This morning we will all congregate at the Mega Palace Hotel and take a coach transfer to the Port of Korsakov some 40 minutes south of the city of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk. After a fairly onerous and sometimes lengthy security check (we have Russian speaking staff to assist in this process) you and your luggage will be transferred to the Spirit of Enderby. Once on board you will be shown to your cabins and there will be a chance to unpack and explore the vessel. We plan to get underway soon after you have embarked. There will be briefings and introductions to the ship, staff and crew after we have departed. Today we are at sea clearing the southern tip of Sakhalin Island into the Sea of Okhotsk.