Boarding Report: Debuting April 2025 on the Osaka–Busan route — First look aboard PanStar “Miracle” with 6 Key Highlights and a Step-by-Step Boarding Guide

At last, it’s sailing: the brand-new PanStar Cruise ferry “Miracle,” connecting Osaka and Busan. Replacing the long-loved “Dream,” the newbuild launches in April 2025 to deliver a special cross-border ferry experience—seventeen hours from Japan’s Osaka to Korea’s Busan.

Editor-in-Chief Fujii boarded for on-site coverage to document the latest facilities and onboard experience. What sets it apart from the former “Dream”? What has evolved? We break it down in detail, with plenty of photos.

April 15–16, 2025 — boarded and reported on site
This article is presented with support from PanStar Cruise Ferry.

What is the PanStar Miracle? A brand-new vessel that entered service in April 2025

The Osaka–Busan regular ferry “PanStar Cruise” is operated by Korea’s PanStar Group (Japan general agent: Sunstar Line Co., Ltd.). Departures run three times a week—Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays—from Osaka Nanko (Osaka Port International Ferry Terminal).

With this launch, the long-serving “PanStar Dream” has handed the baton to the newly built “PanStar Miracle.”

What’s new on PanStar Miracle: 6 highlights

1) Faster crossings: two hours shorter, now 17 hours

The biggest upgrade is speed. Travel time is now 17 hours—two hours shorter than before. The ship departs Osaka Nanko at 5:00 p.m. and arrives at Busan Port at 10:00 a.m. the next morning. After a relaxed overnight on board, you can head straight out into Busan from the morning.

The route runs through the Seto Inland Sea and passes the Kanmon Strait on its way to Busan, offering sea views of major landmarks such as the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge, the Great Seto Bridge, the Kurushima-Kaikyo Bridge, the Kanmon Bridge, and the Busan Harbor Bridge.

The Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai site visible in the distance from Osaka—a limited-time “Expo from the sea.”

Arrival at Busan Port.

2) A wide range of cabins; balcony rooms make for a special stay

There are 102 cabins in total, accommodating up to 355 passengers. Accessible rooms and multi-occupancy layouts are available, allowing flexible stays to suit different needs.

Prices below are as of April 19, 2025. All prices include tax and are per person.

Inside Room (no window) — 11.6 m² (sleeps 2–4) — from JPY 20,000
Two bunk beds, sofa, closet, vanity, mini-fridge, TV, shower, toilet

Ocean View — 11.6 m² (sleeps 2–4) — from JPY 25,000
Same fittings as the Inside Room, plus a window with sea views

Equipped with toilet and shower

Wheelchair-accessible room

Barrier-free design is incorporated

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Among the categories, those with private balconies stand out—relax in your own open-air space while feeling the sea breeze.

Balcony Suite — 12.6 m² + balcony 4.1 m² (sleeps 2) — from JPY 50,000
Twin beds, closet, vanity; balcony views are the essence of cruising

Royal Suite — 17.0 m² + balcony 5.3 m² (sleeps 2–3) — from JPY 70,000

Three beds, sofa, table; only five rooms available; price per person when two share

Presidential Suite — 17.0 m² + balcony 12.0 m² (sleeps 2–3) — from JPY 120,000

Two beds, sofa, table; only one room available; price per person when two share

Owner’s Cabin
Please inquire by phone.

Guests staying in Balcony Suites and above receive added benefits:

• Lounge access at the Osaka terminal
• Priority boarding and priority disembarkation for Osaka departures
• Exclusive dining service on board

Available facilities vary by cabin type. Cabins are grouped into two classes—ESSENTIAL and VIP—with different entitlements for each. It’s best to confirm the details before booking.

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3) Outdoor amenities: pool, jacuzzi, food stalls, photo spots, and a stage

The rooftop deck is a fully open-air space where you can relax while feeling the sea breeze. There are plenty of photo spots—perfect for commemorative shots. At night, the lights and music drifting up from the restaurant stage below create a pleasant atmosphere.

Newly installed outdoor pool and jacuzzi. They were not yet available during my sailing; please check availability in advance.

4) Broader dining options for a richer food experience

Food is a highlight of any voyage. On PanStar Miracle, dining is no longer limited to the main restaurant—outdoor food stalls and VIP lounge service further enrich the onboard experience.

On the newbuild, the restaurant has significantly more seating and better views, with a larger number of window-side tables facing the sea. Dining with an ocean view feels truly like a cruise. Window-side seating is designated for VIP guests.

The restaurant includes a stage, and skylights bring in daylight and reveal the night sky after dark—genuinely “cruise dining.” Previously, vending machines and small cafés were scattered around the ship; on the new vessel, those have been removed, with the space reallocated to expand the restaurant, private rooms, and outdoor areas. The venue can also serve meetings, corporate parties, and even weddings.

