HK set to welcomes 17 international cruises in March

Hong Kong is set to welcome 17 international cruises this month, with four already docking in the city on Sunday, bringing approximately 5,400 tourists, according to the Hong Kong Tourism Board. 

The Celebrity Millennium, en route from Singapore to Yokohama, and the Costa Serena, returning to Manila via Hong Kong, berthed at the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal on Saturday. 

Meanwhile, the Silver Whisper and Seabourn Encore, heading to Tokyo and Kobe respectively, docked at the Ocean Terminal in Tsim Sha Tsui on Sunday.

These ships carried passengers from 31 countries and regions, including the United States, Australia, the United Kingdom, Germany, Canada, the Philippines, Japan, and Singapore.

Many passengers explored Kowloon City, delving into Hong Kong’s rich history and culture.

The tour included a visit to the Kai Tak Sports Park, followed by an immersive exhibition based on a local blockbuster movie Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In at the Airside shopping mall.

The exhibition, organized by the HKTB, allowed visitors to experience the history of the now-demolished Kowloon Walled City through a lifelike recreation of scenes from the film.

The tour also took visitors to the Kowloon Walled City Park, where they explored historical relics and indulged in Hong Kong-style egg tarts, a beloved local delicacy known for its crispy texture and rich flavor. 

The tour concluded with visits to the Chilin Nunnery, a Buddhist sanctuary that replicates the traditional aesthetics of the Tang Dynasty, and the Nan Lian Garden, a classical Chinese garden that offers a serene escape from the bustling city.

Helen Sleiman, a first-time visitor from the United Kingdom, expressed her admiration for Hong Kong’s skyline and the authenticity of its neighborhoods.

“I saw a more realistic side of Hong Kong’s neighborhoods in Kowloon City, and I could imagine what it was like in the old days,” she said. 

Another visitor Maxence Lefevre from France said the movie exhibition as a highlight of their trip, offering a nostalgic glimpse into Hong Kong’s past.

 “The stories of the movie were very exciting, and it felt like we were transported back to the 70s and 80s,” said Lefevre.

The HKTB also announced that three more large international cruise ships will dock in Hong Kong from March 18 to 19. Among them are the Queen Anne and Queen Elizabeth of Cunard Line, as well as the Norwegian Sky of Norwegian Cruise Line. 

Notably, both the Queen Anne and Norwegian Sky will be making their maiden voyages to Hong Kong, with Cunard Line choosing the city as the destination for Queen Anne’s world cruise gala dinner, which will host over 1,000 travelers at a local hotel.

(Ayra Wang)