🇯🇵 A new cruise experience for life, check in at Miyakojima 🚢

It's only been a few days since I disembarked, so feel free to ask any questions!

Tips:
1️⃣ Travel: Gulangyu Cruise, Hong Kong-Miyakojima-Hong Kong, five days, four nights. Passports are self-serviced, and there's a free shuttle to the pier. Follow the staff's instructions to board the ship. This time, the ship was fully booked, with 2,000 people, the highest number ever. We stayed in a superior ocean view room (9th/11th floor, with a window).

2️⃣ Cost: Book your ferry ticket first (early bird or last-minute bookings are cheaper), plus a $16 service fee per person per night, a $7 Japanese departure tax, and other onboard fees. Remember to check out at the Guest Services counter on the 5th floor before disembarking.
About 🛜: Onboard wifi is $28 per 1GB, a bit expensive, so I didn't buy it. I used data when I had time. Days 1 and 5 were in Hong Kong, and Day 3 was in Japan.

3️⃣ Items: Jacket (sunscreen and warmth), folding hangers, magnetic hooks, toothpaste, toothbrush, etc., seasickness medicine (for emergencies; we were hit by Typhoon Tianren on the first day and felt dizzy, so we were given two free tablets), room card (very important - like an ID card, charges will be noted on it).

4️⃣ Restaurants: Three free and three paid, but I only ate at the free ones: Oriental Peninsula, which offers the same set menu (which varies daily and includes appetizers, soup, main course, dessert, and fruit; optional extras available); Peninsula (6th deck midship, one hour each for lunch and dinner); Oriental (6th deck aft, with sea views on three sides and extended hours); Lido (12th deck aft, buffet with late-night snacks). We usually finished our set menus and then went to the Lido for a walk.

5️⃣ Activities: Activities vary daily and are announced in the Star Travel Daily, which includes things to note, sunrise and sunset times, and more. It's a must-read. On sailing days, there are activities throughout the day, so you can choose according to your preferences. The staff is very friendly. Day 4's Silk Road show was truly impressive. It was incredibly crowded, the show was fantastic, and the atmosphere was wonderful.

6️⃣ Miyakojima: The order for disembarking from each floor is different each time, and this time we were at the end of the line (disembarking at 11:30 AM and returning at 5:30 PM). We didn't even spend all the Japanese yen we exchanged (I'm not a big fan 🛍️). The Miyako Blue is quite beautiful, and the beach is clear and sandy. It was really hot, so be sure to use sunscreen. That afternoon, it felt like the island was packed with cruise ship tourists.

#travel #seaview #gulangyu #cruiseexperience #hongkongcruise #miyakojimasightseeing #travelguide #traveldiary #firstcruiseexperience

Post by Brian_Book_Buff | Oct 14, 2025