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Hong Kong's cruise calls back on track after Super Typhoon Mangkhut

FILE PHOTO: Genting Cruise Lines
World Dream arrived Monday at Hong Kong's Kai Tak Cruise Terminal, where nothing was amiss
International cruise calls are back on track at Hong Kong after the territory was battered by the worst storm of the year on Sunday with gusts of up to 160 mph/ 257 km/h reported.

This was despite Typhoon Mangkhut weakening before reaching Hong Kong and the southern coast of China following its devastating dash through northern Philippines.

Hong Kong had issued its highest typhoon warning and the storm caused severe air and land transport disruptions. Storm swells along the coastline were reported to have waves as high as 40 feet/12 meters.

No damage reported at Kai Tak Cruise Terminal

Jeff Bent, managing director of Worldwide Cruise Terminals, which operates the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal, told Seatrade Cruise News nothing was amiss at the facility. Dream Cruises' World Dream arrived on Monday morning, in keeping with its revised schedule

'The safety and comfort of our Typhoon Mangkhut passengers and crew is of primary importance at Genting Cruise Lines,' Dream Cruises' parent company said in a statement. 'According to our change of itinerary as a result of, World Dream departed in good time on Friday evening and kept a safe distance well south of the typhoon as it passed Hong Kong and, in doing so, avoided the worst of the weather. World Dream arrived back to the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal this morning at 11:00.'

Genting added that Star Cruises' Star Pisces, which homeports at Hong Kong’s Ocean Terminal, also 'rode out the typhoon at a safe distance away from the storm and is scheduled to resume service this evening (Monday).'

As reported earlier, several cruise lines had modified their itineraries to steer clear of the super typhoon.

Costa Atlantica diverted from Japan to Vietnam

Costa Atlantica was one of the vessels whose itinerary was impacted. It was originally scheduled to leave Shenzen, China, on Sept. 13, and to call at Naha (Okinawa) Sept. 15 and the next day at Miyakojima, Japan, before returning to Shenzen on Sept. 18. Costa Cruises diverted the vessel from Japan to call instead at Da Nang and Nha Trang in Vietnam before returning to Shenzen as per its schedule.