As Asia slowly reopens to worldwide journey with easing pandemic restrictions, Hong Kong has welcomed its first ship with worldwide visitors for the reason that shutdown started in 2019. On Wednesday, January 18, 2023, Silversea’s Silver Spirit docked in on the Ocean Terminal in Tsim Sha Tsui, a part of a 14-day one-way crusing from Singapore. The ship will depart on its return voyage on Thursday, January 19.
Hong Kong Welcomes International Guests
Hong Kong is a culturally wealthy and numerous metropolis, and a bucket-list vacation spot for a lot of vacationers. Arriving by cruise ship supplies unparalleled views of the harbor area and handy entry to the center of town.
“Hong Kong is a very attractive cruise ship destination,” mentioned Pang Yiu-kai, chairman of the Hong Kong Tourism Board. “The sense of arrival when you come into Victoria Harbor is really second to none in Asia.”
The Ocean Terminal is centrally situated on the north facet of Victoria Harbor, simply steps from the picturesque Kowloon Park and plenty of downtown points of interest, scrumptious eateries, and retail buying. When approaching the terminal, visitors have spectacular views of town’s skyline and distinctive structure.
“Hong Kong has one of the most beautiful harbours in the world,” mentioned Adam Radwanski, managing director for Silversea. “Cruising in Asia without stopping or calling in Hong Kong is not complete or fully satisfactory, so Hong Kong is an extremely critical point and port in this part of the region.”
The 39,519-gross-ton Silver Spirit, which was dramatically renovated in 2018, is able to welcoming as many as 608 passengers at double occupancy or 648 visitors when totally booked. On this journey, the ship is estimated to be carrying simply over 300 visitors as decreased capability sailings are nonetheless mandated within the area. The variety of the passengers, nevertheless, with greater than 20 nations represented, is what actually showcases the return of cruising.
“It’s a very important milestone for us along the road to recovery,” Culture Secretary Kevin Yeung mentioned whereas welcoming passengers on the cruise terminal.
China has continued with strict lockdowns and limitations for worldwide journey, solely barely easing restrictions in current weeks. With cruise ships lastly returning to the area, extra vacationers will have the ability to go to this wonderful vacation spot.
On its present crusing, Silver Spirit referred to as on ports in Thailand and Vietnam earlier than arriving in Hong Kong, and can return to Singapore through a 10-night crusing departing on Thursday, January 19, with three port visits in Vietnam alongside the way in which: Halong Bay, Da Nang, and Saigon.
Cruising to Hong Kong
While China is barely slowly opening to worldwide cruise journey, a wide range of cruise traces are scheduled to go to Hong Kong within the coming months. Along with Silversea, cruise traces with stops in Hong Kong embrace Holland America Line, Celebrity Cruises, Oceania Cruises, AIDA Cruises, Azamara Cruises, P&O Cruises, Princess Cruises, MSC Cruises, Royal Caribbean International, and Cunard.
A complete of 16 ships are anticipated to make 82 whole visits to Hong Kong in 2023.
The return of cruise journey to the area is made attainable by the easing restrictions in current weeks. In December, worldwide visitors had been as soon as once more welcomed with out a obligatory quarantine interval, which has opened the trail for cruise visits. This follows an extended interval the place cruise traces had been pressured to cancel voyages in Asia attributable to restrictions that made cruising impractical.