Taj Mahal is the finest of all the architectural wonders on Aegean Odyssey's 2015 cruises to India

Taj Mahal: the epitome of wonder and an extravagant declaration of love

• This is our final guest blog post by Zoe Bromley-Fox, Land Programmes Manager of cruise line Voyages to Antiquity. The line’s one ship, Aegean Odyssey, returns to south-east Asia this winter for the first time since the winter of 2012-13. Zoe looks forward to the forthcoming visit by recalling highlights of the journey two years ago.

When thinking about the key attractions of our upcoming Asia season, our classic introduction to India’s Golden Triangle cannot go unmentioned. In 2015 the tour will feature an extra day, making it a 5 day adventure to the sights of Delhi, Agra and Jaipur either before or after your cruise. You’ll have the chance to explore both Old and New Delhi, the highlight undoubtedly being the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Qutub Minar – a masterpiece of Islamic architecture at over 236 feet tall. The theme of fascinating, architectural wonders continues throughout the tour as you visit the 17th Century Amber Fort in Jaipur, then Fatehpur Sikri – an architectural blend of Hindu, Persian and Indo-Muslim heritage, and of course the epitome of wonder and extravagant declaration of love – the Taj Mahal.

I’ll be off shortly on my final inspection trip to make sure everything runs smoothly in the New Year when we visit the region again – and I must say I can’t wait to see these wonders again!

More details of Aegean Odyssey’s cruises visiting India in 2015 on Voyages to Antiquity's website. Which is also where you can read Zoe’s blog in full, together with her pick of the top excursions in south-east Asia.

Many thanks to Zoe for her contributions over the past five days. For any readers who wondered that's her on the right, in the picture below, with two colleagues.

Zoe Bromley-Fox (right) and colleagues in Indonesia

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Arts and crafts are the big draw on an excursion to Cambodia's National Museum with Voyages to Antiquity

Cambodia highlight: the National Museum in Phnom Penh

• Our latest guest blog by Zoe Bromley-Fox, Land Programmes Manager of cruise line Voyages to Antiquity. The line’s one ship, Aegean Odyssey, returns to south-east Asia this winter for the first time since the winter of 2012-13. Zoe looks forward to the forthcoming visit by recalling highlights of the journey two years ago.

Calling into the Cambodian port city of Sihanoukville, some passengers opted to head off on a full day excursion to explore the capital Phnom Penh, still boasting evidence of the French Colonial times. We visited the city’s main attractions – the National Museum and the Royal Palace with an inside visit to the Silver Pagoda.  The National Museum was the highlight for many passengers with one of the world’s largest collections of Khmer art, including sculptural, ceramics, bronzes, and ethnographic objects.

The exterior of the museum was as much of a draw as the artefacts inside – inspired by ‘traditional Khmer’ architecture, it is also described as a building enlarged from Cambodian temple prototypes seen on ancient bas-reliefs and reinterpreted through the eyes of George Groslier (1887-1945). A historian, curator and author, he was responsible for the revival of interest in traditional Cambodian arts and crafts and designed this quintessential building.

More details of Aegean Odyssey’s cruises visiting Cambodia in 2015 on Voyages to Antiquity's website. Which is also where you can read Zoe’s blog in full, together with her pick of the top excursions in south-east Asia.

Time Spent at Sea has moved and can now be found at World of Cruising. You can follow World of Cruising on Twitter and Facebook for the very latest in cruise news.

If you haven't already, subscribe to the World of Cruising magazine today.

Conversation-piece war museum and countless motor scooters charm cruise visitors to Ho Chi Minh City

Conversation piece: the War Remnants Museum in Ho Chi Minh City

• Third in a series of guest blogs by Zoe Bromley-Fox, Land Programmes Manager of cruise line Voyages to Antiquity. The line’s one ship, Aegean Odyssey, returns to south-east Asia this winter for the first time since the winter of 2012-13. Zoe looks forward to the forthcoming visit by recalling highlights of the journey two years ago.

Anyone who travels to South East Asia has Vietnam high on the list – and Voyages to Antiquity gives you a chance to visit one of Asia’s greatest cities – Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam.

The excursion in Ho Chi Minh City (or Saigon) was probably one of the most moving experiences for some passengers who were on board for our Vietnam cruise. The tour visited various city highlights, but the focus was the War Remnants Museum. Some argue that it is a one-sided propaganda attraction with the sentiment still being overwhelmingly anti-American.  The visit was extremely thought-provoking and prompted heart-felt debates over dinner for days after. This tour will feature again this year as part of our ‘choice of’ excursions programme operated in Ho Chi Minh.

Don’t forget that Aegean Odyssey’s size means that she can sail right up the Saigon River, a truly memorable experience before we even go out on excursion! Anyone on board for this sailing should make sure they spend the morning out on deck. In some parts it is astonishing how close the jungle-like banks are from the side of the ship and as you get closer to the city itself you already start to sense the hustle and bustle of Ho Chi Minh City from the water.  But nothing will prepare you for the number of motor scooters in this city …

More details of Aegean Odyssey’s cruises visiting Vietnam in 2015 on Voyages to Antiquity's website. Which is also where you can read Zoe’s blog in full, together with her pick of the top excursions in south-east Asia.

Street life: Never a dull moment in Vietnam's Ho Chi Minh City

Time Spent at Sea has moved and can now be found at World of Cruising. You can follow World of Cruising on Twitter and Facebook for the very latest in cruise news.

If you haven't already, subscribe to the World of Cruising magazine today.