You are right again. I kept thinking when in map / management mode, it's also turn based, but I was wrong. Only the combat was turn based. Playing in the map and entering towns/cities were all real time.

gnilma

Your gameplay style sort of dictates whether it feels more like a turn-based strategy or RPG with turn based combat. I always played avoiding combat as much as possible and focusing on exploration and trade, so it felt more like an RPG. 

Undisciplined

gaming

Any SNES Gamers Here?

I know the series by its Chinese name, which is written the same as the Japanese name in kanji, 大航海時代. It means the great age of sailing / sea voyage.

You are right that this genre isn't really a simulation game. I wouldn't call it an RPG either, even though you choose a character in the beginning, but you're managing your fleet with an overlord UI. I would categorize it as a turn based strategy game. I actually have played quite a few turn based strategy games, most notably the Romance of the Three Kingdoms series and the Civilizations series.