Marina South cruise centre to open in 2010

Natalie Soh & Lim Wei Chean, Straits Times 1 Feb 08;

It will cater to larger liners which cannot berth at existing cruise terminal

A NEW passenger cruise terminal will come up in Marina South by 2010.

The facility, long requested by the industry, will be able to accommodate the largest cruise liners top-end operators are putting on the high seas.

Although Singapore has become a main stop for fancy cruises by Costa Cruises, Royal Caribbean and Silversea Cruises, the passengers on some ships have had to disembark rather unceremoniously at container terminals here as the existing Singapore Cruise Centre at HarbourFront cannot accommodate them.

For example, Royal Caribbean's Rhapsody Of The Seas, the largest cruise liner based here, was too tall for the cruise centre.

Talk of a cruise terminal has been around since 2004, but only last year did the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) confirm that one will be built. It has also, till now, shied away from giving a time frame.

The 2010 date came from the Minister of State for Trade and Industry, Mr S. Iswaran, at the STB's Industry Night last night.

The terminal will have larger berths and a larger turning basin for the longer, bigger ships cruise lines are building increasingly.

The terminal's completion in two years will coincide with the completion of two other major projects in the area - Marina Bay Sands integrated resort in 2009, and Gardens at Marina South in 2010.

Cruise line operators were cheered by news of the new terminal last night.

Royal Caribbean regional manager for the Asia Pacific Kelvin Tan told The Straits Times last night: 'This is the news all cruise lines want to hear, especially those of us who intend to expand and play a bigger role in Asia.'

Silversea Cruises Asia director Melvyn Yap went a step further and called the announcement 'long overdue'.

Industry players said passengers on these high-end cruises could spend upwards of US$100,000 (S$142,000) on cruises around the world, so the last thing they expect is to have to disembark at a container port - no matter how temporary the situation.

Hong Kong and Shanghai are already a jump ahead of Singapore in wooing cruise operators: Their passenger cruise terminals will be ready by this year.

Some studies suggest 1.5 million cruise passengers will travel through the region in two years' time.

Singapore is also looking at bumping up passenger traffic from low-cost carriers to bring in tourists, especially from the region.

More details on the new terminal are expected next month.