'Rhapsody of the Seas' debuts in Singapore
Channel NewsAsia 9 Dec 07;
The arrival of the 'Rhapsody' highlights the need for a newer and bigger terminal for the cruise industry to grow, and STB believes the proposed new Marina South terminal could start work next year.
SINGAPORE: A Western-based global cruise brand is making a grand foray into the Asian market.
One of America's and Europe's biggest cruise operators – Royal Caribbean International – made its Asia-Pacific debut with the arrival of 'Rhapsody of the Seas' in Singapore on Sunday, carrying some 2,000 tourists from Australia and New Zealand.
The ship is calling Singapore home for the next two months before calling on ports in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Japan and South Korea.
Rama Rebbapragada, Asia-Pacific Managing Director for Royal Caribbean Cruises, said: "We chose Singapore for two reasons – to be our homeport for the 'Rhapsody of the Seas' for our Asia programme which we offer in the Southeast region, and also as our corporate headquarters. Singapore has a lot to offer. Most nationalities like to come here and visit."
Last year, 850,000 passengers cruised through Singapore from destinations like Indonesia, India, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia and Europe.
The number of cruise passengers in Asia Pacific is also expected to grow by more than 40 percent from 1.07 million in 2005 to 1.5 million by 2010 and 2 million by 2015.
The arrival of 'Rhapsody', with its innovative onboard amenities and award-winning vacation programme which includes rock-climbing, is set to boost tourism in the region.
Lim Neo Chian, Deputy Chairman & CEO of the Singapore Tourism Board (STB), said: "To us, it's our commitment to grow the Asia cruise business. So it's really a demonstrated commitment to Asia. We will work with them to get more cruise ships here to our part of the world and to provide more cruise options to our visitors in Singapore."
With a capacity of over 2,400 passengers and 78,000 tonnes, the 'Rhapsody' is the biggest ship to homeport in Asia.
And with 11 decks, it is also among the tallest.
In fact, the ship is so tall that it could not dock at the Singapore Cruise Centre at Harbourfront for fear of running into the cable cars.
Instead, it has to dock at the Pasir Panjang Terminal, which is some 15 minutes' coach ride away from the Harbourfront.
The arrival of the 'Rhapsody' highlights the need for a newer and bigger terminal for the cruise industry to grow, and STB believes the proposed new Marina South terminal could start work next year.
"In terms of facility, there are basically two issues right now – one is that the bigger ships have got some difficulties getting to the cruise centre; second is that because of the increasing demand in cruise business, the present Cruise Centre is getting a bit congested at times. So essentially we'll have to build new facilities. We've been looking at Marina South and we're working actively with all the different government agencies. We hope to be able to start work next year," said Mr Lim, who is optimistic the new Marina South cruise terminal will be ready in two to three years' time.
Even though 'Rhapsody of the Seas' moves on from Singapore after January, the Royal Caribbean is deploying another ship – 'Legend of the Sea' – to Singapore at the end of next year.
'Legend' is of a similar class as the 'Rhapsody', but it is shorter and should be able to dock at the Singapore Cruise Centre.- CNA/so
Work on second cruise terminal to start soon
It will fix problems of mega-liners having to call at container port
Lim Wei Chean, Straits Times 10 Dec 07;
IT HAS vital statistics that make mariners swoon.
But yesterday, Rhapsody of the Seas, the largest cruise liner based in Singapore, ended up among container ships.
It was unable to call at the Singapore Cruise Centre's HarbourFront terminal because its height, at more than 52m, is taller than the overhead cable car lines to Sentosa.
So the 2,435-passenger mega-liner, on its first voyage to Singapore, ended up at a berth at the Pasir Panjang Container Terminal some 5km away.
The welcome party had to move over too.
The container port has been used by cruise ships about 25 times this year due to berthing shortages or size restrictions at the cruise centre.
These issues need to be addressed soon if Singapore wants to maintain its position as a cruise hub, said industry players.
Meanwhile, Singapore Tourism Board (STB) chief Lim Neo Chian said construction is expected to begin on Singapore's second cruise terminal in Marina South by next year.
It should be completed 'within two to three years'.
He said: 'The plan (for the new terminal) is to accommodate the new generation of cruise ships now being built.'
These mega-liners are expected to carry more than 3,000 passengers.
Cruise operators here have been urging Singapore to build a second cruise terminal for some two years now.
Reasons they cite include overcrowding at the current terminal, as well as height and size limitations that prevent larger ships from docking at the cruise centre.
Rhapsody's arrival and the establishing of regional head offices for cruise lines such as Royal Caribbean - Rhapsody's owner - and Silversea Cruises were hailed as a coup for Singapore as it builds a reputation as the region's premier cruising centre.
The figures bear this out: Last year, there were 860,000 passenger arrivals, and this is expected to increase to 980,000 this year.
Newcomer Royal Caribbean is doing well. Asia- Pacific managing director Rama Rebbapragada said yesterday at the ship's welcome party that Rhapsody's six short cruises out of Singapore were sold out.
The squeeze at the cruise centre is, however, being felt by operators and passengers.
Star Cruises, the first cruise operator to base itself here, said that recently, occasional berthing shortfalls have forced its ships to call at the container port.
Passengers complained about inadequate immigration and baggage facilities.
Singapore Cruise Centre president Cheong Teow Cheng said that about 5 per cent of ship calls had to be made at the container port.
Silversea Cruises' Asia director Melvyn Yap said: 'Singapore wants to be a cruise hub, but what kind of impressions will tourists get if the first thing they see here is the container port?'
The pressure will increase when more mega-liners are built. For now, some of these leviathans cannot be deployed to the region as the infrastructure is lacking.
But that is set to change. Last month, Hong Kong announced the construction of a HK$3 billion (S$553 million) cruise terminal at the former airport site in Kai Tak.
STB's Mr Lim said: 'We are working at double time to get the (new) cruise terminal up as soon as possible.'
Singapore plans second cruise ship terminal
Channel NewsAsia 10 Dec 07;
SINGAPORE: Work on a second Singapore cruise ship terminal is likely to start next year, the chief of the city-state's tourism board said Monday.
Lim Neo Chian said on local radio that plans call for a second terminal to be built in the Marina South district, where Singapore's first casino complex is expected to open in 2009.
"We're fairly optimistic that we should be OK to start next year," Lim said.
He said some bigger ships have difficulty getting to the current terminal located across from Sentosa island. The facility has two berths for international cruise liners.
Because of increasing demand, the existing facility is also "a little bit congested at times," Lim added.
He did not give a cost for the new facility but said "typical developmental issues" still need to be resolved.
"Once the key issues are settled we will work at double time to get the cruise terminal up as soon as possible," he said.
Singapore has launched a series of projects to boost its tourism appeal. Among them are two casino developments, and a Formula One road race to be held next year. - AFP/ac
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