Are the ports worth the trip?

[wolfegizmo]

Because of timing, the best Asian cruise for us to take has the following ports: Okaka; Nagasaki; Vladivostok, Russia; Pusan, South Korea, Shanghai, Dalian, China, and Xingang.

 

We're not sure if the trip is worth it - anyone know anything about Dalian, China, Vladivowstok, Russia, and Pusan, south Korea?

 

Thanks!

[Marbella]

Wow. :confused: It sounds as if you're on the Princess cruise. We are on Holland America's Statendam with many of the ports you mentioned. The ports of call IS the main reason for our cruise. You might want to read a wonderfully written review of the Princess cruise written by Stingraynz.

[wolfegizmo]

we are on the Princess cruise - Most of the ports are fine - We're just not sure about Dalian, China, Vladivowstok, Russia, and Pusan, south Korea.

 

We were in St.Petersburg, Russia, and it was fabulous. Vladivowstok, however, sounds just the opposite.

 

It was great to read the review of the Princess cruise written by Stingraynz.

I wonder if anyone else has more info about those ports.

 

Thanks for any info!

[Druke I]

Nagasaki is a great port - very pretty city. Hope to get back there someday.

 

We didn't care much for Pusan, but did a temple tour there which was interesting.

 

We thought Vladivostock very interesting. Harbor was full of derelict Soviet Navy vessels, in various stages of disrepair. City itself interesting - more open and accessible than St. Petersburg, but also in disrepair. Infrastructure is collapsing around them, and they don't know what to do - but are waiting for the government to fix it. I enjoyed a tour of a WW2 Russian submarine that is a museum/memorial. It was even more claustrophobic than the German U-Boat in Chicago.

 

Haven't been to Dalian, so can't comment.

[wolfegizmo]

thanks for the replies!

[Marbella]

When were you thinking of going on this cruise?

[wolfegizmo]

october 16th - that's the best time wise, but I'm not sure the best itinerary!

I'd still love to hear others' opinions of these ports!

[Marbella]

I would be happy to post a review of some of these ports after our cruise on HAL's Statendam, however we're not back till end of the first week in May.

We did consider the Princess cruise, but the size of the ship scared us off.

 

You might consider posting these same questions on the HAL board to see if you get any feedback.

[wolfegizmo]

Marbella,

Thanks for the idea - I posted this on both the Princess and HAL boards.

 

I'm looking forward to hearing about your cruise!

[babsjoy]

Which port excursions did you like/not like? Thanks. Babs

[Nancyquilts]

There is a lovely temple at the edge of Pusan that you can access mostly by an excellent subway and taxi.

Valdivostok has the pier right down town at the railroad station. You can walk into town easily from there. If you have a few rubles, you can take the tram around and see some of the town. Getting rubles is the problem. Nancy