Smooth Sailing

If you can't get enough of Japan, here's a chance to see it from a different point of view. Costa neoRomantica of Italy's Costa Cruises is a Japan-based cruise ship which sails from Tokyo or Fukuoka to the likes of Osaka, Kobe and Kagoshima, as well as Busan or Jeju in Korea and even up to Russia.

The price is likely to spark your interest, with a four-night itinerary from Fukuoka to Maizuru, Kanazawa and Busan starting from S$309 per person as part of a promotional offer, which beats some of the best hotel deals, considering it's full board. An eight-night cruise from Tokyo to Vladivostok sets you back by S$479 a person. You just need to fly to Japan to catch the boat, but it's plain sailing afte…