The first cruise aboard the aging liner the Mangyongbong was launched in North Korea, reports the Daily Mail.
Hoping to attract more tourists, the country has decided to offer cruises, beginning with one that travels along the eastern coastline to the scenic Mount Kumgang resort near the South Korean border.
The capital city Pyongyang invited about 130 journalists and tourism officials from China, Russia, France and Japan for the maiden cruise.
The former cargo ship set sail on its maiden tour from the port of Rajin near the China-Russia border.
For the 21-hour overnight cruise, most of the passengers slept on wooden bunkbeds or mattresses on the floor, and simple meals were served cafeteria-style on trays.
The country hopes to entice nearby Chinese tourists to enjoy the scenic coastline.