GRAND VOYAGES & WORLD CRUISES

In 1853, American naval officer Matthew Perry demanded Japan open to foreign trade, and Yokohama was changed forever. The city emerged as an international trading center, and while today it is often overshadowed by Tokyo, it continues to be one of Japan’s liveliest, and most cosmopolitan, destinations. With its microbreweries and international restaurants, Yokohama has a decidedly different feel from many other Japanese cities. From Yokohama, it’s a quick trip to peaceful Kamakura, home to a huge bronze Buddha, and to the important Shinto shrine Tsurugaoka Hachimangu. Head to Hakone National Park on a clear day for views of majestic Mt. Fuji. 

Shanghai is one of Asia’s most dynamic cities, and one of juxtapositions. It’s divided in two by the Huangpu River—to the west is Puxi and to the east Pudong. Puxi is the city’s downtown and its historic center; it’s here that much of the shopping, dining and nightlife is concentrated. Shanghai has more than 30,000 restaurants, from humble soup dumpling spots to formal affairs helmed by Michelin-starred chefs. Its museums, particularly the Shanghai Museum with its 120,000-strong collection of antiquities, are equally impressive. Pudong is where the city’s major skyscrapers stand, among them the Jin Mao and Oriental Pearl towers.

The ever-growing megacity of Mumbai (formerly Bombay) juts out into the Arabian Sea. Mostly built on reclaimed land, the metropolis is home to more than 21 million people crammed into a maze of streets. But the city also has a national park smack-dab in Mumbai, exquisite restaurants and hipster bars. It’s diverse, vibrant, multicultural and buzzing with a contagious energy. With so much going on, there’s something for everyone. Dive into the action at an outdoor bazaar; wander the streets of South Mumbai; be wowed by ancient rock art at Elephanta Island; or learn about more-recent history at the Gandhi Museum.