On the morning of August 22, 2023, in Phu My Town, the international luxury cruise liner Spectrum of the Seas (operated by Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, with Saigontourist acting as local general agent), carrying over 4,000 international passengers, successfully docked at Tan Cang – Cai Mep Container Terminal (TCCT) during its 12-day Asia voyage.
This marks the second time in 2023 that Spectrum of the Seas—one of the world’s top 10 largest cruise ships—has berthed at TCCT (the maiden call was in February 2023), demonstrating TCCT’s robust recovery and exceptional operational capacity in handling world-class passenger cruise ships post-Covid-19.
|
Spectrum of the Seas – World Top 10 luxury cruise ship docking at Tan Cang – Cai Mep Terminal for the second time on August 22, 2023
During its 12-day Southeast Asian itinerary spanning Japan – Hong Kong – Vietnam – Singapore, the vessel berthed at TCCT for a one-day excursion. Approximately two-thirds of the passengers disembarked for countryside tours in Ba Ria – Vung Tau (Cao Dai Temple, Ho Phap Pagoda in Phu My; Hoa Long Market and traditional distillery in Ba Ria City; An Ngai rice paper craft village and Nguyen Hoàng ancient house in Long Dien), seaside tours in Vung Tau City, eco-tours in the Mekong Delta (Cai Be – Tien Giang), and Ho Chi Minh City exploration, before sailing onward to Singapore.
International tourists disembarking at TCCT to participate in scenic and cultural tours across Ba Ria – Vung Tau and surrounding provinces
Growth Potential for the International Cruise Market in the Cai Mep Port Region
On this occasion, Royal Caribbean International held a ceremony celebrating the robust recovery of the international cruise tourism industry directly on board Spectrum of the Seas at TCCT.
Chairman of Ba Ria – Vung Tau People’s Committee presents a commemorative gift to Royal Caribbean International leadership on board Spectrum of the Seas at TCCT
During the ceremony, Chairman Nguyen Van Tho affirmed that Spectrum of the Seas choosing Tan Cang – Cai Mep Terminal as its port of call reflects the strong confidence of international cruise operators in the port infrastructure of Ba Ria – Vung Tau and TCCT’s specialized capability in receiving mega passenger vessels.
Ms. Angie Stephen, Managing Director of Asia-Pacific and Vice President of Royal Caribbean International, remarked: “Royal Caribbean operates a global fleet of 226 cruise ships. In September and October, we will introduce 2 new itineraries to Vietnam. In 2024, we will deploy more ships to Vietnam and look forward to welcoming more Vietnamese travelers on board our world-class voyages.”
Tan Cang – Cai Mep Terminal (TCCT) – A High-Potential Hinterland Logistics & Port Hub in Cai Mep:
As Vietnam’s first deep-water container terminal in Cai Mep – Thi Vai capable of receiving vessels up to 160,000 DWT, TCCT has pursued strategic partnerships under the motto “Expanding joint ventures, enhancing service quality, operating efficiently”, collaborating with key partners such as Ba Son Corporation (handling project cargo and wind energy components) and KCTC Vietnam (operating Terminal B – Tan Cang Cai Mep for advanced warehousing and regional logistics solutions).Alongside container vessels, breakbulk, and heavy-lift / out-of-gauge cargo handling, TCCT provides premier cruise vessel marine services including pilotage, tugboat assistance, berthing allocation, vessel sanitation, and passenger transfer logistics.
According to the provincial Tourism Department, proactive international tourism promotion is underway, with 26 cruise ship calls scheduled at Phu My ports in 2023. These favorable developments unlock significant growth opportunities for the province and for TCCT in developing the high-potential international cruise handling sector, bolstering business targets for 2023 and beyond.
——
(*Source: Ba Ria – Vung Tau Newspaper)
——
(*Source: Ba Ria – Vung Tau Newspaper)
