of the world’s first atomic bomb explosion on August 6, 1945. You may also choose to visit the Saijo sake brewing district for a tasting. Then call at Miyajima, the gateway to the majestic Itsukushima Shinto Shrine, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, whose magnificent vermillion torii gate appears to float on water.

Le Soléal sails on to Hagi, whose contributions to Japan’s industrialization and modernization have been honored by UNESCO. At Hagi Castle Town, walk in the steps of the samurai as you stroll its beautifully preserved streets.

The richness from which to choose is immediately apparent in, Sakaiminato, where options include Matsue Castle, built entirely of pine in 1611; the Adachi Museum of Art, displaying the great masters of modern Japanese painting and sculpture; a demonstration of the ancient craft of making paper (washi) from tree bark; and Yushien Garden, a landscape garden in traditional style, famous for its peonies.

The South Korean port of Busan offers a similar range of experiences: Haedong Yonggungsa Temple, built in 1376 overlooking the sea; an outdoor sculpture garden as well as exhibits of contemporary Korean artists; Gyeongju Historic Areas, designated a UNESCO World Heritage site representing the flowering of Silla culture between the 7th and 10th centuries; and a Korean Tea Ceremony at the Hongbeopsa Temple, famous for having the largest Buddha statue in Asia.

Back in Japan, call in Moji, which enjoyed its heyday in the early 20th century as the center for Japanese trade with China. Nearby is Kozan-ji Temple, founded in the Kamakura period and the oldest Zen style temple in Japan.

From the port of Uno, end your voyage in the small Japanese city of Tamano, a former feudal domain with a unique cultural heritage. From here you will be able to admire the famous Korakuen Garden, one of the country’s must-see landscaped gardens.

Your voyage ends upon your return to Kobe.

£10,600 pp

Why Book a Cruise with Scott Dunn?

Why SD and In the Know Icons_Unique
Unique to You
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  • We listen to you, and tailor your cruise to your travel style, pairing you with the right ship and the right destinations.
  • We can make your itinerary as relaxing, active or cultural as you like. There is no one size fits all when it comes to cruising with Scott Dunn – it’s all about you.

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Seamless Service
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  • We take care of all the logistics, including your cruise, flights, transfers, and luxury hotels, ensuring a smooth journey from start to finish.
  • You are always in safe hands with us and our trusted worldwide partners. As with any Scott Dunn trip, we are just a phone call away 24/7.

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Carefully Curated Collection
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  • Whether before, after or during your luxury cruise, we curate the best experiences on land to compliment your journey by sea, accompanied by our expert local guides.
  • We only partner with small-ship luxury cruise lines with high staff to guest ratios – designed to never feel crowded.

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Luxury in Every Sense
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  • Our cruises are carefully chosen for their five-star offering: fine dining, luxe facilities, attentive staff, and personal in-cabin butler service.
  • We have personally experienced these ships and will only suggest those that meet the level of service and luxury that our guests expect.

Call us on 020 8682 5020 to start planning your holiday

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