Tokyo, Mt Fuji & Osaka Cruise 8 Nights • Shanghai (Baoshan), China • Spectrum of the Seas

When you cruise from Shanghai, your vacation begins before you even set foot aboard the ship. Welcome to a city that’s bursting with futuristic feats, rich history, delicious cuisine, and endless opportunities to immerse yourself in Chinese culture. Make sure you dedicate a few days before your cruise out of Shanghai to crossing all the top must-visit sites off your travel list. First, go see the classical and Art Deco architecture of the famous Bund neighborhood, then enjoy the scent of tea and incense that perfumes the air within the fortified Old City. If you’re still craving history, head to Qibao Ancient Town, home to an impressive pagoda-like bell tower and the legendary Qibao Template (it dates back to the 900s). With its pretty bridges and well-preserved historic buildings, Qibao Ancient Town is also a great place to snap photos. And no vacation from Shanghai is complete without a taste of the city’s world-famous street food, from giant dumplings filled with steaming hot soup, to cold noodles served with tender eel and tangy ginger.

Start the day with a visit to Harajuku, the epitome of fashion and all things cute. There, it's all about the glitz, glam, and kawaii. Your next stop should be the nearby forest-within-a-city, the Emperor's tranquil Meiji shrine. If you have time, wander around the streets of Asakusa, where you'll find mouthwatering street food and Senso-ji, Tokyo's oldest temple.

Mt. Fuji sightseeing is the name of the game in Shimizu. If there are no obscuring clouds, head to Miho-no-Matsubara, an emerald green pine grove next to the ocean, backdropped by the soaring volcano. Spend the rest of your time picking tea in the tranquil countryside, or indulge in the freshest sushi at the Shimizu Sushi Alley in S-Pulse Dream Plaza.

At once a modern metropolis and a bastion of traditional Japanese culture, Kyoto is home to more than 1,600 Buddhist temples, 400 Shinto shrines and 17 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. After you take the 30-minute train journey from Osaka, see the iconic red gates of Fushimi Inari-taisha shrine. Then, stroll through Nishiki Market and pick up yakitori grilled chicken for a snack, and take in a panoramic view of the city from Kyoto Tower.

Most international flights arrive at Pudong Airport. Take the bullet train into the city; it takes only 8 minutes between the airport and Longyang Road Station. From there, check out Longhua Temple: You'll recognize its two-meter-tall copper bell from Steven Spielberg's "Empire of the Sun." Then, marvel at the modern skycrapers of Pudong — head to the Oriental Pearl Tower with its three distinctive spheres and get a 360-degree view of the city from the observation deck.