Singapore in cruise control
SINGAPORE – Singapore is bidding to become Asia’s main cruise hub by creating facilities to handle the biggest ships in the world.
Capacity will double by 2010 with two berths at a new international cruise terminal capable of accommodating the largest ships in service as well Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines’ planned 5,400-passenger Genesis-class ships.
The new facility will complement two existing berths at the Singapore Cruise Centre at HarbourFront. The terminals are a 10- to 15-minute drive from each other.
Both will increase Singapore’s cruise passenger handling capacity and help to meet a target of achieving 1.6 million cruise passenger throughput by 2015.
Singapore Cruise Centre reported a cruise passenger throughput of more than 943,000 last year, an increase of more than 10 percent over 857,000 passengers in 2006.
Several cruise lines, such as Star Cruises, Royal Caribbean International, Costa Cruises, P&O Princess and Silversea have made Singapore the homeport or ‘marquee’ port for Asian ship deployments.
Royal Caribbean and Silversea also opened offices in Singapore last year to play a more significant role in Asia.
Singapore will be port-of-call for a variety of ships this year, including Cunard’s Queen Victoria on its maiden world cruise, and ships from Princess Cruises, P&O Cruises, Oceania, Holland America Line and Crystal Cruises.
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