The port of Macau in Hong Kong is scheduled to welcome its first luxury cruise ship in decades when the SeaDream II includes it in a Far East sailing taking place in March 2014.

Macau is a smaller port that is similar to Hong Kong, in that China deals with defence and foreign affairs for the state, but everything else including laws, police, finances and other policies are taken care of internally.

It’s a port that is well known for gambling, but at the same time it has many picturesque buildings with architectural and historic influences from original Portuguese settlers and from the East.

The port is in much more shallow water than can be handled by many of the larger international cruise lines, but the smaller size of the SeaDream Yacht Club ships is perfect for navigating the port.

A spokesman for SeaDream Yacht Club said “It is the first time that we are coming to Asia. We believe there is an expanding market for cruise trips in Asia.”

The port visit to Macau still hasn’t been finally confirmed, but it is expected to be fine, and it is even thought that it may lead to a second visit, allowing even more passengers to see the World Heritage Sites that the port is a gateway to. Richard Jones, the director for business and development for the cruise line, said “Depending on the success of our maiden call next March, we do hope to return to Asia and Macau in 2015/16.”

It’s exciting news both for the port and for passengers who want to experience the contrasting attractions of the region, including the historic landmarks, the mix of cultures and the vibrant casino nightlife. Would you like to visit Macau? Are there any other parts of the world you wished more cruise lines visited? Let us know with a comment.

By Ian Lewis
Google