on 11 october 1884, "vladimir monomakh" began a leisurely voyage from the baltic sea to the far east. she made port visits in kristiansand, norway and portland harbour, england before reaching malta on 25 november. the ship spent most of the next six weeks in greek waters before arriving at port said, egypt on 12 january 1885 to transit the suez canal. "vladimir monomakh" encountered the british ironclad battleship there and was followed by her all the way to japan as tensions were rising between great britain and russia in early 1885. the ship arrived in nagasaki in march 1885 and was appointed flagship of the russian pacific fleet under rear admiral a.e. kroun. based out of vladivostok, she normally wintered in warmer waters. for example, "vladimir monomakh" visited manila, singapore, hong kong, batavia, dutch east indies and penang island between november 1885 and march 1886. she returned to kronstadt in 1887 and was refitted in 1888.