Asia Cruise Lines Compared: Pandaw Cruises, Seabourn, Silversea, Scenic & Explora Journeys

Asia is a vast and diverse cruising destination, spanning itineraries from short river escapes to extended ocean voyages. This comparison covers five cruise lines available for Asia departures — Pandaw Cruises, Seabourn, Silversea, Scenic, and Explora Journeys — drawing on live inventory across 943 departures and embarkation ports including Tokyo, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Hanoi. Itinerary highlights range from International Waters and Kochi to Busan, Hakodate, Osaka, Nagasaki, Kagoshima, and Sakaiminato. November is the busiest departure month, and voyages are available year-round across every calendar month. Prices and availability are subject to change; final price confirmed at booking.

Pandaw Cruises

Pandaw Cruises offers Asia river voyages starting from $1000, with itineraries from 3 nights. The line operates smaller vessels such as RV Tonle Pandaw, which accommodates 48 guests, allowing access to narrower waterways and more intimate port experiences. Departures are available across all twelve months, making it one of the more flexible entry points into Asia river cruising. Its lower starting price reflects a focus on expedition-style river travel rather than large-ship ocean amenities.

Best fit: Well-suited for travellers seeking an immersive river cruising experience in Asia at a more accessible starting price, and those who prefer smaller-ship settings with fewer fellow passengers.

Seabourn

Seabourn offers Asia ocean voyages starting from $10000, with itineraries from 11 nights. The line operates Seabourn Encore, a ship accommodating 604 guests, and calls at a broad range of Asian ports. Voyages of this length allow for multi-country itineraries covering destinations such as Japan, South Korea, and Southeast Asia. The all-inclusive pricing model typically bundles dining, beverages, and gratuities into the fare.

Best fit: Well-suited for travellers looking for a longer, all-inclusive ocean voyage in Asia aboard a mid-sized luxury ship, with a broad geographic range across the continent.

Silversea

Silversea offers Asia voyages starting from $12000, with itineraries from 21 nights. The line operates two ships in the region — Silver Whisper (382 guests) and Silver Muse (596 guests). According to Silversea, Asia spans forty-seven countries and offers a wide range of cultural and culinary experiences; the line's S.A.L.T. (Sea And Land Taste) programme, featured aboard Silver Muse, is designed to connect guests with local food culture at each destination. Voyages of this length are among the more extended options available in the Asia market.

Best fit: Well-suited for travellers who prefer longer, immersive voyages with a strong culinary and cultural focus, and who are comfortable with a higher starting investment for an extended all-inclusive experience.

Scenic

Scenic offers Asia voyages starting from $14000, with itineraries from 24 nights. The line operates Scenic Spirit, an intimate vessel accommodating 68 guests, positioning it among the smaller-capacity ships available in the Asia market. The longer minimum voyage length and higher starting price reflect a premium, all-inclusive positioning. Departures are available throughout the year, with November among the busiest months.

Best fit: Well-suited for travellers seeking an extended, small-ship Asia voyage with a high level of inclusions, and those who value a more private onboard atmosphere with a limited number of fellow guests.

Explora Journeys

Explora Journeys offers Asia voyages starting from $9000, with itineraries from 16 nights. The line sits at a starting price point between Seabourn and Pandaw Cruises, offering a mid-to-upper range option for ocean cruising in the region. Voyages of 16 nights allow for meaningful exploration of multiple Asian destinations across a single sailing.

Best fit: Well-suited for travellers interested in a longer ocean voyage at a starting price below the highest-tier lines, and those looking to explore multiple Asian destinations within a single itinerary.

These five cruise lines represent a broad spectrum of Asia cruising options, from 3-night river departures with Pandaw Cruises from $1000 to 24-night ocean voyages with Scenic from $14000. The right choice will depend on a traveller's preferred voyage length, budget, ship size, and whether river or ocean itineraries are the priority. Physical requirements vary by product: river itineraries may involve tender landings and uneven terrain, while longer ocean voyages typically offer more onboard amenities for rest and recovery between port calls. With 943 departures available across all twelve months and embarkation ports spanning Tokyo, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Hanoi, Asia offers one of the most varied cruising calendars of any region. No single line suits every traveller; comparing starting prices, nights, and ship capacity side by side is a practical first step. Prices and availability are subject to change; final price confirmed at booking.

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Inventory data on this page last updated 2026-10-09.

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