Jeju, South Korea. You probably have never heard about this place. Both Jan and I knew nothing about it, nor where it was, or what was there for us to visit. So here is a little geography lesson for everyone that feels the same way we do. Jeju is the largest island in South Korea and although it is only 714 sq. miles it has a population of 670,000 people. It is one of the few places in the world to hold a "triple crown" of UNESCO designations - World Natural Heritage, Biosph

We arrived in Port Keelung, Taiwan, on the Coral Princess —our last stop on this part of the trip. (Some people still refer to Taiwan as “China,” but Taiwan’s political status is controversial and widely debated.) First impressions of Keelung Keelung is a busy northern port city—compact, hilly and built around the water. It’s known for frequent rain and it definitely lived up to that reputation for us. Even through the drizzle, the city felt energetic and lived-in: scooters,

We arrived in Soggy Hong Kong at the ship terminal wrapped in thick, foggy weather—the kind that makes a huge city feel strangely quiet and hidden. We’d used Chat GPT to put together an agenda for the day and planned to tour the city with Rick and Marilyn, raincoats and umbrellas packed just in case the forecast turned on us. Our AI plan was ok, but there were hiccups. We could not see much as we arrived in foggy weather The ship terminal and port was an old airport runway an

We arrived in Da Nang on Day 73 of our Circle Pacific cruise aboard the Coral Princess and by 9:00 am we were already on a bus for our ship’s excursion. Right away, Da Nang felt like a city of contrasts. As we drove toward the center, we could see how developed it has become with high-rise buildings, modern streets and a coastline lined with resorts built for vacationers. But the outskirts told a different story. As we passed through the outer areas, things looked poorer, rou

When we first planned this Circle Pacific cruise we spent hours looking at excursions and things that we could do in different ports. At times it was a daunting task because there were so many options at each location and generally speaking we didn't have much of an idea what we should see. When we researched the Vietnam portion of our cruise, one place stood out above anything else and yes, today was our day to enjoy what is near and dear to our hearts. We went kayaking in

After the intense and historical pace of Ho Chi Minh City, Cam Ranh felt like a more relaxing day. Today wasn’t about rushing from one major landmark to the next, it was about slowing down, enjoying the coast and letting Vietnam come to us. As we arrived in the port there were so many fishing boats as well as freighters anchored in the bay. At one time I counted over 50 freighters of various styles. Most noticeable was the floating fish farms and the blue barrels that lined t

We came into Ho Chi Minh City the way so many travelers do now, by water first, then by road, stepping off our floating home, the Coral Princess, with that familiar mix of excitement and curiosity that has become the rhythm of our 115‑day Circle Pacific cruise. The port felt like a threshold - behind us, the ship’s steady routines and the wide, patient sea; ahead of us, a city whose name alone carries layers of history. But one big question we had was all about the city name.

We posted a blog earlier today on our second day in Bangkok but had feedback that the videos were not running although they did appear in the blog. We republished the posting and it seems to have done something to repair the problem and now they should be working. Hopefully you will be able to relate the narrative in the blog with the videos and this should give you a better perspective of both our train and floating market experience in Bangkok so please reload the blog and

After our overnight stay in Bangkok, we had an early 6 am start to the day by grabbing breakfast at the Ramada Hotel - again, an impressively large buffet spread (with a sign noting it was mostly leftovers from the night before) so we opted for something freshly made - an omelet with fruit as it was a safe bet before heading out. This blog is full of video that I took that helps you appreciate the things we did and saw during this action packed day. Sam, our tour guide, welco

When we landed in Thailand our tour guide taught us that, " Sawasdee" means "hello," "hi," or "good day," and it can also mean "goodbye". It implies a wish for a "well-being" or "good health" and is frequently used with a polite ending, Ka - when a woman uses it, or Khrap - when used by a man. Quite often it is followed by a gesture - a sight bow and palms pressed together. During our time in Bangkok we were greeted by this constantly, as this country if so full of happ

