THE berthing of the Greater Bay Area (GBA) cruise ship Aden at Macao’s Taipa Ferry Terminal on Aug. 23 marked the official opening of the new Shenzhen-Macao maritime tourism route.

The route, Shenzhen’s first regular sea tourism connection directly liking the city with Macao, departs from Shekou Cruise Homeport in Nanshan District and arrives at Macao’s Taipa terminal. The one-way distance is 28.9 nautical miles and the voyage takes about 2.5 hours.

Designed as a multifunctional corridor for transport, sightseeing, culture and leisure, the cruise offers passengers breathtaking coastal vistas, wide open sea expanses and a dramatic skyline where modern cities meet the sea, creating an immersive twin-city experience unique to the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

Operator of the ferry line, China Merchants Cruises, has curated a range of onboard activities including deck music parties, close-up magic shows and prize quiz games to enhance the passenger experience. Authentic Cantonese specialties are served onboard, enabling passengers to enjoy a blend of visual, culinary and cultural pleasure during the voyage.

Coinciding with the fifth anniversary of the “See the GBA from the Sea” tourism initiative, the Shenzhen-Macao maritime tourism route is seen as an important extension of the project boosting the deeper integrated development of the GBA.

Tips:

1. Bring a valid photo ID.

2. Tickets can be purchased in advance via the mini-program of Shenzhentong (“深圳通+”).

3. Arrive at the departure ferry terminal at least 60 minutes before departure. Show your online booking confirmation at the ticketing office to exchange it for a paper boarding pass.

(Claudia Wei)