The World Makes Inaugural Call at South Korea's Port of Sokcho
Sokcho's arrival ceremony included a traditional band and Korean music quartet, while terminal visitors made personalized Korean fans and tried on Hanbok.
The World, a 43,188-gross-ton residential cruise ship, made its inaugural call at South Korea’s Port of Sokcho in early October 2026. Passengers received a cultural welcome, and the port sent the vessel off with a fireworks display at departure, according to the ship’s management.
The visit formed part of a Far East itinerary covering destinations in South Korea, Japan, China and Taiwan. The ship has 165 privately owned apartments and studios and typically carries approximately 150 to 200 residents and guests.
The arrival ceremony featured a traditional band and a Korean traditional music quartet. Inside the passenger terminal, visitors could make Korean fans bearing their names in Korean and take part in a Hanbok experience, with a dedicated photo booth for pictures in traditional Korean clothing.
The regional schedule includes Japanese calls at Hakodate, Hiroshima, Tokyo and Beppu, along with Dalian, Shanghai and Tianjin in China. Other destinations on the itinerary include Keelung in Taiwan, Busan and Jeju in South Korea, and Hong Kong.
The ship’s voyages are planned around extended destination stays, although its management did not specify the duration of the Sokcho call.
The vessel spent six weeks in drydock at the Navantia shipyard in Spain in early 2025. Cruise Industry News previously reported that the work involved more than 200 projects and approximately 1,500 personnel. That refit covered public spaces, private accommodations and onboard venues, as well as work intended to improve the vessel’s environmental performance.
The World’s 2027 schedule covers 100 destinations. Its planned cruising regions include the Indian Ocean, Africa, Europe and North America.