Dinner and breakfast are served to all passengers. While the menu used to focus on Korean dishes, it now offers more Western and Japanese options, making it easier for a wider range of guests to enjoy. It can be crowded right at the start of meal time due to the buffet format, but it settles down if you go a little later. Meal times are fixed, so confirm them when you board. On my sailing, dinner was 6:00–7:30 p.m., and breakfast was 6:30–8:00 a.m.

Dinner buffet

Juice options now include grape, orange, and pomegranate, making it easier to find something you like. Desserts have also expanded—orange segments, mini cakes, pineapple, grapes, and more.

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Breakfast buffet

Omelets and fried eggs are cooked to order.

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5) VIP-ready private rooms and a seminar room

For hosting valued guests, holding small meetings, or simply enjoying quiet time, the ship offers well-appointed private spaces.

Inside the restaurant are two private dining rooms where you can relax over a meal without distractions. An AV-equipped seminar room is also available, suitable for corporate training, workshops, and presentations. With full meeting-room functionality, you can conduct MICE activities even while in transit.

The seminar room, lounge, private dining rooms, and spa & therapy room require advance reservations, which can be made via the onboard app. For example, you can move straight from a meeting or training session to networking in the lounge.

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6) Quiet, comfortable, and eco-friendly: latest hybrid propulsion

The ship is equipped with a hybrid system that adds electric motors and generator functionality to a diesel engine—a first in Japan—significantly reducing fuel consumption and emissions. It also features a noise- and vibration-optimized design. Even out on the open deck, exhaust odors were barely noticeable.

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Boarding procedure for PanStar Miracle (from check-in to departure)

Osaka–Busan schedule

The ferry operates round trips between Osaka and Busan. For example:

Monday: 5:00 p.m. Depart Osaka — board and overnight on board
Tuesday: 10:30 a.m. Arrive Busan

Tuesday: 5:00 p.m. Depart Osaka — board and overnight on board
Wednesday: 10:00 a.m. Arrive Busan
Note: Times may vary depending on weather.

Previously the departure was at 3:00 p.m.; with the shorter crossing it is now 5:00 p.m. Departure and boarding times have changed, so please plan accordingly.

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Busan → Osaka: Step-by-step boarding flow

A ferry trip from Busan to Osaka. Here is the process from check-in to departure so first-time travelers can board with confidence.

Boarding is at the Busan Port International Passenger Terminal. It connects to Busan Station via a pedestrian deck with moving walkways. The walk takes more than five minutes, so allow extra time.

3:00 p.m. Check-in and exit immigration at Busan Port International Passenger Terminal

Present your passport at the check-in counter and receive your boarding pass.

New: PanStar Cruise official onboard payment app

A new web-based onboard payment app is now in use. No download is required; you access it via your browser.

The app is required for onboard purchases, so you’ll need to register and verify your credit card and personal details (name, phone number, email). Because registration requires an internet connection, it’s best to complete it before departure while Wi-Fi is available.

Exit immigration

After security screening and passport check, proceed through the exit control.

4:15–4:30 p.m. Boarding begins

From the boarding gate you’ll see the brand-new PanStar Miracle. Walk through a starry-themed corridor to reach the reception floor on Deck 5. Elevators are available for luggage, so you don’t need to use the stairs; however, they can be crowded during boarding.

No key pickup needed on board

There is no face-to-face check-in at the ship’s front desk. Just keep the card you received at the terminal check-in counter, which lists your room number and PIN code.

Wear it on a lanyard so you don’t lose it.

How to open your cabin

Touch the panel on the door to display the keypad, enter the PIN printed on your card, then press “#” to unlock.

5:00 p.m. Departure

By morning you’ll be in the Seto Inland Sea. For sweeping views of the archipelago, head to the rooftop deck.

Passing under the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge.

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Editor’s Note: Sailing abroad—when the ship itself becomes a purpose of travel

The long-beloved PanStar Dream has given way to the PanStar Miracle. Even from a MICE perspective, the facilities are well-suited: lounges, a seminar room, and private meeting spaces make it easier to use the cruise for corporate training or incentive travel, bringing onboard business events and company functions within reach.

With Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai now underway, inbound tourism from Busan to Osaka is likely to rise. Conversely, Expo visitors may decide that “next up is Korea,” and the ferry—whose terminal is close at hand—becomes a practical option. Above all, for many travelers in Japan, crossing borders by ship is an extraordinary experience. This new vessel isn’t just a means of transport; it’s designed to be enjoyed. If the Miracle makes the act of sailing itself one of your travel goals, then its charm has done its job.