Atlantis Events is based in California, but it’s planning the first ever all gay cruise to mainland China.

The company has chartered Azamara Quest to sail from Shanghai on 20th March 2010 with an itinerary that visits Busan in South Korea, then Hiroshima, Osaka, and Kagoshima in Japan, plus Taipei in Taiwan and Hong Kong. It’s hoped that the ship’s visit to Osaka with an overnight stay, might offer the cruise passengers a chance to experience Kyoto’s famous cherry blossom season, but if they aren’t in flower there’s still a plethora of temples, gardens and palaces.

It’s not the first time that Atlantis has taken a cruise to the region, last year they organised a gay cruise from Hong Kong to Singapore which sold out completely. He said, ‘Our first all-gay Asia cruise was a huge hit with our customers so we’ve created a brand new sailing experience to a different part of this exotic continent.’ American passengers are being offered a very special rate airfare for the cruise too, just $400 for the round-trip to Shanghai, as long as the airfare is booked before 12th January 2010. The cruise price includes cabin meals, non-alcoholic beverages and parties and entertainment. There’s also a cruise sailing from Hong Kong to Singapore on March 30th 2010 and visiting Hue, Nha Trang and Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam, Bangkok and Koi Samui in Thailand and Singapore, where the cruise ends.

(from socruise.com)