Jeju Trip (4) - travel by ship

Though this year I travelled by air, for the last 3 years we went to Jeju Island by ship/ferry. We drove from Seoul to Mokpo Terminal, and then took the ship/ferry to Jeju Island. Though it was a long journey, but it was a different and meaningful experience. (May be our life just can't get away from ship?)

Let's start the journey!



First we drove all the way to Mokpo Port International Passenger Terminal. It is called as International Ferry Terminal. Address (in Korean): 전라남도 목포시 해안동1가. Generally, it takes about 4 hours 36 minutes to travel from the east of Seoul.

From the picture I took last year, there are also international line from this port to Shanghai. Anyway, there are a lot of people who takes the ship/ferry to jeju too. Despite of the long hours, the price is more affordable for most people. The service gets better too. In 2006 and 2007, we travelled with a smaller vessel that we faced a big storm in 2007 and the vessel shoke so much that almost of us were seasick. In 2008, we took a big ship - Queen Mary vessel which is much more stronger and heavier!

Let's see the difference:

(In 2007) Car Ferry Rainbow Vessel - 652 people only

(In 2008) Queen Mary - 1,650 people (should call it a cruise?)

I believe the Queen is more powerful.

We used ferry because cars are also travelled together to Jeju island. There are 2 kinds of tickets: first for the customer and the second for the car.

For the latest price list (from the Sea Ferry homepage),

• 
  
  VIP room (3-people) 266,400 won standard price.
• 
  
  Sweet room (2-people) 166,600 won s.p.
• 
  
  Royal room (2-people) 142,800 won s.p.
• 
  
  Family room (4-people) 219,600 won s.p.
• 
  
  1-person bed 56,800 won (free for baby, 10% discount for middle, high school students, 20% discount for group, 30% for middle, high school students' group, and 50% discount)
• 
  
  2nd grade chair 38,400 won (same as above, except baby 19,200 won)
• 
  
  3rd grade economy room 25,800 won (same as above, except baby 12,900 won)

For car price list, see here. Carnival needs 164,000 won.

Timetable:

Queen Mary only operates 1 time per day from Mokpo to Jeju:

    9am (reach Jeju 1.20pm).

    operate everyday, rest on 2nd, 4th, 5th Monday.

    passenger allowed: 1,650.

While 2pm and 2.30pm are 2 other vessels (only allowed 642 and 250 passengers).

From Jeju to Mokpo:

     4:50pm (reach Mokpo 9:10pm). Mon - Sat

     4.30pm (reach Mokpo 8.50pm). Sunday only

 While the 2 other vessels ran at 9.30am and 4.50pm.

Reminder: Winter timetable: Jeju to Mokpo - 5.30pm.

Let's see the inside of Queen Mary - since I didn't take much photos of Rainbow vessel (seasick all the time).

For economy room no. 406, 45 people max.

ok... just sleep on the floor with 1 TV sharing!

Thus, you must bring your own mattress and blanket as the air-con is on all the time!

Anyway, walk around the ship - it is just like a mini cruise - everything is here - you're not easy to get boring!

Game room

GS 25 Mart in the ship!

Cafe/restaurant in the middle!

Massage room and souvenir shop too.

Walk out of the main lobby and your room.

Have a fresh air breathe!

See the wide and endless sea

There is even an event hall that have free performance. There are also karaoke (singing room) and public bath room too!

Just want to show you the parking place inside the ferry! Smart parking system, right? The cars are not shaking and do not hit each other too.

Just before ending this part, I also wanted to show you some experiences taking the ship from Jeju to Mokpo.

Depend on which ferry you take, some ferries straightaway parked at the big port. The new port of Jeju is much more better than this. We came to this small terminal by this bus.

Anyway, there is  one good thing of this port - a lot of shops to sell chocolates and souvenirs! Much more cheaper than the big port! They will shout out for sales when the passengers queue up to leave the port at the last  minute! Grab it if you really want the chocolates - 10,000 won for 3 packets or sth like that.

Hi! Queen Mary, nice to see you  again!

This time we had a  chance to apply the drivers' room! 1 bed in a small room, with a tv, small basin,and table. The point is the driver is treated well!

In conclusion, if you have a time and want to experience a different journey other than airplane, try the ship to Jeju Island! You may enjoy it and save some money!