Ferry Okinawa and Keelung or Kaohsiung

Ferry between Naha, Okinawa and Keelung or Kaohsiung, Taiwan

I know there is some info on the net about this but I am confused about the procedure for buying the tickets and catching the ferry. Just wondering if anyone has caught this before?

1. We are coming from China so where and how do we get the tickets? (we have Australian passports).

2. What do the berths actually look like and feel like inside? What facilities are there on board?
Is there a lot of smokers inside?

3. I am just worried about the legalities. do we need to do anything beforehand to get a visa or something? or can we just turn up at the wharf and catch the ferry and bring our passports with us??

4. how do I find the price for tickets? (late october this year).

thanks.

I have not done the trip by myself.

1. We are coming from China so where and how do we get the tickets? (we have Australian passports).

This is the phone number of the agent in Taiwan:
02-27715911

And of the ferry company's Naha (Okinawa) office:
098-860-1980

What do the berths actually look like and feel like inside? What facilities are there on board?

Here is a floor plan with lots of images for both the ships operating on the Okinawa-Taiwan route:
http://www.arimuraline.co.jp/deckplan.html

4. how do I find the price for tickets? (late october this year).

16,000 to 32,000 Yen one way, depending on the class (2nd, 1st, special):
http://www.arimuraline.co.jp/nahmiyishkirtko.pdf