MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Royal Caribbean betting heavily in the Asian cruise market

In January 2008 Royal Caribbean has plans to sail from Hong Kong with “Rhapsody of the Seas”

Royal Caribbean Cruises has called on Asian countries to construct improved port facilities in order to accommodate larger cruise liners as the firm looks to offer more cruise holidays to the region.

The company is currently attempting to improve its presence in Asia through continuing marketing, while it is also setting up a new office in Shanghai, the Associated Press reports. "Our primary focus this time is to develop the Asian market for sourcing for customers and to begin to build our brand into a leadership position," Adam Goldstein, president of Royal Caribbean Cruises. He added that it is vital for ports in Asia to improve their infrastructure in order for the firm to transport cruise holiday passengers to this part of the world. This call comes as the Singapore Tourism Board has announced its intention to have a new cruise terminal at the Marina South Pier, following an in-depth assessment of its construction, revealed Channel News Asia reveals In January 2008 Royal Caribbean has plans to sail from Hong Kong with "Rhapsody of the Seas", the largest cruise vessel in Asian waters. The vessel which can carry 2.000 passengers will be travelling between Hong Kong and Singapore with calls in Malaysia and Thailand and later in the season Japan, Vietnam, Taiwan and several Chinese ports. Mr Goldstein said that the proximity of Hong Kong to other ports in China and the former British colony strong economy made Royal Caribbean choose it as launching pad for the region. In 2005 of the 2.15 million cruise travellers who arrived or left from Hong Kong, an estimated 1.8 million were residents from the former colony, according to the South China Morning Post. By next year Hong Kong will be the seat for three international cruise operators besides five passenger vessels, a number which is expected to increase when in 2012 Hong Kong inaugurates two additional docks in the new cruise terminal.