The cruise vessel Piano Land has arrived in Hong Kong carrying approximately 1,700 passengers, representing the largest overseas inbound passenger group handled to date by Astro Ocean Cruise. The call follows the ship’s recent return from Malaysia, where it had been deployed on a dual-homeport programme operating itineraries to ports in Malaysia and Thailand.
The current voyage brought passengers from Malaysia, Singapore and other markets across South-east Asia to Hong Kong. Astro Ocean Cruise indicated that the call marked a notable development both for the company and for Hong Kong’s cruise sector, as Piano Land is the first Chinese-branded cruise ship to deliver international passengers to the city on this scale. The operator also characterised the deployment as an expression of confidence in the continued growth of cruise tourism in Hong Kong and the wider Greater Bay Area.
Looking ahead, Piano Land is scheduled to operate a dedicated Hong Kong homeport season in 2026. The programme will include itineraries ranging from four to 12 nights, with destinations throughout South-east Asia. Planned ports of call include Brunei; Sihanoukville in Cambodia; Kota Kinabalu in Malaysia; Manila and Subic in the Philippines; and a number of Vietnamese ports, including Chan May, Danang, Halong Bay, Nha Trang and Phu My.
Astro Ocean Cruise is a wholly owned subsidiary of China Cruises International and is headquartered in Hong Kong. Its flagship vessel, Piano Land, measures approximately 70,000 gross tonnes and is arranged over 13 decks with 880 cabins, accommodating up to 2,014 passengers. The ship was constructed by Meyer Werft in Germany.
Piano Land began homeport operations in Hong Kong in April 2025, offering regional Asian itineraries. On November 29th, 2025, the vessel commenced homeport services from Malaysia, becoming the first Chinese-branded cruise line to operate international homeport operations.