Jeju Island South Korea. Question Re Excursions

Thank you ORD traveler

yes, Jeju is supposed to be the Hawaii of Korea. I have been watching youtube videos.

My cruise is going to overnight in Seoul before we disembark. I have already chosen a 6 hour excursion for Seoul which will not be enough but it never is.

My post is very specialized and I may not get any answers from forum but it can not hurt to try.

How interested are you in tea? That seems a heavy focus of the first excursion

I haven't been to Jeju, but I recommend the historical fiction book Island of the Sea Women, by Lisa See. It's a great story, set on Jeju Island

Barbara N

I believe that there is a shore excursion to meet the women divers on Jeju Island.

I was not as interested in that one as I am with the other two but thank you for the recommendation of the book. I am not. a reader but I will still look into it.

EDIT: I looked up the book and although it is fiction, there is some truth. There are women divers on Jeju island. I do not have the excursion in front of me so I do not know what they are called.

Hi Carol

I like and drink tea but I am more interested in how interesting and pretty the museum / store is and the area around it.

Seems like you can buy food products made with green tea.

ORDtraveler

I believe that my excursion to Seoul does inclide one or more of the sites / attractions that you mentioned.

EDIT. should you come back to this page, here is the excursion that I have booked for Seoul. It is 6 hours long

Visit delightful Seoul, taking in landmarks such as the memorable Deoksugung Palace and National Museum. Then enjoy shopping in the eclectic Insadong shopping area.

A scenic seventy-minute drive takes you to Seoul, where you will find a diverse blend of modern skyscrapers and superhighways combined with majestic ancient palaces, temples, city gates and gardens.

Visit Deoksugung Palace, the smallest palace in South Korea, and noted for its elegant stone-walled road. Located at the corner of the busiest intersection in downtown Seoul, it is also the only South Korean palace standing alongside Western-styled buildings, which adds to the uniqueness of the scenery.

Make your way to the impressive National Museum of Korea. There are more than 4,500 exhibits housed here that detail Korea's historic and cultural heritage. It is the world's 6th largest museum, and a premiere venue for the nation's cultural exhibits.

You’ll also stop at Insadong, one of Seoul's premiere shopping districts and a virtual living museum. Insadong's narrow streets are lined with antique stores, art galleries, second-hand bookstores, calligraphy shops and quaint teahouses. Enjoy some free time here to browse through the many shops, grab a bite to eat or simply people watch.

The women divers are called Haenyo. They are fascinating.

Hi Barbara N

Should you come back to this page, here is the excursion that NCL is offering having to do with the female divers of Jeju Island.

Womens Divers And Spirited Garden

OVERVIEW
Meet the famed women divers of Jeju Island who descend to staggering depths without oxygen tanks; then stroll the winding paths of the world’s largest bonsai garden. The so-called Mermaids of Jeju reach dizzying depths to gather conch, clams, abalone and other marine life. It’s not so much what they do, but how they do it that is so incredible. The women free dive without oxygen tanks and carry only a pair of goggles, a ball-like tube for balance and a basket for their collected items. The work is perilous, and the divers have become much-admired symbols of female independence and strength. You will also visit the Spirited Garden, a showcase for bonsai trees, many of which are set among black volcanic rocks and marked with plaques that quote Korean poetry. As you stroll through this idyllic setting, you will sense the garden’s intent to promote peace of mind and contemplation.

Hello ORDtraveller

After I read your response and posted my excursion, I watched YouTube videos of Deoksugung Palace and the other palaces. I have to admit that I am disappointed with Deoksugung Palace when compared to the other palaces.

I love museums as well so I am looking forward to the museum.

And I will probably enjoy the market.

The excursion is about 6 hours but that includes driving from the port to Seoul and back again. The description says something about it being 70 minutes each way so we will probably spend about an hour at the Palace and an hour at the museum with like 20 ,minutes at the market.

I know that there were. a few other excursions to Seoul with a visit to one of the more interesting and prettier palaces but one was 8 hours long and I did not know if I wanted to spend 8 hours on my last excursion. We will be leaving the ship at 7 a.m. the next morning to go to the airport for the long trek home. Realistically, I am going to be tired.

But I might go back and look at the others since I found Deoksugung Palace to be a little disappointing when compared to the others in Seoul. If it was the only palace, that would be a different story. Only now am I really investigating some of the excursions. I looked at them but didn't really investigate them. I have 12 ports and I want to do something at every port. I don't want to stay on the ship.

A cruise is not for everyone. Some people love cruising while others hate it but you might want to take. a cruise just to see what it is all about. Take a short one the first time just in case you turn out to. be someone who hates cruising. And if possible, go on one of the high end cruise lines like Viking.

Appreciate your feedback.

We were fortunate to visit Jeju Island last year with our daughter-in-law who is South Korean. She took us to off the beaten spots and local, historic, places to stay. There are lovely parts to be found but, unfortunately, overall Jeju was a disappointment: super touristy/ Disneylandesque. There are a plethora of museums: Hello Kitty; Citrus; Teddy Bear; Chocolate…and many more. We missed a chance to see the haenyeo in person due to weather but highly recommend the Jeju Haenyeo Museum. We also enjoyed walking the Bijarim (nutmeg) Forest though you may not have time to do so. Bottom line, would encourage you to seek out a local experience of some sort in order to experience Jeju.

PS - Also recommend reading The Island of Sea Women by Lisa See.

Hello mmi

Someone else recommended The Island of Sea Women. I am not a reader though I did explore the book on line. Maybe one day, it will; be. a documentary or movie.

On a cruise, you only have so many hours and I choose to go with NCL excursions. . I have booked the following excursion. I am limited by budget as well as mobility issues.

Hallim Park & O'Sulloc Tea Museum

Delve deeply into Korean culture at a park devoted to traditional life and natural wonders, and then browse a museum that celebrates tea. While walking about the lushly landscaped grounds at Hallim Park, you might see a 300-year-old bonsai pine tree, peacocks strutting about or historical thatched houses that depict traditional life in Jeju centuries ago. The lava caves at Hallim Park are another highlight, as they were created long ago by the eruption of Mt. Halla and contain an abundance of stalagmites and stalactites, which are rare in lava caves. You will next visit the O’Sulloc Tea Museum, whose exhibits are devoted to every imaginable aspect of tea, including tea cups, tea rooms, tea leaves and the history of tea. Even the building is shaped like a green tea cup. If you venture up to the museum’s second-floor observatory, you will be treated to sweeping views of the surrounding plantation with its terraced fields of tea.

I am real excited by Hallim Park but less so by the Tea Museum but you never know. I spent hours watching you tube videos and doing additional research on sites like Trip Advisor.

It is very hard to make my choices. I have 12 ports and have only been able to decide on 4 ports thus far.

Weather will almost certainly be a factor. I m following reports of previous journeys and almost none of the posters were able to port in every port because of weather. Usually more than one port had to be cancelled.