Hong Kong cruise stop trip report / Kai Tak shuttles, MTR and Hong Kong / Macau tour options

[ebslcc]

On 1/16/2020 at 10:46 PM, mking8288 said:

The KTCT official website has a page dedicated to transportation info, including the green #86 PMB (Public Mini Bus) 16 passengers - with a dedicated route that serve the cruise terminal and MTR station @ Kowloon Bay ... those would be more appropriate, for a nominal charge (Octopus card accepted) if you are packed lightly for travel & cruising.  $6 HKD each way - not even $1 USD.  They are, however, also not equipped for handling luggage & oversized bags commonly associated with cruisers.  Please kindly click here for the link.  

#86 Green minibus is an interesting option to get to the MTR (Kowloon Bay) from Kai Tak.  http://www.16seats.net/eng/gmb/gk_86.html Per Hong Kong transport department's eMobility https://www.hkemobility.gov.hk/index.php?golang=EN  it only has 1 possible stop between Kai Tak and Telford Plaza near the Kowloon Bay MTR station.  The ride is only 15 minutes between Kai Tak and Telford Plaza. Possible seeing protests aside (unlikely early in the morning or late afternoon and no troubles since Christmas) using the minibus can be a quick way to get on the MTR system if you are lucky.  The cost is $6 HKD payable with Octopus Card or cash - you can top up with a $10 HKD bill if you don't have the change.  There are some challenges with taking minibus: it is small 16 passenger van.  NO standing room. You are packed pretty tightly with other folks on the bus.  If there isn't a seat for you you will need to wait for the next bus ... not good if you need to get back to the ship and there is a queue.  Also most riders are locals.  You will not have much luck getting help where to stop on a regular GMB route.  The good thing is this is a simple almost no stop route - just get off at the end of the route at Telford Plaza.

 

BUT... there's another option to consider come Feb 14th!!!  The New Kai Tak MTR Station will be opened. See next post.

 

[ebslcc]

The GOOD NEWS: Kai Tak MTR Station will be opened on Feb 14th: https://www.hongkongfp.com/2020/01/17/hong-kong-open-three-new-mtr-stations-connecting-tai-wai-kai-tak-february-14/  https://hongkongbuzz.hk/2020/01/love-from-mtr-phase-one-of-tuen-ma-link-opens-on-valentines-day

As noted in my earlier post for cruise passengers going to places of interest you will need to transfer at least once starting at the Diamond Hill MTR station after taking just one stop from Kai Tak MTR.

 

THE BAD NEWS: The Kai Tak MTR Station is NOT a comfortable walking distance from the cruise terminal.  It is actually located in the middle of the Kai Tak re-development area about 1.2 miles from the cruise terminal.  

 

THE BETTER NEWS: There will be a circular route bus service by CityBus 22M that will run between Kai Tak MTR and Kai Tak Cruise Terminal.  It is not known yet how frequent the bus will be.  Also it looks like multiple bus routes will be directed to stop at the new Kai Tak MTR Station.  So you want a much longer scenic ride to the Star Ferry can take the 22M bus to Kai Tak MTR and transfer to a bus that takes you to the Star Ferry vs. doing your trip on the MTR.  If you don't have an Octopus Card you still need to get one from the MTR Station. Hopefully the KTCT will sell the Octopus Card there instead of just at the MTR Station. 

 

BTW, the number 22 Citybus already stops at Kai Tak Cruise Terminal.  It runs every 30 minutes. Hopefully with the combination of 22 and 22M you will be able to get to the MTR with a much shorter headroom (15 minutes vs. 30 minutes???).

 

Here's the official announcement: https://www.mtr.com.hk/archive/corporate/en/press_release/PR-20-003-E.pdf 

re: 22, 22M bus - similar to getting the GMB, if you don't have an Octopus Card yet just stuff the fare box with $ over the regular price if you don't have the correct change.

 

At KTCT, here's where you can pick up Bus 22 (likely 22M also will be at the same spot).  The bus stop is not far from the taxi stand.

 

Here's where the Kai Tak MTR Station is looking at Google Earth (BTW, it's very fun to fly around your destinations with Google Earth ). Note Google Earth is only supported if you are using Chrome browser! 

https://earth.google.com/web/@22.33510645,114.20216911,5.85707866a,818.2120896d,35y,-105.0717999h,39.08094302t,0r/data=ClMaURJLCiUweDM0MDQwNmQxZTZiZjkzZWQ6MHg5NTc0NjhjMmZjMWUyMGQxGXU1HhH4VDZAIcM6n0sCjVxAKhBLYWkgQ2hpbmcgRXN0YXRlGAEgAQ

 

 

If you are on a cruise pass Feb 14th and try out the new Kai Tak MTR please post your experience.

