Beijing, Nagasaki & Kagoshima 9 nätter • Tokyo (Yokohama), Japan till Shanghai (Baoshan), China • Spectrum of the Seas

Yokohama is the central gateway to exploring Tokyo, a once-humble fishing village that is now one of the world's biggest, most densely populated cities. You'll find an eclectic mix of traditional shrines and soaring skyscrapers lining these neon-lit streets. Walk the Rainbow Bridge over Tokyo Bay alongside the Yurikamome Rail Line, a futuristic, operatorless train system. Then, see old Tokyo at the Imperial Palace, an Edo Castle surrounded by moats and gardens perfect for strolling. Cruise to Tokyo and head to iconic Sensoji Buddhist Temple and pass below the massive red paper lantern of the Thunder Gate. Then, unwind in Yoyogi Park, a literal forest in the heart of the city, complete with Zen gardens and a gingko tree forest.

Soak in the mix of history and scenery that is Kagoshima. Stroll through a samurai garden overlooking the sea at Sengan-en. Fill up on local korubuta pork, then finish your day with a memorable view of the city and the volcano in the distance at Shiroyama Lookout.

Explore the mix of east and west in Nagasaki: Start off your day at Oura Church, a Gothic-style church built in 1864 to harken back to Europe's Middle Ages. Then, visit Kofukuji Temple — dating back to 1620, it's the oldest of the Buddhist temples built by the community of Chinese merchants that lived here. Finish the day with a bird's-eye view of the city from the top of Mt. Inasa, and catch a glimpse of the sparkling sea.

The centuries have left a lasting impression on Tianjin, and it's waiting to be discovered. In this portside metropolitan area, you can climb a 1,400-year-old section of the Great Wall or wander through Jinmen Guli, the ancient cultural street, where you'll find shops selling traditional jade handicrafts and architecture dating back to the 1600s. Soak up the history at the Tianjin Museum, home to ancient cultural artifacts. Then, head to the Binhai Aircraft Carrier Theme Park, which sits atop a former Soviet Russian aircraft carrier. Cruise to Beijing and take the 1.5-hour trip to nearby Beijing, where you can shop in 700-year-old Nan Luogu Xiang alley or the city's massive silk market.

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.