After two full days at sea, we finally arrived at the port of Chaweng Biri in Thailand—our first stop in the country following a hot, busy visit to Singapore. Because Koh Samui doesn’t always have a deep-water berth for large cruise ships, the Coral Princess anchored offshore and we came in by tender. With about 1,700 passengers to move, the town supplemented the ship’s tenders with two double-decker high-seas trawlers. We boarded the first one, an all-wood boat, and the crew

Singapore greeted us with a completely different mood today—clear skies, bright sun, and a skyline that finally showed itself. Just five days ago, as the Coral Princess slipped past Singapore, on our way to Kuala Lumpur, the city was hidden behind a dark storm cloud, as if Singapore had pulled a curtain across the horizon. This morning, that curtain lifted, and the “Lion City” shone exactly as its reputation promises. The Marina Sands Hotel, Convention Center and the World Fa

It's day 60 of our 115-day Coral Princess Pacific Cruise and the route brought us to Penang—our final stop in Malaysia. We arrived at 8:00 am to a scorching 35°C day, though a light breeze helped take the edge off the heat. Penang has long been one of Malaysia’s most important gateways to the world. Established as a British trading outpost more than two centuries ago, it grew into a strategic port where ships, goods, and cultures constantly crossed paths. Its location along m

On Wednesday, we were up early for our Kuala Lumpur excursion from Port Klang—an ambitious day that began with boarding the bus at 7:30 a.m. Even before we reached the city, our guide Chris, helped frame what we were about to see: Malaysia is a relatively young nation, gaining independence in 1957 and later forming modern Malaysia in 1963. As part of the British Commonwealth, it carries traces of that history, but Kuala Lumpur’s skyline makes it clear the country’s focus is f

St. Patrick’s Day Fun Greenery, Games, and a Whole Lot of Laughs St. Patrick’s Day is a celebration of Irish heritage and the legacy of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. Over time, what began as a religious feast day grew into a worldwide celebration of Irish culture—filled with the color green, shamrocks, music, good cheer, and that unmistakable spirit of fun. Whether you’re Irish by blood or Irish for the day, it’s really about community: sharing stories, laughter,

After three days at sea and completing our port stops in Australia, we arrived in Indonesia at the port of Benoa in Bali. The humidity was high, the temperature was 34°C, and the air quality was poor—dense, with a smoky feeling that made everything seem heavier the moment we stepped outside. We booked a Twin Lakes and Bali Highlands excursion for the day, leaving at 7:30 a.m. and returning at 4:30 p.m., so it was a full day off the ship. We boarded our bus and headed off into

Yesterday, our ship docked in Fremantle, Western Australia, and what a welcome it was. As the Coral Princess passengers stepped off the gangway, an 11-piece band filled the terminal with lively music, greeting passengers with true Australian hospitality. It set the perfect tone for what would become an unforgettable day in a very cool city. We couldn't have asked for better timing. The weather was a comfortable 24°C with a lovely breeze—absolutely perfect for exploring on foo

We arrived on the Coral Princess on a sunny, warm morning and quickly saw why Melbourne is considered one of Australia’s great cities. Set on Port Phillip Bay and shaped by the Yarra River, Melbourne is the capital of Victoria and a major hub for business, education, arts, and sport. Founded in 1835 and officially named Melbourne in 1837, the city grew rapidly during the Victorian Gold Rush of the 1850s, when wealth and immigration transformed it into one of the world’s larg

Today marks a very special celebration aboard the Coral Princess – Jan's 70th birthday! Jan was actually born on March 8th, 1956, but being that we are cruising in Australian waters, we're a day ahead of the rest of the world. This means Jan gets the wonderful privilege of celebrating her milestone birthday not once, but twice! The Gift Opening The morning began with gift opening, starting with a present from her daughter Julie, who had thoughtfully given it to Jan before we

It was 5 am when we arrived to Sydney and the sky was still in darkness as our ship entered the harbour. The long bay leading into the port offered a sense of anticipation, and as the first light began to emerge, we were rewarded with a fabulous view of the iconic Sydney Opera House and the glittering city skyline. It was a breathtaking way to begin our Australian adventure and a moment in our cruise that we had been looking forward to experiencing.. When we tied up to the do