Royal Caribbean International, the world's largest global cruise
brand operating 21 cruise ships, will sail into Hong Kong early
next year, Adam Goldstein, president of Royal Caribbean
International, announced in Hong Kong Thursday.
In January 2008, Rhapsody of the Seas, the largest ship to
cruise Asia, will offer three spectacular 12-night voyages between
Singapore and Hong Kong, each featuring two-day calls in Thailand
and Vietnam, Goldstein said.
In December 2007, the Asian debut of Rhapsody of the Seas will
kick off in Singapore, offering travelers a selection of six short
cruises, which will range from two to five nights, calling at ports
in Malaysia and Thailand.
After the Singapore to Hong Kong sailings in January 2008, the
ship's Asia tour will continue from Hong Kong, where she will
arrive in February 2008, in time for the Chinese New Year holiday
season, to offer a series of itineraries calling at the ports of
Okinawa, Japan; Taipei and Kaohsiung, China's Taiwan; Hanoi and
Hue, Vietnam; and Sanya, China's Hainan Province.
After visiting Shanghai in east China in April 2008, Rhapsody
will call at ports in Kobe and Fukuoka in Japan and Cheju and Pusan
in the Republic of Korea.
"Hong Kong's close proximity to southern parts of Chinese
mainland as well as it being a strong source market, makes it a
very important market to Royal Caribbean International," said
Goldstein.
James Tien, chairman of the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB),
welcomed the decisions of Royal Caribbean International to choose
Hong Kong as one of its homeports in Asia and a key destination of
its ship Rhapsody of the Seas in the Asian itinerary.
"Hong Kong's renowned Victoria Harbor and diverse tourism
attractions are particularly appealing to cruise passengers, and
our status as China's gateway to the rest of the world will
contribute to the development of cruise tourism in the region," he
said.
"The HKTB will continue to work closely with different cruise
liners around the world in promoting cruise travel, and will
introduce to them cruise itineraries with Hong Kong and Chinese
mainland cities as major stops," he said.
(Xinhua News Agency July 6, 2007)