SWAN HELLENIC LUXURY CRUISES - ASIA

PEARLS OF THE PACIFIC

Exploring the Philippines & Japan

"We're thrilled to be partnering with Swan Hellenic and to pass along rates this good to our clients. This is a voyage of real contrasts — colonial towns and remote island groups through the Philippines, then a completely different world once you cross into the Ryukyus, working up the Japanese coast all the way to Hiroshima." — Rick

Save at least $525 pp

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12

Days

156-192

Guests Max

Expert

Discovery Team

29

Included Meals

DAY BY DAY

Your complete itinerary — 12 days, Manila to Hiroshima, Philippines & Japan (one-way)

This voyage begins with an overnight flight to Manila, followed by same-day embarkation — no pre-cruise hotel stay is required. From Manila the ship threads north through the Philippine archipelago before crossing into Japan's Ryukyu Islands and working up the coast to Hiroshima. Some island landings and the order of ports may shift slightly based on conditions on the day.

Click the ▾ arrow on any day to see full details and included meals

1Day

Depart Home

North America · Overnight flight · June 8

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Depart on your overnight flight bound for Manila, the vibrant capital of the Philippines — the starting point of an expedition voyage that threads through Philippine islands rarely visited by cruise ships before crossing into the Ryukyu Islands and the southern coast of Japan.

2Day

Manila

Philippines · Embarkation · June 9

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Boarding SH MinervaDinner

Arrive today in Manila, a sprawling, energetic capital where colonial-era streets meet modern high-rises and irresistible Filipino cuisine. If time allows before boarding, explore Intramuros, the old walled Spanish quarter at the heart of the city. Then transfer to the pier and board SH Minerva, where every guest enjoys a private balcony or oceanview stateroom. Settle into your stateroom, meet the Captain and crew, and toast the start of your voyage north through the Philippine archipelago. Manila, Philippines

Meals: D

3Day

Quezon Island, Hundred Islands

Philippines · June 10

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Breakfast · Lunch · DinnerShore excursion included

Cruise into Hundred Islands National Park in the Lingayen Gulf, home to 124 small islands shaped like mushrooms by ancient seabeds and shifting sea levels over time. Conservation projects here include the replanting of giant clams in waters once crossed by Spanish galleons. Landing on Governor's Island brings views from a hilltop statue of St. Joseph and marks the starting point for a zipline strung between two of the islands. Hundred Islands, Philippines

Meals: B, L, D

4Day

Salomague Harbour (Vigan)

Philippines · June 11

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Breakfast · Lunch · DinnerShore excursion included

Dock at Salomague Harbour, gateway to Vigan, the best-preserved Spanish colonial town in the Philippines and a UNESCO World Heritage Site dating to the 16th century. Vigan's blend of Philippine, Chinese, and European architecture is considered unmatched anywhere else in East or Southeast Asia. Wander the cobblestones of Calle Crisologo, the historic heart of the Mestizo district, past horse-drawn carriages and centuries-old mansions. Vigan, Philippines

Meals: B, L, D

5Day

Day at Sea

Philippine Sea · June 12

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Breakfast · Lunch · DinnerDay at sea

Enjoy a relaxed day at sea as the ship makes way toward Japan's Ryukyu Islands. Take in ocean views from the observation decks, browse the ship's library, join an expert-led lecture, or pick up a few tips from the onboard photographers before tomorrow's first Japanese landfall.

Meals: B, L, D

6Day

Miyakojima

Okinawa Prefecture, Japan · June 13

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Breakfast · Lunch · DinnerShore excursion included

Miyakojima, the fourth-largest island in Okinawa Prefecture, is ringed by a vivid coral reef that shelters its celebrated coastline. Yonaha-Maehama Beach, a 7-kilometer stretch of powder-white sand, is consistently rated among Japan's finest, its calm waters ideal for swimming, while Yoshino Beach on the island's southeast side draws snorkelers to its colorful reef fish. Miyakojima, Japan

Meals: B, L, D

7Day

Zamami Island, Kerama National Park

Okinawa Prefecture, Japan · June 14

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Breakfast · Lunch · DinnerShore excursion included

Zamami is one of the Kerama Islands, some 40 kilometers west of Okinawa, designated a national park in 2014 for its exceptionally clear, current-swept waters. Snorkel here with good odds of spotting sea turtles, or look for local and migratory birdlife ashore. The village of Zamami is small enough to explore on foot in about an hour, with a local history museum and a ridge trail overlooking the surrounding island chain. Zamami Island, Japan

Meals: B, L, D

8Day

Naha, Okinawa Island

Okinawa Prefecture, Japan · June 15

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Breakfast · Lunch · DinnerShore excursion included

Naha, capital of Okinawa Prefecture, sits within an archipelago of more than 160 islands that once formed the independent Ryukyu Kingdom, ruled by its own monarchs from the 1400s until annexation by Japan in 1879. Visit Shuri Castle, former seat of Ryukyu royalty, and Naminouegu Shrine, or spend time at one of Japan's standout museums, the Okinawa Prefectural Museum & Art Museum. Naha, Okinawa, Japan

Meals: B, L, D

9Day

Amami Oshima Island, Naze

Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan · June 16

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Breakfast · Lunch · DinnerShore excursion included

