The scene in the long boarding corridor was chaotic, with passengers pushing past each other while lugging heavy suitcases, all eager to be among the first to step onto the New Camellia before the scheduled 10:30 p.m. departure.
The urgency stems from the ferry’s seating policy: second‑class tickets, which cost ¥9,000 (about $82), do not guarantee a specific berth, so travelers scramble to secure a spot on the floor of a shared cabin where they can lay out a futon for the eight‑hour overnight crossing to Fukuoka.
Boarding officially begins at 7:30 p.m., giving passengers ample time to clear Korean border control, line up their luggage, and position themselves near the gangway in hopes of being first to the cabin spaces once the ship departs.
First‑class passengers, who pay ¥12,000 (roughly $110), receive a private two‑bunk room with a small writing table and basin, though they must still share a bathroom with other travelers; deluxe‑class tickets provide two Western‑style single beds and a private bathroom.
Onboard amenities are modest: a cafeteria‑style restaurant serves meals for only an hour in the evening (8 p.m. to 9 p.m.) and an hour in the morning (6:30 a.m. to 7:30 a.m.), while a vending‑machine room offers drinks and hot meals for card‑paying customers who have Japanese yen.
Many passengers bring their own food, gathering around communal tables to share dishes such as Korean fried chicken and kimchi, a practice that reflects both the limited dining options and the desire to make the journey more comfortable.
Despite the ferry’s functional focus, some travelers choose it over the 11 daily flights between Busan and Fukuoka, which start at about $100 and take roughly an hour, in order to reduce their carbon footprint, save on a night’s accommodation, or simply experience a different mode of travel.
Upon arrival in Fukuoka, passengers line up to clear Japanese passport control, often sprinting to be among the first through the checkpoint, a final dash that mirrors the hurried boarding back in Busan.