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I made the trip from Qingdao to Incheon a couple weeks ago and had a very plesant experience. The ferry is pretty new and appears to be run by the Koreans. When I left Qingdao, it was almost empty. I booked a "first class" room which was supposed to have four people but I was alone. The rooms are large and very clean. On board it has a Mini-Market with prices by my check, are the same as on shore. If you want to go to Korea or to China from Korea this is a great way to go. The Korean crew was a bit short in speaking english but it only delayed things a bit and there were enought folks around to most courteously help. I had a most interesting trip and would recommend to anyone wanting to go to Korea or China from Qingdao.

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Good to know it was a nice experience, taderbush.

Do you know of a way to get Korean money (WON) in Qingdao, on the Ferry or in Incheon?
I have a ATM card on the cirrus system and off cource some dollars and euro's in cash.

Edited by: Placebo_rulez

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Actually, I had entered China the week before, from going from Incheon to Weihai on the Weidong ferry also, and had already changed money in Korea previously. The minimart will take any money on a rough conversion, as I had a few Yuan left and only had large Won bills. I was also saving the smaller coins and low value Won bills for the taxi and bus when I got off, so I used dollars and Yuan in the store. In Incheon, at the terminal, there was an exchange but it was not open. Since I did not need any more Korean money, I did not pay a lot of attention. On the way to the bus terminal I did see a money exchange along the route so if you ask around you will I'm sure find one.

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Thanks for the information!
I will post my experiences with getting money at the Incheon ferry terminal as soon as I have some.

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I found the ferry trip to be very nice. We left 30 minutes late but arrived exactly on time in Incheon.

I hade a Business class ticket and there where 4 bed's in my room but I was the only one there.
The restaurant meal was good. I could chose my meal form a display with plastic food replicas. I got the soup for 42 Yuan (5000 Won) and this included rice, banchan (side dishes) and an orange. I paid with Chinese Yuan and got back Korean Won in exchange. Dollars and Euro's are also accepted.

Korean immigration was easy. You get all the stuff you need as soon as you enter the ferry in Qingdao (health, arrival and customs forms). In Incheon first hand in your health form, then walk to the immigration counter. Here you show your passport and arrival form. She watched my passport for 2 minute's and was very interested in my Indian Visa, don't know why, and then I got my stamp. Then you hand in your customs form and they X-ray your bags.

And then you are in South-Korea. There is indeed a sign that say's exchange but the place was indeed empty. The Tourist Information Counter assured me that my Cirrus/Maestro ATM card would work in one of the ATM's in the E-mart witch is just across the road on the right after you leave the ferry terminal parking lot.
All of the ATM's, 4 different one's, did not work. One even had a Cirrus and Measto sticker on it but refused to give me money. But there is an exchange counter with a rough rate (€1 = 1486 Won) instead of the 1550 Won it should be.

I finally found an ATM that worked in a Citibank office. When you leave the ferry terminal parking lot and go the left down a big road it's in the thirth?, not sure, street on the right. If you pass the Fusion ??? Night Club on the big road (Jemullyang-gil) you are to far. Turn around and look in the first street on the left on the right hand side.

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Is it essential to book the Qingdao-Incheon boat in advance? Is it risky to try to get economy class tickets the day before or the day of departure? I won't get to Qingdao until the 27th of May and the boat leaves on the 28th. Is there a way to book the tickets through a travel agent from Shanghai?

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I think you will be fine as I noticed some people buying tickets 2 hours before departure.
I don't know if these where economy class thou.
Business class (only 140 RMB more on a 750 RMB economy ticket) where available for sure because my room, 4 beds, was empty except for me.

See this page for reservations:
http://www.weidong.com/servlet/ShowPage?wdid=WE003004000

P.s. you have to pay a 30 RMB Tax and Port Facility Charge at the passenger terminal. So don't spend all your left over money on cookies before you are passed the Chinese immigration.

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Do you need a visa to get into Sth Korea, I am from New Zealand, or do they issue on arrival. I am going across there from Qingdao for one day and then returning to Qingdao??

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#8: Look at the visa page of the South Korean embassy in New Zealand: http://www.koreanembassy.org.nz/index.jsp
It doesn't seem like you would get a free visa-on-arrival.
Cheers!

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How can you reach Seoul from Incheon harbour ? Is it easy? Fast? Expensive? It's just to know how to get there when you arrive from the boat...
Many thanks !

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i phoned in to Weidong Incheon to book Qingdao to Incheon ticket, after Weidong Qingdao did not want to take my booking due to my Malaysian nationality which considered unusual as a ferry passenger by Korean immigration. As i booked one-way ticket from Weidong and being first time visit to korea, they repeatedly warn me to take return fare and even ask me to take flight instead of ferry as it would be hard for me to get through Korea custom.

I wanna give a try but nevertheless worry... wondering if Korea custom officers are understanding.

Edited by: swimming

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I took the Weidong Ferry from Inchon to Qingdao last month. I have edited the report on my blog.
Please take a look at it.
http://gutereise09.blogspot.com/2008/11/ferry-trip-from-inchon-korea-to-qingdao.html

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Thanks peeps,
This page was just what I needed. I wasn't planning to go to S. Korea, but if China is going to play visa games. This looks like the best option. Glad to hear everyone enjoyed the trip. ;z)
*How long was it? (ticketing page wont load-LOVE china)
*Were there lockers to put baggge, guitar etc or it's just better to get a room..
*(i want to get to an Indian Embasy and apply in person (US passport) - any vote if it's better to do that in Beijing or Korea or ?

What I'm going to do when I get there, ;z) damn, is another good question. grins*