HCMC – The luxury cruise ship Ovation of the Seas, carrying more than 4,000 international passengers, arrived at Chan May Port in Hue City today morning, October 17.
The ship, operated by Royal Caribbean Cruises, came at around 8 a.m. and was welcomed by the Hue City Department of Tourism and Saigontourist. According to Tran Thi Hoai Tram, director of the Hue Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the visitors were scheduled to stay for about six hours.
Roughly 60% of the passengers joined tours organized by local travel firms to explore Hue, Danang, and Hoi An, while others stayed on board awaiting the next leg of the voyage. Tram noted that short docking times limit sightseeing activities, adding that local authorities plan to work with travel agencies to extend future itineraries and encourage longer visits.
A representative from Saigontourist, which operates the tours for the cruise line, said the return of major cruise operators such as Royal Caribbean demonstrates the strong rebound of Vietnam’s tourism industry. The arrival of thousands of high-spending travelers is expected to boost local transport, dining, and souvenir businesses.
The Ovation of the Seas, part of Royal Caribbean’s Quantum class, was launched in 2016. The 348-meter-long, 18-deck ship has a gross tonnage of 168,666 and offers more than 2,000 cabins. It can carry up to 4,180 passengers and 1,500 crew members and features amenities such as the North Star observation capsule, a surf simulator, and an indoor performance venue.
Located in Chan May–Lang Co Commune, Chan May Port sits between the central coast cities of Hue and Danang. It is a natural deep-water seaport capable of accommodating cruise ships up to 362 meters long and 225,000 gross tons. The Asia Cruise Association has listed Chan May as one of 46 premier cruise destinations in Southeast Asia.
Following the Ovation of the Seas, Chan May Port is set to welcome several more large cruise ships later this year. According to Saigontourist, the Celebrity Millennium carrying over 1,800 passengers is expected to dock on November 9, while the Celebrity Solstice, with around 2,800 guests, will make three stops on November 10, November 22, and December 4.
