Jupiter cruise liner to launch service to Vietnam

Singapore's V.Ships (Asia Pacific) Pte Ltd has announced the first Viet Nam port call by the Jupiter cruise ship next week, around seven months behind schedule.

The company earlier said it had taken more time than expected to refurnish the ship and complete paper work for it to enter Vietnamese territorial waters.

The forthcoming V.Ships service will offer travellers a new transportation option for exploring attractions in Viet Nam and neighbouring countries by sea.

Speaking to the Daily, Chui Mun Yew Daniel, managing director of V.Ships, said the company was pining high hopes on business development in Viet Nam because the country had more potential to be positioned as a cruise hub.

It is located between the north and south of Asia, and has a 3,000km-plus coastline, and many tourism resources for cruise ship passengers, he said.

He said his company expected to attract local passengers who would make up nearly 40% of the total.

From the maiden port call at HCM City, he said, Jupiter will cruise through destinations in Viet Nam such as Vung Tau, Con Dao, Phu Quoc, Da Nang, Hai Phong and other destinations in the Asian region such as Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand, and Cambodia.

The ship will anchor around six hours in each destination for passengers visit.

The Panama-flagged Jupiter is 178 metres long and 22 metres wide and has around 400 cabins and other facilities such as restaurants, a health spa, a show lounge, and entertainment area. The ship is capable of carrying 800 passengers and 400 crew members.

The company has announced rates for six kinds of rooms onboard. It costs from US$70 per night for inside Stateroom to US$700 per night for executive suite. (SGT)