A new ship cruised into Victoria Harbour yesterday. The Costa Allegra, owned by a subsidiary of Carnival Corporation, the world's largest cruise ship operator, will start operating from Asia this summer. Small compared to some mega-liners, it still has eight decks and can take 1,000 passengers. Carnival's president, Giovanni Onorato, hosted a press tour yesterday to detail the company's Asian expansion plans. The ship will begin five-day cruises from Shanghai to Japan and South Korea this summer.

In November, it switches to ply the route from Hong Kong to Halong Bay, Vietnam. The ship has been made over for the Asian market - meaning a sushi and noodle bar, a karaoke and a casino have been put in. Apparently, cruises are also no longer just for seniors. 'In Italy, the most popular thing to do for a honeymoon is to go on a cruise. We want to develop that market here.' And even though it opens in Hong Kong tomorrow, the movie Poseidon didn't come up once in conversation.