 

Laurence

[Level six]

Wow, you all are awesome!  Thanks for all the info, unfortunately we board on Feb 1st!  We will miss the new subway stop.  

 

Thanks again for all the detailed and very helpful information!  

[ebslcc]

FYI... I had email exchange with Kai Tak Cruise Terminal operation team regarding shuttle and transportation suggestions at Kai Tak.  I also asked about mall about mall safety since there were shopping interruptions during the Christmas period by protesters.  I have a group of friends coming to Hong Kong this weekend. Chinese New Year is on the 25th. In Hong Kong the celebration is 7 days where people take time to visit friends and family.  The Diamond Princess is at Kai Tak on 25th from 7 AM to midnight. The Celebrity Millennium arrives on the 26th 10 AM on a 1 1/2 days stop leaving on 27th at 4 PM. 

 

For your Kai Tak stop planning basically the free mall shuttle ends 2 hours before sailing time.  I will get clarification if the last shuttle from the mall is the same time as the last shuttle to the mall.

 

Date: Wed, Jan 22, 2020 at 5:52 AM
Subject: Re: Email response from the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal
To: Justin Tung <jtung@worldwidecruiseterminals.com.hk>

 

Hi Justin,

Thank you for your timely response.  Knowing when the shuttles run this coming weekend is the most important information my friend needs coming to Kai Tak this weekend.  Regarding the mall shuttles I assume that the return shuttle interval will also be every 1/2 hour?  Is the last shuttle back to Kai Tak the same as the last shuttle to the mall?  For example for 27^th January 2020 is the last shuttle from the malls 1400 hours? 

 

On 27^th January 2020, mall shuttle bus service time to and from APM will begin at approximately 0700 (leaving at KTCT) and run until 1400 hours (leaving at KTCT), the frequency will run at an approximate 30-minute interval.

On 27^th January 2020, mall shuttle bus service time to and from Plaza Hollywood will begin at approximately 0700 (leaving at KTCT) and run until 1400 hours (leaving at KTCT), the frequency will run at an approximate 30-minute interval.

I will send you additional follow up later.  Please let me know when you have additional information that I can pass on to cruise passengers via the online forums.

 

Thanks again.

 

On Wed, Jan 22, 2020 at 2:21 AM Justin Tung <jtung@worldwidecruiseterminals.com.hk> wrote:

Hope all is well.

My name is Justin Tung, and I am the Marketing Manager of Worldwide Cruise Terminals (WCT).  We are the operator and manager of the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal (KTCT).

I am following-up on your email reply to Mr. Toby Lam (dated 21 Jan 2020) from our Terminal Operations Team.

First of all, I would like to thank you for taking the time to write to us.  We sincerely appreciate your feedback and comments.  Your insights will certainly help guide us to further improvements. 

Please excuse my brevity as you have covered a lot in your email, but I’ll try to answer some of your main questions in point form as below.

1.Kindly note that the shuttle bus services to shopping malls will be running over the Chinese New Year period.  More specifically, they will be running on the 25^th, 26^th and 27^th of January 2020.

On 25^th January 2020, mall shuttle bus service time to and from APM will begin at approximately 0700 (leaving at KTCT) and run until 2200 hours (leaving at KTCT), the frequency will run at an approximate 30-minute interval.

On 25^th January 2020, mall shuttle bus service time to and from Plaza Hollywood will begin at approximately 0700 (leaving at KTCT) and run until 1730 hours (leaving at KTCT), the frequency will run at an approximate 30-minute interval.

On 26^th January 2020, mall shuttle bus service time to and from APM will begin at approximately 0830 (leaving at KTCT) and run until 2200 hours (leaving at KTCT), the frequency will run at an approximate 30-minute interval.

On 26^th January 2020, mall shuttle bus service time to and from Plaza Hollywood will begin at approximately 0830 (leaving at KTCT) and run until 1730 hours (leaving at KTCT), the frequency will run at an approximate 30-minute interval.

On 27^th January 2020, mall shuttle bus service time to and from APM will begin at approximately 0700 (leaving at KTCT) and run until 1400 hours (leaving at KTCT), the frequency will run at an approximate 30-minute interval.

On 27^th January 2020, mall shuttle bus service time to and from Plaza Hollywood will begin at approximately 0700 (leaving at KTCT) and run until 1400 hours (leaving at KTCT), the frequency will run at an approximate 30-minute interval.

