Cruising is Surging Back as Hong Kong Reopens

Hong Kong is back and welcoming 160 cruises this year--Photo at event during Seatrade by Wallace Immen

You can’t keep a good dragon down.

Hong Kong is aiming to reach new heights now that it has fully reopened, and officials at a cruise conference promised cruise passengers will find more than ever before when they visit.

“Hong Kong is stronger than ever,” said Kenneth Wong, general manager for meetings, incentives and cruise during an event at the Seatrade Cruise Global conference at the end of March that was accompanied by dragon dances and drumming.

He said the international community’s response to the lifting of the long-running mask mandate has been “overwhelming.”

Hong Kong has secured over 160 calls this year from 16 cruise lines, which he attributes to “the trust and relationships we have built with cruise lines.” In fact, there has already been a day in which four cruises were in the port at the same time. Azamara’s Azamara Quest and Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ Seven Seas Mariner also called on other days, making six cruise lines in a week. Resorts World One has also returned to year-round cruising from Hong Kong.

The Hong Kong SAR is committed to attracting more cruise ship deployments, especially overnight calls, and is investing in incentives to get cruises to visit or plan cruises that begin or end in Hong Kong, Wong said.

There are also new visitor attractions including the Hong Kong Palace Museum in the West Kowloon Cultural District that exhibits artifacts from the national Palace Museum at the Forbidden City. And a renovation of the famous Peak Tram has new cars that offer panoramic views.

Meanwhile, Hong Kong International Airport is implementing an expansion plan for the three-runway system, which, when the project is completed, will be able to handle 30 million more passengers a year by 2030, Wong said. The new promotion Hello Hong Kong is hoping you’ll be one of them. 

Wallace Immen, The Cruisington Times

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Wallace Immen is Executive Editor of The Cruisington Times, the Best in Cruising, Travel, Food and Fun. He's sailed on all of the world's seas to ports in over 100 countries and travelled on every continent.