Itinerary

Day 1: DEPART USA

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Depart the USA for flights to Beijing, China.

Day 2: BEIJING, CHINA

Thursday, July 16, 2009

Arrive Beijing for one pre-cruise night. Gather this evening for an orientation and welcome dinner. (D)

Accommodation: THE PENINSULA BEIJING (view website)

Day 3: BEIJING – TIANJIN

Friday, July 17, 2009

Tour Beijing’s Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square, the largest square in the world flanked by Chairman Mao’s Tomb, the gates to the Forbidden City and China’s central government offices. Following lunch, proceed to the port city of Tianjin and embark the COSTA CLASSICA to cast off at 5:00 p.m. (B,L,D)

Accommodation: COSTA CLASSICA (view website)

Day 4: AT SEA

Saturday, July 18, 2009

Relax on board and enjoy a series of lectures. (B,L,D)

Accommodation: COSTA CLASSICA (view website)

Day 5: CHEJU, SOUTH KOREA

Sunday, July 19, 2009

Call at the port of Cheju. This small island off the southern tip of South Korea is volcanic in origin, with Mt. Halla rising 6,500 feet above the sea, making it the highest peak in South Korea. Mt. Sanbang is a volcano with a beautiful grotto overlooking the sea, a highlight also with other fascinating rock formations along the stunningly beautiful coastline. Our excursion explores the coast and visits the Natural History and Folk Museum. Displays reveal cultures that have lived on this island for thousands of years and showcase the island’s flora and fauna, and geologic history. (B,L,D)

Accommodation: COSTA CLASSICA (view website)

Day 6: KAGOSHIMA, JAPAN

Monday, July 20, 2009

Disembark in Kagoshima for a day of sightseeing. Iso Garden is the enormous grounds of a 17th-century villa with artificial rivers, mountains and a waterfall. A walk through a bamboo grove and nature trail provides exquisite views of the bay and Mt. Sakurajima, one of the world’s most active volcanoes. A short ferry ride takes us to Sakurajima Island, a volcano park. Cruise this afternoon. (B,L,D)

Accommodation: COSTA CLASSICA (view website)

Day 7: AT SEA

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

The day is spent cruising to the location on the path of totality projected to have the longest duration and optimum weather. Lectures continue. (B,L,D)

Accommodation: COSTA CLASSICA (view website)

Day 8: ECLIPSE DAY!

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

We will, likely, be the only group in the world to see this eclipse at its maximum duration, 6 minutes and 38.9 seconds. We're going to use the forward motion of the ship along the center line of the eclipse to push the length of totality to 6 minutes and 39 seconds, a tenth of a second longer. (B,L,D)

Accommodation: COSTA CLASSICA (view website)

Day 9: AT SEA

Thursday, July 23, 2009

The lecture series continues as we relive the events of yesterday. (B,L,D)

Accommodation: COSTA CLASSICA (view website)

Day 10: KOBE – TAKAYAMA

Friday, July 24, 2009

Disembark the ship in Kobe and board the train that takes us up into beautiful mountain scenery to Takayama. This is a working agricultural community with a wonderfully preserved district of historic wooden buildings. Its scale is perfect for strolling and enjoying the charms of a mountain town. The balance of the afternoon is at leisure until we regroup for dinner at our ryokan, a Japanese inn. (B,D)

Accommodation: RYOKAN HIRANOYA (view website)

Day 11: TAKAYAMA

Saturday, July 25, 2009

Following breakfast we walk through town visiting the morning market, the crafts shops and galleries, the sake warehouses and restored merchant houses. In late morning we tour two remarkable museums, The Takayama Yatai Kaikan, which displays many of the massive floats used in the Takayama’s famed spring and fall festival parades. The adjacent, recently opened “Nikko Kan” displays a detailed one-tenth scale model of the Tokugawa mausoleums and shrines of Nikko. The afternoon can be spent at the Inro Netsuke Museum, the Shunkei Lacquer Museum, the Folklore Village, or exploring other aspects of Takayama on your own. (B,L,D)

Accommodation: RYOKAN HIRANOYA (view website)

Day 12: TAKAYAMA – KANAZAWA

Sunday, July 26, 2009

We depart Takayama this morning for a drive through the Japanese Alps. Visit the perfectly preserved historic town of Shirakawago, which is comprised of extraordinary houses with perfectly shaped, straw thatched roofs. Enjoy lunch in this charming village then continue to Kanazawa. After settling into our hotel, there is free time before dinner to explore this colorful town. (B,L,D)

Accommodation: HOTEL NIKKO KANAZAWA (view website)

Day 13: KANAZAWA

Monday, July 27, 2009

This morning experience Kanazawa’s famous Kenroku-en Garden in the peaceful morning hours. Built in 1670, it is one of the three best known gardens in Japan. Kenroku-en means “combining six qualities”, spaciousness, seclusion, tranquility, antique appearance, flowing water and extensive views. While at the garden we also see Ishikawa-mon, an impressive gate, wall and moat, which are all that remain of Kanazawa Castle. Next we visit the Museum for Traditional Products and Crafts and, time permitting, the Prefectural Art Museum. After lunch on your own, the walking tour strolls the streets of the historic Samurai District and perhaps visit the small crafts museum located in a 400-year-old Chinese Medicinal Store. Also, visit an unusual and famous silk dying institute and samurai houses. (B)

Accommodation: HOTEL NIKKO KANAZAWA (view website)

Day 14: KANAZAWA – KYOTO

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Depart Kanazawa this morning for a lovely drive through pastoral landscapes to Shinga, the site of the Miho Museum. This extraordinary structure, designed by I.M. Pei, is actually built inside a mountain. The architecture is as impressive as the Asian Art collection. After a curator-led tour and lunch in the museum café, continue to Kyoto where dinner is included this evening. (B,L,D)

Accommodation: KYOTO HOTEL OKURA (view website)

Day 15: KYOTO

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Begin your full-day tour in the simple serenity of the temple Ryoan-ji’s Garden of Emptiness, perhaps the world’s finest Zen garden. Then, in sharp contrast, experience the opulence of the famous gold-leafed Temple of the Golden Pavilion, which incorporates three distinct architectural styles. Following lunch in a riverside villa, explore Tenryu-ji, one of the most lavish temple/garden complexes in Kyoto. This evening, enjoy one of Kyoto’s many excellent restaurants on your own. (B,L)

Accommodation: KYOTO HOTEL OKURA (view website)

Day 16: KYOTO

Thursday, July 30, 2009

Make a special visit to Saihoji Temple, an ancient temple said to have been established by the monk Gyoki during the Nara Period, and restored and converted into a Zen temple by the monk Muso Soseki in 1339. The moss gardens are covered by more than 120 types of moss, resembling a beautiful green carpet - thus its other name, Kokedera Temple, which literally means "Moss Temple." Visit Nanzenji, perhaps the most important Zen temple in the world. Finally, see Sa njusangendo, a 12th-century temple with an incredible display of gilt carvings. Thirty three bays house 1001 statues of Kannon-Bosatsu, covered in gold leaf. Then gather for a festive dinner at a local restaurant, complete with geisha/maiko show. (B,L,D)

Accommodation: KYOTO HOTEL OKURA (view website)

Day 17: KYOTO - USA

Friday, July 31, 2009

After breakfast travel by motorcoach to the Kansai Airport in Osaka and board a flight to the USA, arriving the same day. (B)