Miyako Island, Japan | Gulangyu Cruise | Day 1 Embarkation

The cruise was so much fun, and the sea was so beautiful! We booked a double balcony room through the travel agency, and ended up getting a free upgrade to a superior balcony room. The bonus is that we were first off the ship to enjoy the scenery!

📑 Pre-trip preparations:
Two copies of your passport, two copies of your ferry ticket, a luggage tag, pre-activate data for Hong Kong and Taiwan (there's a few hours of signal when passing through Taiwan), motion sickness medication (though I brought it, I didn't use it), slippers, a toothbrush and toothpaste, a comb, a thin long-sleeved shirt, a water bottle, and 💟 Fruit and alcoholic beverages are not allowed on board; they will be collected at customs.

Since I was on the Miyako Island route in Japan, I departed from Kai Tak Pier in Hong Kong and went through customs at Liantang Port. After passing through customs at noon, a free shuttle bus from the cruise line will take you directly to Kai Tak Pier. The outbound trip is free, but the return trip is at your own expense.

At Kai Tak Pier, you'll check in your luggage, then board the ship in batches. The earlier you arrive, the earlier you'll be. Once you arrive, you'll be back to your room first. I got my room card and the door wasn't locked, so I just pushed it open. The room was very clean, and the balcony room was truly worth it. Not only did I take amazing photos, but I also felt so refreshed sitting on the balcony looking out at the ocean for the next few days.

After getting my room card, I headed straight to the Lido Restaurant on the 12th floor. After dinner, I wandered around the ship's various floors. My luggage would be left at my room door at 2:00 AM. Remember to listen to the announcement and participate in the ship's emergency drills; after all, personal safety is paramount.

Most of the amenities on land are available on the ship: a cinema, theater, library, ballroom, spa, swimming pool, basketball court, gym, bar, and more. It was a blast. The only downside was that time flew by so quickly 🥲 It felt like a dream.

#FirstCruiseExperience #Gulangyu #GulangyuCruise #CruiseVacation #JapanTravel #CruiseTravel #HongKongCruise

Post by Brian_Book_Buff | Sep 10, 2025