On the inaugural day of visa-free entry for Chinese nationals, some tourists who disembarked from the Cruise Dream at Incheon Port did not depart as planned by their travel agency.
The Ministry of Justice and the Incheon Port Authority reported that 2,183 passengers boarded the Cruise Dream, which set sail for Tianjin at 10:00 p.m. on Monday.
This figure excludes 6 individuals from the initial 2,189 who arrived at the Incheon Cruise Terminal that morning. These 6 passengers have not yet left the country.
All 563 crew members boarded as scheduled, according to reports.
The Ministry of Justice clarified that the Dream’s passengers entered under the Tourist Landing Permit System, which allows eligible tourists to disembark in South Korea without a visa for up to 3 days.
In comparison, the Visa-Free Entry System for Chinese Nationals, effective from Monday until June 30 next year, permits Chinese group tourists to enter without a visa for up to 15 days.
These two systems involve distinct review processes, with the Tourist Landing Permit System offering a more streamlined immigration procedure compared to the longer-stay visa-free system.
An Incheon Port Authority spokesperson explained that the shipping company handles immigration reporting collectively. They submit preliminary reports before departure and confirm after. The 2,183 passengers bound for Tianjin represent the confirmed number.
A Ministry of Justice representative added that the 6 individuals who did not board the cruise can still remain in Korea under the Tourist Landing Permit guidelines without violating regulations.
Initially, the Dream, operated by Tianjin Dongfang International Cruise, planned a 5-day journey departing from Tianjin, China, on September 27, with a stopover in Incheon before returning to Tianjin on Wednesday.
Industry insiders reveal that cruises on the Korea-China route typically cost between 2.5 million KRW (1,780 USD) to 10 million KRW (about 7,120 USD), attracting China’s affluent travelers. This price point is significantly higher than regular ferry services, which run about 200,000 to 300,000 KRW (about 142 to 214 USD).
The Dream’s Incheon stop stems from a May agreement between Incheon City and Dalian, China. While Jeju was initially considered, collaborative efforts among Incheon City, the Incheon Tourism Organization, the Incheon Port Authority, and Chinese partners secured the Incheon route.
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Chinese tourists board the cruise ship Dream after an evening excursion on Monday 2025.9.29 / News1