Cruise travel gaining popularity in Asia

SINGAPORE: Cruise travel has been gaining popularity in Asia in recent years.

Cruise liners in the region attracted about 1.3 million passengers in 2012, and this number is expected to almost triple by 2020.

Singapore is a key player in this sector, with key global players having a presence here.

Amid the overall growth, some cruise operators have said the Singapore domestic market is too small and there is a need to attract more passengers from the region to cruise liners here.

Some 390 cruise ships visited Singapore last year, rising almost 20 per cent from 2012.

Growth has been robust, with greater awareness among travellers and a wider variety of cruise packages being offered.

Local travel agencies have also recorded significant increases in cruise package customers.

CTC Travel sold some 1,500 cruise packages in 2013, compared to just 300 the year before. Meanwhile, Chan Brothers reported up to 30 per cent higher sales in cruise holidays.

However, some industry participants said Singapore’s market size is relatively small and they need to look to other larger markets to fill their ships.

Melvyn Yap, regional director for Asia at Silversea Cruises, said: “The population of Singapore is just 5.3 million. It is not enough to sustain so many cruise lines coming into Singapore.

“We have got Star Cruises, Royal Caribbean, Princess and Costa. These are the major big ships that have come to our region. For a lot of cruise liners in the region, Singapore is the base, and we look for source markets around the region.”

Luxury cruise operator Silversea Cruises said it has witnessed significant growth in Asia Pacific demand for cruise travel — what used to be approximately 3 per cent of its portfolio more than a decade ago now makes up some 15 per cent of its business.

To attract more passengers locally, cruise operators are tailoring their offerings to cater to the changing tastes and preferences of consumers.

This includes offering more short-haul packages for young, first-time cruisers.

Farriek Tawfik, SEA Director of Princess Cruises/Cunard Line, said: “If you put them on a 10- or 11-day cruise, they will say what ‘will I do on board, will I be bored on board the ship?’

“Of course, there are lots of activities to keep you occupied. So, just to test the water, we do have the three, four and five days for the first timers, and if they like it… then (they) will want to go on a longer cruise.”

The Singapore Tourism Board is also helping to attract foreign visitors to Singapore to fill the ships.

Neeta Lachmandas-Sakellariou, assistant chief executive of Singapore Tourism Board, said: “Fly-cruise becomes really important for us as we start to bring more people into Singapore. We are working very closely with Changi Airport Group; they have a vested interest in fly-cruise as well, and we have a lot of symbiotic interests in this.

“The other thing is both our terminals — whether you are talking about Singapore Cruise Terminal or the Marina Bay Cruise Centre — have actually got established fly-cruise/cruise-fly facilities. That helps us a lot, we will all be working together on this.”

Regional cruise operator Star Cruises said that up to 70 per cent of its passengers on board its Singapore-based ship fly in from around the region.

It attracts visitors by offering various promotions and themed cruises from Singapore, such as cycling and concert themes.