Vladivostok

Out of Russia. Pleasingly, the entry stamp in our passports has a little plane, and the exit stamp has a corresponding boat.

There is a lot of queuing involved. We paid for our tickets yesterday, but had to go back to check in today and pick up boarding passes. Looooong queue for that, but once through there were only ever one or two people waiting for each following stage.

All luggage through the scanner. Through a door with a ticket check. Then all luggage through a second scanner with a gorgeous teenage golden retriever - sniffer dog apprentice. Passport precheck. Actual immigration service passport check. And finally on board the Eastern Dream. At each stage my various documents were handed back with a quiet 'good luck', which I'm sure was meant kindly but wasn't entirely reassuring. Also, it made me worry I might have taken a wrong turn into the Great Escape.

The cabin is huge, compared with the train ones. Proper beds, a sink, a wardrobe and a window! There's also an onsen on board.Read more