On March 19th, Hong Kong's Kai Tak Cruise Terminal achieved a significant milestone by accommodating 3 large cruise ships from 2 different lines at its 2 berths - a first for the port. The vessels included Cunard's Queen Anne and Queen Elizabeth, alongside NCL-Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Sky, collectively bringing 10,000+ passengers and crew members to the city.
The Queen Anne arrived on March 18th for an overnight stay, marking her inaugural visit to Hong Kong. The following day, both the Queen Elizabeth and the Norwegian Sky made transit calls, with the latter also making its first visit to the port.
Jeff Bent, managing director of Worldwide Cruise Terminals, the operator of Kai Tak Cruise Terminal, expressed delight in welcoming 3 majestic ships from 2 lines in a single day. He noted that this event catered to different source markets and demonstrated both the broad appeal of Hong Kong and the terminal's efficiency and flexibility in handling varied operations.
The terminal anticipates an increased number of cruise calls in 2025, including 7 inaugural visits. Notably, 3 of these inaugural calls occurred within the first 3 months of the year: Astro Ocean's Piano Land in January, followed by the Queen Anne and Norwegian Sky in March.
This event underscores Hong Kong's growing prominence as a key destination in the global cruise industry, reflecting the city's strategic efforts to enhance its maritime tourism sector.