Posted on September 2, 2005 - by Ralph Grizzle
Cruise West To Cruise East
Small ship operator Cruise West launches its first-ever Japan itineraries in 2006. The new “Japan Unveiled” itinerary will run March through October on the company’ all-suite flagship, Spirit of Oceanus. The 13- and 16-night cruises begin at $5,349 per person, double occupancy and promise to take passengers behind the cultural curtain to the “insider’s Japan ““ the coastal ports and feudal castle towns that shaped the island nation.”
Cruise West Chairman and CEO Richard West traveled extensively in Japan to choose the places and activities that would give passengers the best possible experience. “Seeing Japan by small ship relieves the language barriers as well as travel by train and bus to get to some of the significant sites,” West says. “We visit sites during the day, some accessible only by Zodiac, then return to the ship for a steak or a hamburger. The next morning you wake up in a new destination.”
Among the activities and experiences: ancient tea ceremonies, tours of Buddhist temples and Zen gardens, and a bullet train ride from Nigata to Tokyo.
