From Bangkok to Mumbai featuring overnight stays in Cochin, India and Mumbai calling on Sihanoukville, Cambodia; Singapore; Kuala Lumpur (port Klang), Malaysia; Penang, Malaysia; Phuket; Trincomalee, Sri Lanka; Galle, Sri Lanka; Colombo, Sri Lanka; New Mangalore and Mormugao, India with 3 days at sea from $13,849

Virtuoso Voyager Club Exclusive Experience
Complimentary, exclusive and unique Voyager Club event in Cochin. See Voyager Club Shore Excursion for complete details.

When you reserve this cruise through us, your Virtuoso Travel Specialist, you automatically become a member of the prestigious Virtuoso Voyager Club, entitling you to a wealth of privileges and complimentary amenities - including a unique and exclusive shore event not available to the general cruising public.

NOTE: You may choose this exclusive shore event, credit toward a customized Virtuoso on-shore event, credit toward a Virtuoso Discovery pre/post hotel stay or shipboard credit. Ask us for complete option details.

We will depart by motor coach from the pier to the boat jetty and embark a small boat for an idyllic trip through the waters of the city.  For centuries these canals have provided a safe and efficient means of transportation for goods and people moving between the heartland and the port towns along the coast.  In the comfort of our boat, glide along shimmering waterways past the Gundu and Vypeen islands.  Get a glimpse of the large, graceful Chinese fishing nets that line the shore of Fort Cochin and are probably the single most familiar image of Kerala. Observe Kerala lifestyles as our boat drifts past old harbor buildings and private homes.

At the end of the cruise our boat will drop us off at the jetty at Fort Cochin.  Most of Cochin's historic buildings are in Fort Cochin, constructed by Portugal's Alfonzo de Albuquerque in 1500.  Albuquerque arrived with half a dozen ships bearing settlers and five friars, and built the first European church in India, St. Francis Church.  It is a short and pleasant walk along green and leafy streets to a typical English village green. In one corner stands the Church of St. Francis, its simple style enhanced only by the handsome floor tiles that line the main aisle. A holdover from colonial days is the continued use of punkahs, large swinging cloth fans suspended above the congregation, and manually operated from outside the church. On the same square, and in striking contrast, is the flamboyant décor of the 20th century Santa Cruz Cathedral in an Indo-Romano-Rococo style.

Spend a few minutes watching how the Chinese Fishing Nets are operated! Said to have been introduced by traders from the court of Kublai Khan, they cantilever over the harbor and operate by a system of weights and levers.  The nets, on wooden frames, are raised periodically to check the catch. Our walk will end at the nearby Greenix Village dedicated to presenting and promoting the various facets of Kerala's art and culture. This cultural art center houses an art gallery, restaurant, a curio shop, book shop and vignettes of Kerala's cottage and craft industry, along with two theaters. A private Kathakali performance awaits you at this venue.

Kathakali is one of the oldest theater forms in the world. It is a well-developed dance-drama, where the actors depict characters from the epics Ramayana and Mahabharata.  The Kathakali dance performance is very dramatic and is enacted with elaborate masks and costumes. Kathakali recitals are emotive and narrative, and combine dance with dialogue to bring myth and legend to life in the temple courtyards of Kerala.

Proceed next to the renowned Rice Boat restaurant at the Taj Malabar hotel for a sumptuous seafood lunch. With its panoramic views of the open ocean and beyond, dining at Rice Boat is always a truly unique experience.  Featuring ultra-fresh seafood, hauled from the backwaters and displayed in a show kitchen where guests can interact with chefs, the menu offers an authentic cuisine from regions where the original Rice boats travelled.  We will then return to the pier.

Approximate Length: 4 hours 30 minutes.

Suggested Attire: Casual wear with comfortable rubber soled walking shoes recommended. Shoulders and knees should be covered, no shorts. Trousers and dresses below the knee recommended. (No cameras or video cams allowed in the Dutch Palace).There will be light to moderate walking and a few steps to negotiate at the Dutch Palace.