Singapore set to host world's largest cruise ships by 2010
By Valarie Tan, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 12 March 2008 0035 hrs

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SINGAPORE: The world's largest cruise ships currently being built are set to dock in Singapore by 2010, when the new International Cruise Terminal at Marina South is expected to be completed.

The new terminal will double the number of cruise berths in the country to four, the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) said at the Seatrade Cruise Shipping Convention 2008 in Miami, USA on Tuesday.

STB said the terminal will also be able to host the Genesis-class cruise ships, which have an expected capacity of about 5400 passengers.

The International Cruise Terminal at Marina South has deep waters, a large turning basin and no height restrictions, enabling it to accommodate the largest cruise ships currently being built.

Together with the current Singapore Cruise Centre, STB said it expects the new terminal to increase the country's cruise passenger handling capacity and achieve the targeted 1.6 million cruise passengers per annum by 2015.

Last year, the Singapore Cruise Centre reported a cruise passenger volume of over 943,000, an increase of more than 10 per cent over the 857,000 passengers in 2006.

STB also said Singapore will be the port of call for a host of ships in 2008, including Cunard's Queen Victoria on her maiden world cruise, and ships from Princess Cruises, P&O, Oceania Cruises, Holland America Line and Crystal Cruises. - CNA/ac