Asia/Pacific News
First Celebrity Cruise Ship Visits Asia
Celebrity Solstice, operated by Royal Caribbean Cruises Limited (Royal Caribbean), has become the first Celebrity cruise ship to visit Asia, marking the entry of the company into the region's cruise industry, according to the terminal operator for Marina Bay Cruise Centre Singapore (MBCCS).
SATS-Creuers Cruise Services (SCCS) said Celebrity Solstice made its first stop at MBCCS on Friday November 23, 2012, which will also be the home port for Celebrity Millennium starting December 8.
SCCS said the arrival of the ships demonstrates Royal Caribbean's confidence in MBCCS to accommodate the liners and help the cruise industry grow in the region.
"Our facilities and proximity to the city centre have been the key reasons for Celebrity Cruises' decision to use our terminal, providing passengers with a seamless transition from the luxury vessels to the vibrancy and unique appeal of Singapore," said SCCS CEO Melvin Vu.
"We look forward to welcoming more premium cruise ships to MBCCS and giving Singaporeans a rich variety of travel options and reaffirming our status as a world-class cruise hub."
Cruise industry officials have said the Asia-Pacific region is poised for significant expansion as long as the appropriate infrastructure is developed, and cruise visits to Auckland, New Zealand have already experienced "exponential growth" over the past 21 years.
However, in Australia, many residents of the Gold Coast area have been protesting a cruise development supported by Carnival Australia, saying dredging required for the project would put thousands of homes at risk, Baird Maritime reports.
