This past weekend, we went on our very first cruise trip to Japan and Korea with Royal Caribbean. It was Royal Caribbean’s first cruise that embarked from Shanghai, and we went with 16 other friends — pretty much our entire small group, also known as “WAG” (Wednesday Adult Group). We left Thursday night and came back Tuesday night. We were supposed to be back early Tuesday morning but that’s another story for another day.

Aside from the stressful (and somewhat traumatic) check-in/check-out madness, we had a wonderful time! We visited Fukuoka (Japan), Busan (Korea), and Jeju (Korea). It was loads of fun, especially traveling with friends. And of course, the best part of the trip was the non-stop eating! We came back with a combined weight gain (between the two of us) of 8 pounds!

More on the trip later. Here are some photos from the trip. You can view the entire slideshow or by thumbnails.

Royal Carribean Cruise
Amazing (and gluten-free) dinner on the cruise!Amazing (and gluten-free) dinner on the cruise!
Amazing (and gluten-free) dinner on the cruise!
Playing tossing gamesPlaying tossing games
Playing tossing games
Royal Carribean's first cruise from ShanghaiRoyal Carribean’s first cruise from Shanghai
Royal Carribean’s first cruise from Shanghai
Super long line at check-inSuper long line at check-in
Super long line at check-in
Rhapsody of the SeaRhapsody of the Sea
Rhapsody of the Sea
Our “large” stateroomOur “large” stateroom
Our “large” stateroom
Muster drillMuster drill
Muster drill
Room service breakfastRoom service breakfast
Room service breakfast
Then breakfast buffet with friendsThen breakfast buffet with friends
Then breakfast buffet with friends
Our royal suite bathroomOur royal suite bathroom
Our royal suite bathroom
Just kidding . . .  prize for playing BingoJust kidding . . . prize for playing Bingo
Just kidding . . . prize for playing Bingo
Our friends Thomas and ElaineOur friends Thomas and Elaine
Our friends Thomas and Elaine
Part of the Royal SuitePart of the Royal Suite
Part of the Royal Suite
We all want to win!We all want to win!
We all want to win!
Kind of scary looking . . .Kind of scary looking . . .
Kind of scary looking . . .
Our stateroom attendant having funOur stateroom attendant having fun
Our stateroom attendant having fun
Greetings from Fukuoka, JapanGreetings from Fukuoka, Japan
Greetings from Fukuoka, Japan
Sashimi!!Sashimi!!
Sashimi!!
Robosquare in FukuokaRobosquare in Fukuoka
Robosquare in Fukuoka
Kid demonstrating a robot using Lego Mindstorms!Kid demonstrating a robot using Lego Mindstorms!
Kid demonstrating a robot using Lego Mindstorms!
Pachinko, a popular game in Japan. We wanted to play but couldn't figure out how to play.Pachinko, a popular game in Japan. We wanted to play but couldn’t figure out how to play.
Pachinko, a popular game in Japan. We wanted to play but couldn’t figure out how to play.
One of the many tempos in JapanOne of the many tempos in Japan
One of the many tempos in Japan
SakuraSakura
Sakura
Next stop -- Busan, KoreaNext stop — Busan, Korea
Next stop — Busan, Korea
Waterfall inside the Busan Lotte HotelWaterfall inside the Busan Lotte Hotel
Waterfall inside the Busan Lotte Hotel
Gukje (International Market) in BusanGukje (International Market) in Busan
Gukje (International Market) in Busan
Our first authentic Korean lunchOur first authentic Korean lunch
Our first authentic Korean lunch
The cucumber guy selling cucumber slicer on the subwayThe cucumber guy selling cucumber slicer on the subway
The cucumber guy selling cucumber slicer on the subway
Krispy Kreme in Korea!Krispy Kreme in Korea!
Krispy Kreme in Korea!
Kimchi chocolate!!!!   (eww. . .)Kimchi chocolate!!!! (eww. . .)
Kimchi chocolate!!!! (eww. . .)
Dinner on the cruise with friendsDinner on the cruise with friends
Dinner on the cruise with friends
Dinner on the cruise with friendsDinner on the cruise with friends
Dinner on the cruise with friends
Taking pictures of food so we know what to order.Taking pictures of food so we know what to order.
Taking pictures of food so we know what to order.
Visting a caveVisting a cave
Visting a cave
Mary, Annie, and Marybeth before entering a caveMary, Annie, and Marybeth before entering a cave
Mary, Annie, and Marybeth before entering a cave
Not really supposed to be back there . . . hee heeNot really supposed to be back there . . . hee hee
Not really supposed to be back there . . . hee hee
Not quite natural formation . . . or perhaps “intelligent design”Not quite natural formation . . . or perhaps “intelligent design”
Not quite natural formation . . . or perhaps “intelligent design”
The WAG gangThe WAG gang
The WAG gang
Constantly thinking about foodConstantly thinking about food
Constantly thinking about food
Too much to eat . . .Too much to eat . . .
Too much to eat . . .
Jae-Am Folk villageJae-Am Folk village
Jae-Am Folk village
More food!More food!
More food!
A peacock's buttA peacock’s butt
A peacock’s butt
The prettier sideThe prettier side
The prettier side
Mandarin duckMandarin duck
Mandarin duck
Hallim Park in Jeju, KoreaHallim Park in Jeju, Korea
Hallim Park in Jeju, Korea
The famous Korean soap opera “Da Chang Jin” was filmed hereThe famous Korean soap opera “Da Chang Jin” was filmed here
The famous Korean soap opera “Da Chang Jin” was filmed here
Black sand beachBlack sand beach
Black sand beach
Not sure what Thomas is doing . . .Not sure what Thomas is doing . . .
Not sure what Thomas is doing . . .
The karate kidThe karate kid
The karate kid
Interesting rock formationInteresting rock formation
Interesting rock formation
Elaine and Marybeth, the hobbitsElaine and Marybeth, the hobbits
Elaine and Marybeth, the hobbits
The WAG gangThe WAG gang
The WAG gang
Korean BBQKorean BBQ
Korean BBQ
Jeju is a beautiful islandJeju is a beautiful island
Jeju is a beautiful island
Annie rowing a “boat”Annie rowing a “boat”
Annie rowing a “boat”
Mary and Annie in the fieldMary and Annie in the field
Mary and Annie in the field
Our waitersOur waiters
Our waiters
Our head waiter who arranged amazing gluten-free meals for JasonOur head waiter who arranged amazing gluten-free meals for Jason
Our head waiter who arranged amazing gluten-free meals for Jason
Indoor swimming poolIndoor swimming pool
Indoor swimming pool
Lobby of the cruiseLobby of the cruise
Lobby of the cruise
Broadway theaterBroadway theater
Broadway theater
Most unfortunate last memory of our cruise -- being dropped off in some back alley of Puxi with no bus, subway, or taxi anywhere . . . walking 30 minutes in pouring rainMost unfortunate last memory of our cruise — being dropped off in some back alley of Puxi with no bus, subway, or taxi anywhere . . . walking 30 minutes in pouring rain
Most unfortunate last memory of our cruise — being dropped off in some back alley of Puxi with no bus, subway, or taxi anywhere . . . walking 30 minutes in pouring rain
with all our suitcase, strollers, bags, . . . and 2 kids to a subway station.with all our suitcase, strollers, bags, . . . and 2 kids to a subway station.
with all our suitcase, strollers, bags, . . . and 2 kids to a subway station.

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