Tan Cang Pilot: Continuing Success - Tan Cang Cai Mep Port welcomes top 10 super cruise ships docking for the second time in 2023

On the morning of August 22, 2023, in Phu My Town, the international super cruise ship Spectrum of the Seas (belonging to Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines and operated by Saigontourist travel company as an agent, successfully carrying more than 4,000 tourists) docked at Tan Cang - Cai Mep port (TCCT) on a 12-day travel around Asia.

This is the second time in 2023 that the Spectrum of the Seas super-ship is among the top 10 largest cruise ships in the world docking at TCCT (the first trip was in February 2023), marking a year of recovery and strong development. TCCT's strength in its capacity to receive cruise ships after the Covid-19 pandemic.
 

Spectrum of the Seas – one of the leading modern superyachts of the Quantum series owned by Royal Caribbean International (RCI), built at Meyer Werft (Papenburg, Germany). With a length of 347m and a height of nearly 63m, the ship is considered the largest yacht being operated by the company in the Asian region, with 16 floors and more than 2,000 rooms, capable of accommodating a maximum of more than 5,600 guests. The ship offers many top amenities including 3 swimming pools, 3 hot tubs, an outdoor cinema, a spa and a theater that can accommodate up to 1,300 people.

 
With a 12-day trip to Southeast Asia: Japan - Hong Kong (China) - Vietnam - Singapore, the ship will only anchor at TCCT (Vietnam) for 1 day for about 2/3 of the guests participating in the tour. Ba Ria-Vung Tau countryside (route of Cao Dai temple, Ho Phap pagoda - Phu My town; Hoa Long market, wine making - Ba Ria city; An Ngai rice paper making profession, Nguyen Hoang ancient house - district Long Dien) and Vung Tau tour (Bai Front, Small Mountain, Nirvana Vihara, Bach Dinh, Thang Tam Temple); Experience the West River in Cai Be-Tien Giang and discover Ho Chi Minh City. Ho Chi Minh; By the afternoon of the same day, the ship will leave Ba Ria-Vung Tau for Singapore, ending the journey.
 
 
Potential for developing the international cruise ship market at Cai Mep Terminal
On this occasion, Royal Caribbean International Group also held a ceremony to announce the recovery of the international cruise industry, which took place directly on the supership Spectrum of the Seas on the occasion of docking at TCCT, bringing guests to Vietnam.
 

During the ceremony, Chairman of the People's Committee of Ba Ria - Vung Tau province, Mr. Nguyen Van Tho affirmed that the supership Spectrum of the Seas chose Tan Cang - Cai Mep Terminal (TCCT) as the destination port on its trip to Vietnam. Nam is a testament to the confidence of shipping agents and travel agents in the port system in Ba Ria-Vung Tau in general and the capacity to receive large cruise ships at TCCT in particular. He also said that Ba Ria-Vung Tau tourism industry is recovering strongly and making positive contributions to the province's overall growth.
Ms. Angie Stephen, Managing Director of Asia-Pacific and Vice President of Royal Caribbean International Group, said that “The group currently owns 226 large and small cruise ships in the world. In September and October, we will operate 2 new itineraries to Vietnam. In 2024, we will bring more ships to Vietnam and we also look forward to welcoming more Vietnamese passengers on board to participate in experience trips."
 

Cai Mep Tan Cang Terminal (TCCT) – A potential logistics service center in Cai Mep area.As the first deep-water port of Vietnam in Cai Mep - Thi Vai area, capable of receiving ships of up to 160,000 DWT, with the goal of "Expanding joint venture and association; improve quality serving; effective business", TCCT has developed towards becoming a logistics center, optimizing capacity and strength in strengthening cooperation with major partners such as: Ba Son Corporation (exploiting and receiving) project cargo ships, wind power equipment cargo); KCTC Vietnam operates Terminal B - Tan Cang Cai Mep (jointly invests, develops appropriate investment plans in each period in terms of warehouse and yard operation services; develops logistics solutions in key of southern).

In addition to the services of operating container ships, bulk carriers, and super-heavy cargo ships (wind power, oversized cargo, etc.), TCCT also accepts passenger ships with the following services: pilot and tugboat services; wharf reception service; Cleaning services for ships and shuttle buses from the wharf for tourists.

According to a report from the Department of Tourism, advertising and promotion work to international markets, especially the cruise tourist market, is being actively implemented by the province. In 2022, Ba Ria-Vung Tau province organized to welcome and work with representatives of the Singapore Tourism Board and Singaporean travel agencies to survey cruise tourism at ports in Phu My town and other routes. , attractions in the province. It is expected that in 2023, there will be 26 cruise ships docking at Phu My Terminal.
The above favorable factors have opened up many development opportunities not only for the local tourism industry in general, but also created opportunities for TCCT port in particular to develop the potential business of welcoming cruise ships - creating development momentum and completion of set production and business targets for 2023.
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(*Source: Ba Ria Vung Tau Newspaper)