The Amami Islands pair dreamy beaches with mangroves and deep blue seas. Amami Oshima, the largest of the group, was once part of the Ryukyu Kingdom before a brief period of US administration after WWII. The Tanaka Isson Memorial Museum in Amami Park showcases work by the painter who lived on the island, pristine Tomori Beach teems with marine life, and in the south the Mangrove Primeval Forest and the boulder-strewn Honohoshi Coast reward a closer look. Amami Oshima, Japan

Meals: B, L, D

10Day

Kagoshima

Kyushu, Japan · June 17

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Breakfast · Lunch · DinnerShore excursion included

Kagoshima, on the southwestern tip of Kyushu, is known for its glassmakers and potteries producing traditional Satsuma pottery and finely cut Kiriko glass. The city mixes classic Japanese architecture with modern high-rises and pockets of Art Deco design, and its viewpoints offer dramatic looks at Mount Sakurajima, an active volcano on a neighboring island that smokes steadily on the skyline. Kagoshima, Japan

Meals: B, L, D

11Day

Uwajima

Shikoku, Japan · June 18

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Breakfast · Lunch · DinnerShore excursion included

Uwajima Castle, one of just twelve surviving Edo-period castle keeps in Japan, anchors this bustling coastal city and rewards the climb up with sweeping views. The Tensha-en Garden offers a quiet retreat of bamboo groves and seasonal blooms, and nearby in the village of Uchiko, the well-preserved wooden houses and merchant buildings of the Old Quarter feel frozen in the 18th and 19th centuries. Uwajima, Japan

Meals: B, L, D

12Day

Hiroshima

Japan · Disembarkation · June 19

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Breakfast included

Arrive in Hiroshima this morning for disembarkation, a city defined by peace and resilience. The UNESCO-listed Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and Museum, designed by Kenzō Tange and opened in 1955, presents a moving account of the atomic bombing's aftermath, anchored by a cenotaph bearing the victims' names and the Flame of Peace, lit in 1964. The Genbaku Dome remains the only structure left standing at the blast site. Ask Rick and Tracey about extending your stay before flying home. Meals: B

Have a Question or Ready to Reserve Your Cabin?

Rick and Tracey answer every enquiry personally — usually within a few hours

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Route Overview

Manila to Hiroshima – A one-way voyage from the Philippine archipelago into Japan's Ryukyu Islands

Cross from the Philippines into Japan's remote Ryukyu Islands

SH Minerva – 156-192 Guests

Experience the contrasts of the Philippines and Japan onboard the boutique expedition ship SH Minerva through ten ports of call. Sail north from Manila through the Philippine archipelago, calling at Quezon Island in the Hundred Islands and the UNESCO-listed colonial town of Vigan, before a day at sea crossing into a different world entirely. In Japan's Ryukyu Islands, explore the coral-fringed shores of Miyakojima, the protected waters of Zamami in Kerama National Park, and the former Ryukyu Kingdom capital of Naha on Okinawa. Continue north to the beaches and mangroves of Amami Oshima, the volcano views of Kagoshima, and the castle town of Uwajima on your ten-night voyage. This voyage concludes in Hiroshima, Japan, a city of profound history and quiet resilience.

Special Group Discount Pricing From:

$11,000

Per person, Any Balcony Cabin

Truly inclusive luxury expedition voyage aboard SH Minerva

Contact Rick & Tracey to book

DEPART FROM HOME ON

June 8, 2027

12 Days · 11 Nights

Manila, Philippines → Hiroshima, Japan

SH Minerva

Pearls of the Pacific: Philippines and Japan Expedition Map

Click to enlarge

WHAT'S INCLUDED

✔ All meals onboard

✔ Complimentary beer, wine & spirits, any time

✔ 24-hour room service

✔ One selected shore excursion at every port of call

✔ All expedition landings

✔ Lecture programs by expedition team & guest speakers

✔ Gym, sauna & pool

✔ 24/7 self-service laundry

✔ Group transfers included

✔ Gratuities, port taxes & Wi-Fi included

WHY BOOK WITH RICK & TRACEY?

✔ Personal service from first call to final travel documents

✔ Expert advice on the right cruise, ship and cabin for you

✔ Firsthand destination expertise across Southeast Asia and the Pacific

✔ Rick & Tracey have sent thousands of travelers across all seven continents

✔ Rick & Tracey have visited all seven continents — at least twice

✔ Access to exclusive offers and added value not available to the public

✔ We're available before, during and after your trip — always a real person

Rick & Tracey
Your Travel Experts

✔ Special exclusive group pricing · No fees, no markups!

Exclusive Pricing

Exclusive Non-Public Rate

Private group rates on this Swan Hellenic Pearls of the Pacific departure — not published on our site or anywhere else online.

Your private rate is available on request, or view it directly on our private rates page.

Private Balcony

Best available Balcony stateroom & below

Cabin Features

269 sq ft cabin with private balcony with seating for two
Two single beds or a double bed
Bedroom with separate living room area
Flame-effect fireplace
Luxurious bathroom, robes & slippers
Smart HDTV with satellite entertainment
Stocked complimentary minibar
In-room safe
Individually controlled air conditioning
Complimentary 24-hour room service
Complimentary self-service laundry
Gratuities, port charges & Wi-Fi included

Ship	Route	Public Fare	Save Up To	Single	3rd/4th Guest	Details
MinervaBuilt 2021	Pearls of the Pacific: Philippines & JapanJune 8 – 19, 2027 · 11 nts	$11,525	$525	+50%	Adult pays 50% · Minor pays 35%	View Rate → Inquire