Quantum of the Seas makes history as largest cruise liner to dock in Hong Kong
Largest cruise liner to visit city docks at Kai Tak terminal on historic day
Like a floating skyscraper, one of the world's biggest ocean-going liners sailed into Hong Kong yesterday, making history and a statement about the city's aspirations as a truly global cruise hub.
The sun-kissed splendour of Victoria Harbour was the perfect setting as the spectacular Quantum of the Seas docked at the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal on the site of Hong Kong's former airport.
The 16-deck behemoth is as long as three soccer pitches, weighs 168,666 tonnes and carries 5,000 passengers in sumptuous luxury.
At 41 metres and 348 metres long, Quantum is the world's fourth-largest liner and the biggest cruise ship to have berthed in the city. It is here as part of a 54-day global tour which started in New York last month and ends in Shanghai.
Two years after the Kai Tak facility opened, Michael Bayley, president and chief executive of cruise company Royal Caribbean International who own the vessel, predicted that growth in cruise tourism would leave the terminal not be big enough cope in the not-too-distant future.
"At some point, we will realise that Kai Tak is too small and there is not enough facilities to take the cruises," he said.