A reader writes in:

Hey Chris,

I have no idea if you’ve thought about it/know about it or what-not, but how easy is it for a foreigner to take a boat to China? I’ve read that boats go from Incheon to different ports along the Chinese coast but I’m wondering how much of an obstacle it’s going to be to actually get the tickets and get aboard.

Any help is appreciated!
Thanks,

[D.D.]

I honestly have never tried going to China, nor have I thought about doing it. With that said, Wikitravel has some info:

Incheon Port International Ferry Terminal 1 (Yeonan Budu, 연안부두) [3] has services to several cities in China, such as Weihai, Dandong, Qingdao and Tianjin.

The largest operator is Jinchon [4], but Incheon Port has full listings on their website [5]. These ferries are similar to miniature cruise lines and are complete with karaoke rooms, Playstation games (for a fee), DVD rentals (private rooms only), and a nightly grill on the back deck. Inside, accommodations are a hit and miss. If you have an economy ticket, which will set you back approximately €180 (roundtrip), you can request a sleeper bunk where you have a considerable amount of privacy. If these are all taken however, the other option for an economy ticket is the sleeping deck where everyone who is crammed on the floor like sardines in a can. To avoid being relegated to the sardine room, get to the terminal early, 2 or 3 hours should be sufficient. This is definitely worth it as the ferry can take as much as 24 hours depending where you go. To make the most of this ferry ride, take a good book, work, and/or a laptop to pass the time.

Visit Korea gives 032-761-3068 and 032-891-2030 as a couple numbers to call, or if you can read Korean, check out the official page at http://www.icferry.or.kr/pages/.

 

© Chris Backe – 2011
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