 

2.As terminal operator, we always keep the safety of cruise ship passengers in mind; however, different shopping malls have different measures in caring for the well-being of their shoppers, and unfortunately, we cannot comment on behalf of the shopping malls.

 

3.Please understand that we are in constant conversation with the government and all relevant parties on making the journey to and from the cruise terminal as enjoyable as possible for all visitors and passengers.  All finalized information on new transportation routes and methods will be posted on our website as soon as they become available.

https://www.kaitakcruiseterminal.com.hk/about-us/getting-here

 

Again, I am thankful for your many good comments and would be happy to listen to further suggestions from you.  Please drop me an email anytime so we can further exchange ideas, or if you prefer, you can also leave me with your number so we can talk further (understand that you currently reside in SF).

 

Sincerely,

Justin Tung

Marketing Manager

Worldwide Cruise Terminals

Direct: +852 3465-6887

Fax: +852 3465-6880

 

 

[mking8288]

FYI - (news alert) closure alerts for visitors to/in Hong Kong now or coming days ...

 

Effective without advance notice as of 26 Jan. 2020 - Ocean Park, Disneyland HK and NingPing 360 (a/k/a Giant or Big Budda) on Lantau are closed to the public due to the ongoing concerns for the coronavirus outbreak (I will not get into a discussion about this here)   All facilities related, including their gift shops & concession stands at Ningping and Tung Chung are closed, in the interest over the well-beings of visitors and employees alike.  Those with confirmed admissions/eTickets, etc. should hold on to them for credits/refunds, etc. - TBA

Source - Singtao News Daily, HK: https://std.stheadline.com/daily/article/detail/2138724/日報-港聞-海洋公園及迪士尼-封園-防疫 

 

As always, please kindly reconfirm & check ahead with the respective site's official websites (bookmark it) for the latest guidance & info.  

NP360's notice - 

https://www.np360.com.hk/en/landing

HKDiseyland notice -

https://www.hongkongdisneyland.com/?located=true&CMP=OKC-HKDL_gmap_hkdlpark

Edited January 27, 2020 by mking8288

[mocrimlaw]

I emailed our private guide as we are set to be in Hong Kong after our March 1 cruise from Singapore.  He said the Big Buddha is most definitely NOT closed and sent me a picture of it where he said he is right now!

[mikecran]

Thanks for the updates on this forum, we are scheduled to fly to Hong Kong on the 11th Feb for a cruise commencing the 15th and are following this with great interest and some trepidation ! 

[mking8288]

I stand corrected, The Big Budda as a monastary and place for religious worship for the faithful is probably and likely to remain open & welcoming to all.  However, the most popular and common means of transportation for visitors - via NP360 cable cars going uphill & coming back down is CLOSED until further notice, most likely not until "management" for NP360 and public health authorities & government administration determined it is ready to reopen. 

 

Hiking up is really not an option as it is a very, very long trails for seasoner hikers only.  The practical option is to ride the scheduled local bus route out of Tung Chung's transportation hub, take a taxi, van-pool in an Uber, or by privately-chartered mini-bus or motorcoach services.  It is doable, of course, for a seasoned local tour guide to pre-arrange alternative or backup options for escorting her/his group to see the religious facilties, ahead of time.  

 

Anything is possible between now and mid February and/or March 1st. with the unfolding, sad, near-pandemic health crisis/emergency ... panic, fear, anxiety and uncertainity, while dealing with the surge for suspected infections, pending confirmation results. 

 

Mainland China authorities has taken unprecedented steps and measures; and, Hong Kong authorities as its own SAR (Special Administrative Region) are dealing with this with their own steps & measures as they dealt with SARS back in 2003 ... I am going to leave further discussions, comments & analysis into some of the other threads elsewhere.  

 

As a suggestion, been to both the Budda & this - the Wong Tai Sin Temple, easily accessible and across the street from the MTR station nearby and a short distance (quick & direct taxi ride away, easy DIY) from the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal - this Temple is what locals & the truly faithful Buddists go visit and pray ... just be mindful of large crowds, smoke from the incense burning and whether this is consistent with your sightseeing goals as visitors.  

Edited January 27, 2020 by mking8288

[mocrimlaw]

Thank you!  I do have Wong Tai Sin Temple on my list as we will be there for 5 days.  I am bummed about the cable car, although our guide was planning to take us by car, but I did want to go one way on the cable car.  I am worried more things we want to see may be closed, but we are not cancelling the cruise unless things get much much worse.  There are cases in the US too so you could get it anywhere.