Chinese back Gulf cruises

BANGKOK, 8 August 2012: A new cruise venture set sail from Laem Chabang port on the Gulf of Thailand, 3 August, to Samui Island and Sihanoukville in Cambodia.

A Chinese cruise company, Profit Summit Deluxe Cruise Limited, is under writing the project that will attempt to establish the first cruise services in the Gulf of Thailand since Star Cruises pulled out of the market back in 2002.

Partnering with a Thai company, Eastime Shipping Limited has contracted the cruise ship MV Ocean Dream that can carry just over 1,000 passengers.

The four-day/ three-night cruise covers the Gulf of Thailand starting from Laem Chabang port in Chonburi province and making its first stop at Samui Island where it berths for the day. From there the cruise heads to Sihanoukville in Cambodia to beach resorts located near the port town. The ship will be home-based at Laem Chabang for the duration of the cruise season

Departures are twice weekly on Monday and Friday with a lead-in price for a berth of Bt11,000 per person.

Commenting on the new addition to Thailand’s travel scene, Tourism Authority of Thailand governor, Suraphon Svetasreni, said it was a “good opportunity for travellers to experience the Gulf of Thailand and would help to position Thailand in the ASEAN cruised market.”

TAT has identified cruises as a priority in its 2012/2013 marketing plan, but mainly positioning Phuket as a port of call for international cruises.

According to a report in Thanonline news, all of the passengers on the new cruise venture will be Chinese tourists who have pre-paid for the trip.

Sourced: ttrweekly