The MS World, ‘the largest residential private yacht on earth’, is coming to Hong Kong
- Arrival to hark back to days when elegant cruise ships, such as the Asama Maru, made front-pages news
- Plus, Hawaiian Airlines relaunches its route between Honolulu and Fukuoka, in Japan
Before the advent of commercial aviation, the occasional arrival of new and ever-more luxurious cruise ships was always big news in relatively remote Hong Kong. Three of the last luxury liners to debut here before Imperial Airways and Pan American Airways aircraft first touched down at Kai Tak in 1936 were NYK Line’s Asama Maru, Chichibu Maru and Tatsuta Maru. The Asama Maru’s arrival, in December 1929, was front-page news, and her similar sister ships were keenly reported when they dropped in a few months later.
The Asama Maru, it was told, contained a Roman-style swimming pool with marble fountain and eight neoclassical columns. The London firm of Waring & Gillow provided interior designs in several historical English styles, and all beds were fitted with the recently invented Simmons Beautyrest mattress.
The interior decor of the Chichibu Maru was detailed by The Hong Kong Telegraph the following May: “Entrance hall, in the late Renaissance style; gallery, style of the glorious Florentine period of Leonardo da Vinci; lounge, modern English; smoking room, the elegant style of the William and Mary period [...] swimming pool, designed after that of the Roman period and decorated in modern French style [...] verandah, the classic style of medieval Japan.”
After comfortably carrying Hongkongers as far as California for more than a decade, all three ships were sunk while on Japanese military transport duty during World War II, with total loss of life reaching almost 4,000.
Actual arrival and departure dates are not published, perhaps for security reasons, but according to the Ocean Terminal website, The World is scheduled to lie at anchor there from October 28 to 30, then again from December 31 to January 4, should you care to take a look – if only from a distance.
Cruise booking
Hong Kong travellers planning to sail northeast on a cruise might like to pick up Lonely Planet’s new Cruise Ports Northeast Asia guide. The book’s geographical coverage stretches from Taipei up to Hokkaido, and includes Shanghai and the South Korean port city of Busan.
Hawaiian Airline recommences Honolulu-Fukuoka route
Air China axed its thrice-weekly service between Beijing and Honolulu at the end of August, leaving just one direct flight – China Eastern’s Shanghai-Honolulu service – between Hawaii and mainland China. Japan, on the other hand, connects with America’s Aloha State from no fewer than five airports, Narita, Haneda, Sapporo, Osaka and Nagoya.
From late next month, Hawaiian Airlines will return to Fukuoka after a five-year break, offering Honolulu-bound Hong Kong passengers – who still can’t get there non-stop, for some reason – a sixth choice of connecting airport, with four weekly flights.
Deal of the week – two nights in Singapore
Lotus Tours’ two-night Singapore package starts from HK$2,720 per person (twin share) with weekend accommodation at either the Park Hotel Alexandra or the Parkroyal on Beach Road. More upmarket options include older, more familiar properties such as the Regent Singapore from HK$3,250 and the Pan Pacific from HK$3,470.
