Resorts World Cruises recently announced that its Resorts World One ship would commence high-seas cruises from Hong Kong, starting March 10th, 2023.
With Taiwan lifting travel restrictions on Hong Kong/Macau residents, Resorts World Cruises adds Kaohsiung (Taiwan) as a new destination.
Beginning April 2nd, 2023, Resorts World One is due to sail from Hong Kong to Kaohsiung on 4-day cruises departing Sundays and 3-day cruises departing Wednesdays. The 3-day weekend high seas cruises departing Fridays continue.
Besides the roundtrips from Taiwan, vacationers departing from Hong Kong on Sundays have the flexible option to debark at Kaohsiung on Mondays to enjoy a 4-day land stay in Taiwan; and re-embark on Thursdays to arrive in Hong Kong Friday, making this a 6-day holiday. Vacationers can make land accommodation arrangements in Taiwan.
Cruise fares from Hong Kong to Kaohsiung (Taiwan) start from HK$1,299 (US$166) per passenger (double occupancy) with 3rd and 4th guests paying HK$650 (US$83) each for the 3-day cruise. An “Early Bird” discount promotion of HK$300 (US$38) is available for each of the twin-sharing guests with an additional HK$150 (US$19) off for each of the 3rd and 4th guests. The promotion is valid for bookings made before the end of March 2023 for sailing dates in April & May 2023 (excluding sailings from April 5th-15th, 2023).
Port charges are HK$500 (US$64) per passenger/per sailing with a daily service charge of HK$150 (US$19) per guest (balcony category/below).
Kaohsiung will become a double homeport for Resorts World One.
Vacationers from Taiwan can embark on the ship in Kaohsiung from April 4th, 2023 onwards, starting with a 3-day cruise to Hong Kong. Subsequently, Resorts World One offers weekly round-trip cruises to Hong Kong including the 4-day cruise departing on Mondays and the 5-day cruise departing on Thursdays.
Vacationers departing from Kaohsiung on Thursdays for the 5-day cruise also have the option to debark in Hong Kong on Fridays for a 3-day land stay. Vacationers re-embark the ship on Sunday to arrive in Kaohsiung on Monday. They can also make weekend accommodation arrangements in Hong Kong. The cruises from Kaohsiung support the “Hello Hong Kong” campaign by the government to increase the number of tourists.
Fares from Kaohsiung to Hong Kong start from NT$6,900 (US$226) onwards per passenger (twin-sharing) with 3rd and 4th guests paying NT$3,500 (US$115) each for the 4-day cruise. An “Early Bird” NT$1,000 (US$33) discount is available for each of the twin-sharing passengers with an additional NT$500 (US$16) off for each of the 3rd and 4th guests. The promotion is valid for bookings made before the end of March 2023 for sailing dates in April & May 2023 (excluding sailings on April 4th and 5th, 2023). Port charges are NT$2,000 (US$66) per passenger per sailing with a daily service charge of NT$600 (US$20) per guest (balcony category/below).
The 1900-passenger ship Resorts World One is expected to contribute and open up a stream of potential inbound tourists, reigniting the sector and the various tourism industries in Hong Kong and Taiwan.
With 2 weekly sailings to Kaohsiung, there will be a total of 78 calls in 2023 - a substantial increase compared to ~20 cruise ship calls pre-COVID (2019). With 3 sailings per week from Hong Kong, Resorts World One is due to make 126 calls in 2023 - 60% of the calls Hong Kong had pre-COVID (2019).