the taizi (prince) bay cruise terminal, said to be the only port on the chinese mainland capable of accommodating the world's largest cruise ships, will open nov. 13, replacing shekou passenger port, which now operates ferry services to zhuhai, hong kong and macao.
work on the terminal will be completed in october and a six-star silversea cruises ship will start sailing from there in january next year, taking shenzhen travelers to southeast asian countries, japan and south korea, a shenzhen special zone daily report said yesterday, quoting the shekou passenger port.
the terminal will be an international port integrating rail, land, air and sea transport services in southern china. the metro line 12, which is now being planned, will have a station at the terminal. after the terminal opens, a bus service will link the terminal with shekou port station of metro line 2.
according to the ministry of transport and national development and reform commission's report, “planning for ports in the country," shenzhen will be one of the three hubs in the country to provide services for luxury cruise liners.
this terminal is a major development in this project. it will stimulate the development of the bay area, an area of 690,000 square meters, which integrates business, entertainment, leisure and housing.
china merchants group in shenzhen appointed kuala lumpur-based jebsen travel & tours services to market taizi bay cruise terminal to passenger cruise liners in may.
jebsen will charter silversea shadow, a high-end cruise line with 194 luxury-cabin suites from silversea cruises, from january next year to may 2017, providing 10 to 14-day itineraries throughout asia. according to xunlong ferry service co., an operator at the shekou port, silver shadow will offer eight routes including one that circles the south china sea by the first half of next year.
