Cruise ship tourists let down by Hong Kong visit
Passengers aboard first ocean liner to berth at new Kai Tak terminal say time in the city too short and hampered by chaotic transportation
Tourists who arrived with the first cruise vessel to dock at the new Kai Tak terminal gave a mixed review of their experience in the city, with some complaining of transportation confusion, taxi overcharging and too little time to take in the attractions.
The one-day stay of Mariner of the Seas was expected to deliver a bump in retail revenue, but it turns out not all the visitors were big spenders.
The 3,000-passenger cruise ship docked at the Kai Tak cruise terminal on Wednesday night and left yesterday afternoon.
Aileen Webber, 62, from Australia, went to the Megabox mall on Wednesday night. "We were told it's a good one, but there wasn't much to see," said "There was not enough transportation information. We wasted a lot of time at The Peak looking for a bus back."
Her husband, Tony Webber, 61, who was also making his first Hong Kong visit, said: "One day is too short. You need at least a week to have a good time here."
Valerie Amos, 79, from Britain, said she was told on Wednesday night the Ladies' Market in Mong Kok was not open. She went to Stanley yesterday and mainly bought fridge stickers, souvenir pens and a plastic watch for her great-grandson.
Dirk Van Heeren, 73, from Australia, went to the APM mall in Kwun Tong on Wednesday night with his wife but did not buy anything. He looked at some tablet computers but the warranties were not valid in his home country.
