The very best way to experience China and Japan

Visting Asia can be a daunting prospect – amazing destinations like China and Japan have so many contrasting highlights and cultural traditions, but it can feel overwhelming with the language barrier and vast scope of these countries, so how best to approach them? Zoe from our Lymington branch was lucky enough to take the trip of a lifetime, and experience not one, but two fantastic Asian countries on a unique adventure, which was such a success it’s now been curated into a unique itinerary offered by Fred. Holidays. Zoe’s trip combines the insightful immersion of a Wendy Wu tour in China, with the fun and variety of a Royal Caribbean cruise from China to Japan.

“We flew with to Shanghai with China Eastern airlines, and what was initially billed as a simple pre-cruise hotel stay in Shanghai turned out to be an amazing Wendy Wu Tour, which kept me engaged the whole time whilst also giving us free time to explore, which I really enjoyed. A tour is such a nice way to be guided around busy Shanghai, not only giving great insights into the city but helping with the language and even simply getting about in a busy city where the transport is so different. The tour guides spoke amazing English, and I loved the fact they used our slang in the tour to make it feel British - things like the word “Quid” or “Loo” made it fun.

We stayed at the St Regis Hotel Shanghai, which is 5* with the most spectacular views of the city from our rooms. The hotel is stunning, with a very VIP/ Royal feel to it. The staff were excellent, and the rooms were out of this world, with the largest bathroom I’ve ever had in a hotel stay, and because it’s high-rise, the rooms have the most amazing views of the city. The location is very central, with all the best sightseeing areas only a short drive away.

We visited the Bund iconic area of Shanghai and enjoyed a trip to the top of city’s tallest building to “The Stage” for a cocktail and the most breathtaking view of a sunset I’ve ever seen in my life. It was the highlight of my trip, and I would say it’s an absolute must for anyone visiting Shanghai. We also visited some traditional Chinese Ming gardens and the markets alongside. We were also extremely lucky to have VIP passes for the Shanghai Tennis Masters final for the day too!

We tried several local restaurants that were recommended to us, trying jellyfish and river fish, which is a local delicacy and very tasty. A favourite was Lost Heaven, for its award winning and Chinese food that many celebrities have enjoyed.

A Wendy Wu tour is the perfect way to start your Asia holiday, with so much to offer and experience before joining a slower paced cruise, which was the next exciting element of my trip….

I had previously enjoyed a look around Royal Caribbean’s Independence of the Seas whilst she was in dock, and really loved it, so I was very excited to step onboard Spectrum of the Seas and actually set sail on a Royal Caribbean ship. Spectrum of the Seas is a Quantum Class ship, sailing from Shanghai and Hong Kong and offering short cruises to Asian highlights. I love, love, loved this ship!! It was so beautiful and had so much to explore! We were lucky to have been given the Key Pass which is a premium extra that offers VIP check-in and boarding, fully escorted with a welcome lunch on arrival onboard. This made the whole experience seamless, and it also comes with other benefits like WiFi and priority seating for shows. The feel onboard was very welcoming, with a wide variety of areas I was desperate to look around. There were dodgems cars, indoor sky diving, a wave machine and The North Star which is a unique Royal Caribbean experience that takes you up and above the ship on a  raised arm for a full bird’s eye view either at sea or in port. The ship has a real fun feel, and is perfect for couples, solos and families alike.

Royal Caribbean is an American operator, and this particular ship also has a distinct Eastern flavour too, offering the comforts of western cultures with modern Asian infusions. This influence can be seen in elements such as the smaller outdoor pool, as sunbathing is less of a priority for Chinese guests, instead there is The Solarium – a beautiful indoor area with huge glass panels, jacuzzies and relaxation areas. This was the perfect quiet area to relax and unwind after a long day exploring, lovely and warm like a greenhouse, catching the sun perfectly. Cultural differences such as slightly later breakfast times, and evening entertainment not going too late into the night also reflect the preferences of the Chinese market, which all contributes to the cultural enrichment.

I was lucky enough to be given a Balcony Midship Cabin, which was fantastic for storage and it was lovely to have a shower with a proper door instead of a shower curtain. The balcony wasn’t overlooked and was a great space for relaxing. Having the Key Pass meant we had bottled water in our room as well as canapes and deserts delivered daily, which was a lovely touch. For evening entertainment there were live bands, themed evenings like the monster bash for Halloween and a 70’s disco night, and my personal highlight was watching The Silk Road performance in the theatre, where our Key Pass enabled us to get priority seats.

Our short cruise called at Okinawa, where we enjoyed excursions visiting a naval base, Japanese gardens and temples and some shopping. This was like nothing I have experienced before; it was so unique with all the cute anime and Disney characters. We had a traditional Japanese lunch with a live band, which was bizarre, but I loved trying all the weird and wonderful parts of the meal including Snake Wine Sake (which actually had a dead snake in the bottle!) which is supposed to bring good luck and health.

The food onboard Spectrum of the Seas was fantastic. We experienced several of the specialty restaurants:

Wonderland is an Alice in Wonderland themed restaurant with innovative creations that deceive your mind about what you think you are eating! They offered a fantastic afternoon tea, and the Devilled Eggs were unbelievable, with an edible basket made from pastry and a smoky glass dome revealing perfectly presented eggs.

Chef’s Table was a perfect personalized dining experience with exceptional service.

Teppanyaki was a true performance in itself, as the chef cooks in front of you on a hot grill with raw ingredients, singing and throwing food!

All the food was out of this world, but I would say I enjoyed Teppanyaki the most for the entertainment!

This was such a great way to experience China and Japan, firstly exploring Shanghai with ease and expert local knowledge with Wendy Wu, and then being treated like royalty onboard Royal Caribbean’s Spectrum of the Seas. This really was the trip of a lifetime, and I will never ever forget it.”

Top Tips from Zoe’s trip:

* Download some films as China Eastern Airlines have limited in-flight entertainment in English

* Try and stay at least two nights in Shanghai to fully experience the city before joining a cruise.

* There is no need to tip as this is culturally inappropriate

* It is polite to use two hands when accepting a drink or being offered anything

* Check you have the right travel adapter for your ship – I couldn’t charge my phone!

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Zoe’s short combination trip has led to a unique extended holiday being created especially by Fred. Holidays to offer the very best of China and Japan, for more details click here, or to discuss your own Eastern Adventure, do get in touch.

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