Guangzhou-Hong Kong cruise service planned

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 ◆ Guangzhou-Hong Kong cruise service planned

Guangdong Yangchengzhilu International Travel Services (GYITS) plans to run a Guangzhou-Hong Kong cruise service, making it the first operator to offer the product, once it is approved.

The cruise will target tour groups from the Pearl River Delta. Manager, Mr Zhou Wei-quan, said, "Facilities will include a nightclub, dining outlets, karaoke and sauna. We may charge less than US$129 a trip.

The 13,000-tonne cruise ship, with capacity for 750 people, was built in Spain and will be named Tai Yang Shen (God of the Sun). It will be delivered in mid-September and the company is looking for a general sales agent in Hong Kong.

The cruise liner plans to depart from Whampoa Pier at dusk and arrive in Hong Kong the next day. The journey takes about nine hours. The vessel sails back to Guangzhou in the late afternoon to pick up passengers.

Director of sales, Mr Zhou Wei-quan, said more details would be announced soon such as where the vessel would berth in Hong Kong. "We are targeting tour groups who would like to visit their relatives in Hong Kong and those who do not want to spend much on hotels. Rooms are not cheap in Hong Kong," he commented.

Director and general manager, Mr Xie Zhirong, hopes to get the green light from the local government as soon as possible to tap the week-long National Day holidays next month.