Cherry blossom season is so revered in Japan that people follow daily reports as trees burst into flower across the island. Hanami, or cherry-blossom viewing & all that goes with it, takes place in the major cities of Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka and every town and village in between.

The Japanese celebrate this lovely symbol of spring by picnicking and barbecuing under the trees with friends and family. It's as though the entire country has turned pink. Regent's Seven Seas Mariner's 12-night round-trip voyage from Tokyo, departing on 15 April 2019, is perfectly timed to take in this experience, whilst adding some 'wow' factor of its own:

This interesting cultural exploration can be combined with another cruise onboard Mariner, from Tokyo to Vancouver. The ship turns around on 27 April for its 19-night journey across the North Pacific Ocean. It calls at Oarai, Sendai and Hakodate in Japan before heading north to Petropavlovsk, on Russia's remote Kamchatka peninsula. 

Bears, eagles and stunning glacial scenery are among the many highlights of an Alaskan cruise. Mariner will sail from Anchorage to Vancouver over eight glorious days, and if you're looking for a standalone Alaska voyage this year, it's not too late to book for Mariner's seven- and 10-night sailings in August.