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James Beard Foundation & Wine Cruise: East Asian Legends
Nov 4, 2027 — Nov 14, 2027
Starting from
Complimentary All-In Package
Reduced Deposit
KOBE / KYOTO → HALONG BAY, HANOI
10 Nights on Star Seeker
Discover the diversity of East Asian cultures as you make your way from traditional rural villages to subtropical beaches. On Japan’s Amami Island, instead of sake, you’ll drink kokuto shochu made of brown sugar. And instead of kimonos in vivid colors, you’ll find complex patterns in earth tones made with a mud-dyed technique that’s been in use for 1,300 years. Shop for distinctive and colorful Ryukyu glass in Okinawa, once made from the old bottles discarded by U.S. troops. Explore Ishigaki’s Yaima Village, an open-air museum of preserved Ryukyu-style houses. In Taiwan’s capital, Taipei, browse the National Palace Museum’s massive collection of Chinese art treasures, or head to the old-town market where you’ll find Chinese medicine apothecaries, traditional handicrafts and more. Listen for the noon-day gun on Garden Road, a tradition established by the British in the 1860s.





Popular Highlights
Explore Okinawa’s historic sites, like Shurijo Castle, which symbolizes Okinawa's rich cultural heritage and resilience, and offers a glimpse into the Ryukyu Kingdom's history.
Visit Kaiji Beach, known as one of the most beautiful beaches in Japan, or take a glass bottom boat ride to see the beautiful coral and emerald waters.
Marvel at Taipei 101, one of the world’s tallest buildings. This iconic skyscraper showcases cutting-edge, eco-friendly design, and features a stunning observatory, luxury shopping and breathtaking views.
An overnight in Hong Kong, China, gives you plenty of time to explore local markets during the day and, at night, see the Symphony of Lights, a light and sound show over Victoria Harbor.
Sail a traditional junk through Halong Bay, Vietnam. These wooden boats have a distinctive design, with Vietnamese motifs and carvings decorating each unique vessel.
In Amami, Japan, a yacht-exclusive port, join a Windstar Shore Excursion to experience the intricate and ancient art of kimono-making.

Kobe is the 6th largest city in Japan and famous for its signature marbled beef. The Ikuta Shrine there is among Japan's oldest shrines, dating back to the 3rd century. Kobe is also the gateway to Mount Rokko, accessible by antique cable cars, and the outdoor hot springs of Arima Onsen. Other sites include the Sake Breweries, the Earthquake Museum, and Sorakuen Garden.

The tropical small port of Amami Island is well-known in Japan for the top-quality silk and dyes produce the highest-end kimonos. The white-sand beaches and warm, crystal-clear waters of Amami are ideal for swimming and snorkeling. Amami is also known for Keihan, its unique chicken rice dish.
Available Excursions
Amami Island
Time
9:30 AMDuration
4.25 HoursActivity Level
ModerateAdd during booking
$239
Amami Island
Time
9:30 AMDuration
4.5 HoursActivity Level
ModerateAdd during booking
$249
Amami Island
Time
9:30 AMDuration
3.75 HoursActivity Level
StrenuousAdd during booking
$269
Amami Island
Time
9:30 AMDuration
4 HoursActivity Level
StrenuousAdd during booking
$269

Renowned for its scenic beauty, rich history and unique Chinese, Japanese and Korean culture, Okinawa is famous for its ceramic wares. Tsuboya Potter Museum is the place to visit to learn about this beautiful artform. You'll also want to see Shuri Castle & Shureimon Gate, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Kokusai Street, the main shopping area.
Available Excursions
Okinawa (Naha)
Time
9:30 AMDuration
4.75 HoursActivity Level
ModerateAdd during booking
$199
Okinawa (Naha)
Time
9:30 AMDuration
4 HoursActivity Level
Moderate-StrenuousAdd during booking
$199
Okinawa (Naha)
Time
9:30 AMDuration
5 HoursActivity Level
Moderate-StrenuousAdd during booking
$249

Famous for its white-sand beaches and clear waters, Miyakojima is considered by many to have the most beautiful beaches in Japan. Visit the town of Hirara where you will see the 16th century tomb of samurai hero Nakasone Tuyumya. Other highlights include Taragawa Awamori Sake Brewery, Utopia Farm and the amazing view of Higashi Henna Cape.
Available Excursions
Miyakojima (Hirara)
Time
8:30 AMDuration
4 HoursActivity Level
EasyAdd during booking
$189
Miyakojima (Hirara)
Time
8:30 AMDuration
3.5 HoursActivity Level
ModerateAdd during booking
$199

