Sun Cruise Resort Yacht Hotel

Rooms and decor

Rooms come in a range of sizes, and every single one has a sea-view balcony looking out over the East Sea — that's the whole point of staying here. Inside it's a normal hotel rather than an actual ship, with a cruise-ship feel to the decor. Some rooms are older and look dated, so reviews suggest asking to see your room before check-in if you can. The top-floor Sky Lounge is the standout, opening early in the morning for the best sunrise view in the building.

Food and amenities

There's a restaurant with sea views and the Sky Lounge up top, plus free Wi-Fi, a front desk and parking. It's a 4-star place, so the basics are covered without anything flashy beyond the obvious draw — the ship-shaped building and the view.

Location and getting there

The hotel sits on a clifftop at Jeongdongjin in Gangwon Province, about an hour's drive south of Sokcho and roughly 1.5 hours from Seoraksan. That makes it a better fit for a Donghae-Jeongdongjin coastal route than a base for Sokcho itself. The upside: Jeongdongjin Station is right by the hotel, and it's the closest train station to the sea in all of Korea — so you can ride one of the country's prettiest coastal lines straight from the door.

Things to know before booking

The location is the main catch — at about an hour from Sokcho and around 1.5 hours from Seoraksan, it's awkward if you're trying to do either as a day base. Some rooms are old and dated, so ask to see one before you commit. And the building looks far more exciting from the outside than from within: the exterior is a giant cruise ship, but the interior is just a regular hotel.

Our take

Sun Cruise scores 8.0/10 and earns it on novelty alone. It's best for couples and travelers who want a genuinely different stay, like to photograph things and want the sunrise outside their window. Slot it into a continuous East Sea coastal trip rather than using it to reach Sokcho, and the long drive stops mattering.