Princess Cruises adds Vietnam to Southeast Asia itineraries Princess Cruises, a global cruise line brand under Carnival Corporation & Plc, will launch a wide selection of itineraries connecting Southeast Asian nations, including Vietnam, in a new season of cruise trips starting from November this year. Sapphire Princess will stop at Phu My Port in Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province and Nha Trang City in the central province of Khanh Hoa, two of the popular destinations for international cruises in Vietnam, Princess Cruises said when its Diamond Princess with 2,670 passengers of different nationalities called at Tan Cang-Cai Mep ODA Terminal (TCOT) last week. Princess Cruises said its Diamond Princess stopped at the terminal, the first port-of-call after undergoing a US$30-million drydock refurbishment in Singapore outlined in a 13-day Southeast Asia and Japan trip as part of Princess Cruises’ Japan itineraries for 2014. Princess Cruises has chosen Vietnam to respond to the vast potential of the Vietnamese and Southeast Asian cruise market by bringing the Sapphire Princess to this region for a four-month season. Farriek Tawfik, Princess Cruises director for Southeast Asia, told a function in HCMC last week that Vietnam was a potential good destination for cruises and that Princess Cruises had partnered with local travel agencies and Vietnam Airlines to explore opportunities in this market. “The total economic impact that Princess Cruises’ new season of cruise trips is expected to bring to the Vietnamese market is significant, based on passenger and crew spending, port and other local costs as well as travel agent commissions and marketing costs,” Tawfik said in a statement. As scheduled, Sapphire Princess will dock near Vung Tau for passengers to visit the favorite weekend getaway location in southern Vietnam and HCMC, the economic and cultural hub of Vietnam. With its natural attractions such as white sandy beaches and fresh seafood, Nha Trang Bay draws a huge number of local and foreign visitors every year, including those arriving by sea. At the meeting with travel operators, Tawfik said that Vietnam’s cruise market was still in its infancy compared to other markets and that the significant rise in middle-class people as well as the increased awareness and demand for cruising pictured a positive outlook on the country’s cruise market. Vietnam attracted more than 193,200 visitors by sea last year, a whopping increase of over 67% over the year before. The Vietnam National Administration of Vietnam (VNAT) has projected the number could reach one million by 2015. Tawfik said strong government support and initiatives in the sector with regards to regulatory procedures, destination development and port infrastructure would facilitate the growth of the cruise market. “We definitely look forward to a good working relationship with our partners in Vietnam such as the travel agents, Vietnam Airlines and the State tourism agencies to bring international passengers to Vietnam shores,” Tawfik said. Princess Cruises said that its Southeast Asia itineraries had been custom-designed for the diverse Asia vacation market, stopping at seven countries and 16 ports including Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Cambodia and Brunei. Vietnam is an important destination for the season of cruise trips from three to 11 days that Sapphire Princess will be bringing to the region. Its itineraries include a seven-day Vietnam and Thailand trip including Phu My Port in Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province and an 11-day Southeast Asia trip in which the Sapphire Princess will visit Phu My and Nha Trang. SGT