The modern metropolis and capital city of Taiwan is an interesting mix of Japanese, Chinese and Southeast Asian cultures. The skyline is dominated by the 1,671-foot, 101-storied, bamboo-shaped skyscraper, Taipei 101. Other highlights of Taipei include the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Park, Martyrs' Shrine which is an excellent example of classical Ming Dynasty architecture, and the Confucius Temple.
Available Excursions
Keelung (Taipei)
Time
7:30 AMDuration
5 HoursActivity Level
Easy-ModerateAdd during booking
$129
Keelung (Taipei)
Time
7:30 AMDuration
5 HoursActivity Level
EasyAdd during booking
$149
Keelung (Taipei)
Time
7:30 AMDuration
5 HoursActivity Level
Easy-ModerateAdd during booking
$129
Keelung (Taipei)
Time
7:30 AMDuration
8 HoursActivity Level
Moderate-StrenuousAdd during booking
$179

Our ship docks right in the heart of Hong Kong's harbor, putting you at the center of all manner of attractions. Watch sampans and junks glide through the waters of Aberdeen. Soak in the towering skyscrapers, peaceful green hillsides and world-famous Harbour from the top of Victoria Peak. Pursue bargains at Stanley Market. Have your fortune told at the Temple Street Night Market. Visit Lantau Island where a giant bronze Buddha holds court.
Available Excursions
Hong Kong
Time
12:30 PMDuration
4.5 HoursActivity Level
Easy-ModerateAdd during booking
$249
Hong Kong
Time
12:30 PMDuration
3.5 HoursActivity Level
Easy-ModerateAdd during booking
$179
Hong Kong
Time
12:30 PMDuration
4 HoursActivity Level
Easy-ModerateAdd during booking
$199
Hong Kong
Time
12:30 PMDuration
3.5 HoursActivity Level
Easy-ModerateAdd during booking
$179

Our ship docks right in the heart of Hong Kong's harbor, putting you at the center of all manner of attractions. Watch sampans and junks glide through the waters of Aberdeen. Soak in the towering skyscrapers, peaceful green hillsides and world-famous Harbour from the top of Victoria Peak. Pursue bargains at Stanley Market. Have your fortune told at the Temple Street Night Market. Visit Lantau Island where a giant bronze Buddha holds court.
Halong Bay is our gateway to Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam about 3.5 hours away but well worth the visit. Hanoi boasts a fascinating blend of East and West with lots of Chinese influences and French design. Highlights include the One Pillar Pagoda, the Temple of Literature, Thirty-Six Streets District in Old Town Hanoi, and Hoa Lo Prison, known widely as the "Hanoi Hilton." Explore the mystical landscape of Halong Bay by charming traditional fishing junk.

Chef Christine Lau
Raised in Oakland by parents who had emigrated from Hong Kong, Christine Lau started cooking as a teenager to feed herself and her brother, then turned a high school project — one hundred hours of unpaid restaurant work — into a career by working her way through the top kitchens of San Francisco, eventually landing at One Market Restaurant, where she was handed a station on day one and never really left the line. What followed was one of the more deliberately built culinary educations of her generation: fine-dining Italian at Alto in New York, produce-driven cooking at Centivini, Basque cuisine at Bar Basque, Japanese-American technique at Sea Grill alongside Chef Yuhi Fujinaga, and the izakaya tradition at Bar Chuko, all threaded together by every stretch of vacation she could accumulate in Asia — Thailand, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, Korea — building the library of flavor that would become the foundation of her own voice. In August 2020, she opened Kimika in New York with an all-female-led kitchen, centering her menu on Itameshi — the Japanese-Italian conversation she had been having her entire career — to immediate critical acclaim; Pete Wells of the New York Times wrote that “it takes a light hand to mash up Italian and Japanese cuisines and not get mush,” and that at Kimika, that hand belongs to Christine Lau. The East Asian Legends voyage — sailing from Kobe through the Ryukyu Islands, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and into Halong Bay — traces the arc of her biography: the regions that formed her palate and gave her the foundation on which everything she cooks is built.

Staterooms
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Available Dates
| Date | Yacht | Starting from | Actions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 5 (Thu) – Nov 15 (Sun), 2026November 5 (Thu) – November 15 (Sun), 2026 | Star Seeker | ||
| Mar 1 (Mon) – Mar 11 (Thu), 2027March 1 (Mon) – March 11 (Thu), 2027 | Star Seeker | ||
| Feb 26 (Sat) – Mar 7 (Tue), 2028February 26 (Sat) – March 7 (Tue), 2028 | Star Seeker | ||
| Nov 21 (Tue) – Dec 1 (Fri), 2028November 21 (Tue) – December 1 (Fri), 2028 | Star Seeker |