Star Voyager Cancels 17 Hong Kong Voyages, Tourism Bureau Reassures on Cruise Hub Status
On.cc · 2 SOURCESabout 1 hour ago5 MIN
Summary
Star Cruises' Star Voyager vessel has cancelled 17 voyages departing from Hong Kong's Ocean Terminal between September 30 and November 15, 2026, citing regional deployment adjustments. The affected routes included two-night sailings to Xiamen and high seas, three-night itineraries to Sanya, Kaohsiung, and Penghu, and five-night voyages to Okinawa. The Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau stated the cancellations represent routine commercial decisions that do not threaten Hong Kong's broader cruise tourism growth trajectory. Star Cruises has offered affected passengers full refunds or the option to rebook on any of its voyages departing before August 29, 2027.
Key Points
- Star Voyager (領航星號), based at Kowloon's Ocean Terminal, cancelled 17 roundtrip voyages originally scheduled from September 30 to November 15, 2026
- Cancelled itineraries covered two-night Xiamen and high seas trips, three-night Sanya/Kaohsiung/Penghu routes, and five-night Okinawa sailings
- Passengers may obtain full refunds or reschedule on any Star Cruises voyage departing before August 29, 2027
- Star Cruises simultaneously launched a Southeast Asia season from Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, and Malacca on September 25 through January 1
- Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau cited 2025 figures showing 26% rise in cruise ship calls and 22% increase in passengers year-on-year
- Twenty-seven cruise brands visited Hong Kong in the first eight months of 2026, surpassing the 22 brands recorded for all of 2025
- Star Cruises emphasised Hong Kong remains a key node in its regional network and does not rule out Star Voyager's future return
Why It Matters
While the Star Voyager's departure marks a setback for travelers with existing bookings, the broader statistics underscore Hong Kong's growing appeal to international cruise operators. The government's commitment to partnering with the Hong Kong Tourism Board to attract additional premium cruise brands aims to sustain momentum toward establishing the city as Asia's premier cruise hub despite temporary adjustments in individual companies' regional deployments .
While the Star Voyager's departure marks a setback for travelers with existing bookings, the broader statistics underscore Hong Kong's growing appeal to international cruise operators. The government's commitment to partnering with the Hong Kong Tourism Board to attract additional premium cruise brands aims to sustain momentum toward establishing the city as Asia's premier cruise hub despite temporary adjustments in individual companies' regional deployments .