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Ship Shape: Why You Should Start & End Your 2024 Cruises in Hong Kong
Written by Luxury Escapes
Cruising is back with a vengeance in 2024 and there is no better place to start and end your Asian voyage than Hong Kong.
Hong Kong is a culturally rich island, a foodie island, an island of brand-new fashion and age-old traditions. Standing on the coastline at Tsim Sha Tsui at night, watching the rainbow-coloured skyscrapers reflected in Victoria Harbour is something visitors never forget – and it is doubly special as you set
sail on a cruise.
Hong Kong’s cruising season for 2024/25 is packed full of amazing sailings. Royal Caribbean will be deploying its popular Spectrum of the Seas to Hong Kong in 2024, fresh from its cruising season South-East Asia out of the port of Singapore. Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Solstice will be a regular visitor to Hong Kong as well.
Travellers will be able to take Hapag-Lloyd’s MS Europe though the World Heritage-listed sights of South-East Asia and travel on the Viking Orion to the skyscrapers of Tokyo. You can even set sail on the 21-day Jewels of the China sea excursion aboard the Seabourn Odyssey to Taiwan, Japan and
Tianjin (Beijing).
Pre-cruise: Things to Do Before You Sail
Sitting down for a dim sum in Hong Kong is one of the most memorable meals you will ever eat. But Hong Kong is also full of Michelin-starred artistry, street eats and everything in between.
Duddell’s is stylish and relaxed, but it takes its dim sum so seriously it has been awarded a Michelin star. This dining institution has long played host to Hong Kong’s in-the-know crowd who come for the deep-fried pork and shrimp wontons, the shrimp spring rolls or the famous Peking duck with all the trimmings.
Another Michelin star can be found at the very affordable Yat Lok, a family-run eatery that was founded in 1957 and became famous for its roast goose, which uses a secret recipe and is served with noodles, clear broth and an extra drizzle of goose fat.
Push the boat out with a three-star Michelin experience at Forum where the signature dish is abalone cooked slowly in a gourmet broth for days for maximum flavour. It is a dish that people travel to Hong Kong just to sample. And for something simple yet iconic, pick up an egg tart from Tai Cheong Bakery, which has been perfecting these flaky favourites since 1954.
Take the Peak Tram to the island high point, Victoria Peak, 552 metres above sea level where you can get a commanding view of the city. Alternatively, with a little extra time, pay a visit to the Big Buddha, one of the largest seated Buddha statues in the world, at over 34 metres high.
Discover Hong Kong
Post-cruise: Keep the Fun Going Back on Dry Land with an Exploration of Hong Kong Culture
West Kowloon Cultural District is the new arts hub that stretches across 40 hectares of reclaimed land and blends together art, education, retail, dining and entertainment into a must-visit destination.
At the M+, the one of the largest museums of modern and contemporary visual culture in the world, you can see a celebration of Hong Kong’s visual arts from movies to art installations. Then pay a visit to the Hong Kong Palace Museum, home to 1000 priceless historic treasures.
Visit the Xiqu Centre to see performances of jazz, traditional Cantonese opera or dance or head to the Art Park for free events and festivities by the foreshore.
For a more traditional culture hit try the Hong Kong Heritage Museum; 11 different galleries celebrating the different dynasties in China’s history. Or take the kids to the Hong Kong Science Museum with over 500 science-based exhibits and a roster of temporary displays from dinosaurs to how energy works.
Buy yourself a memento at the Ladies’ Market in Mongkok. You can get everything from tiny boutiques
offering one-off fashions to luggage and souvenirs – you won’t leave empty handed.
You can also celebrate the end of your voyage with a memorable Hong Kong night out. Head to Lan Kwai Fong, or LKF, packed full of buzzing bars and street food or sip sky high at rooftop bars like the new Cardinal Point and the experience space Forty-Five, or SKYE sitting atop the Park Lane Hotel in Causeway Bay.
This article was originally featured in the third issue of Dream by Luxury Escapes magazine. Get your copy here.
