The itinerary moved through Osaka, Hiroshima, Busan, Nagasaki, and Kagoshima, often docking in highly convenient, central locations.
Many ports were easy to explore independently, which I preferred.
Although the ship offered excursions at an extra cost — some priced into the thousands — I often found it just as effective to plan my own.
In Busan, for example, friends invited us to join them on their booking with a private guide and driver. The experience, which cost them around $3,000 for a group of six, underscored the range of optional spend available and what that level of access can deliver.
We visited a dramatic seaside temple and had a standout lunch featuring Hanwoo beef, widely considered Korea’s highest-quality cattle. It was an exceptional day, though one that came at a premium.
No matter the excursion, traveling during cherry-blossom season added another layer to our trip entirely.