Departure port · Kai Tak Cruise Terminal · China
Cruises from Hong Kong
Cruises from Hong Kong sail mainly from the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal, built on the runway of the city’s old airport in Kowloon, with some smaller ships using Ocean Terminal in Tsim Sha Tsui. The best season is October to April, when ships head for Vietnam, Japan, Taiwan, the Philippines and Singapore. The airport is about 40 to 50 minutes from Kai Tak, and the skyline sail-away across Victoria Harbour is one of the great cruise departures.
- Southeast & East Asia
- Japan
- World
Photo: Mustang Joe, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Cruise port
- Kai Tak Cruise Terminal
- Location
- Hong Kong, China
- Main destinations
- Southeast & East Asia, Japan, World
- Cruise lines
- 10 lines sail from here
Sailing from Hong Kong
Hong Kong is a natural start for an Asia cruise: a dazzling harbor city with excellent air connections and a long seafaring history. Typical voyages run 7 to 14 nights, south to Vietnam’s Ha Long Bay, Chan May for Hue and Hoi An, Nha Trang and Phu My for Ho Chi Minh City, then on to Thailand or Singapore; or northeast via Keelung for Taipei and Okinawa to Japan. Shorter round trips visit the Philippines, Taiwan or southern China, and some world cruises begin or end here.
For North Americans, Hong Kong is one of the easiest Asian cities to start in. Cathay Pacific and United fly nonstop from several US and Canadian cities, English is widely used on signs and in transport, and the subway (MTR) is fast, clean and inexpensive. It’s also a superb food city, from dim sum teahouses to humble noodle shops with Michelin recognition.
The main drawbacks are summer heat, humidity and typhoons from roughly May to November, and the cruise terminal’s location, which is spectacular for views but awkward for public transport. Check the U.S. State Department travel advisory for Hong Kong before you book.
Where cruises from Hong Kong go
Cruise lines sailing from Hong Kong
Kai Tak Cruise Terminal cruise terminals
Kai Tak Cruise Terminal stands at the tip of the former Kai Tak airport runway, jutting into Victoria Harbour in Kowloon East, and it’s built to handle the largest ships. Inside, it works like an airport, with check-in counters, baggage drop and immigration on separate levels, and the rooftop garden offers great harbor views. It isn’t on the MTR, so most passengers arrive by taxi; buses and minibuses link it with Kowloon Bay station. Smaller ships sometimes use Ocean Terminal, part of the Harbour City mall in Tsim Sha Tsui, which is in the heart of Kowloon and walkable from many hotels. Your documents will specify which terminal.
Getting to the port
Flying in
Hong Kong International Airport (HKG), at Chek Lap Kok on Lantau Island, is about 25 miles (40 km) from Kai Tak, roughly 40 to 50 minutes by taxi in normal traffic. The Airport Express train reaches Kowloon and Hong Kong stations in about 20 to 25 minutes, and you can take a short taxi ride from there. Cathay Pacific flies nonstop from several North American cities, including New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Vancouver and Toronto, and United flies from San Francisco. Flight times are about 13 to 16 hours.
Driving
Visitors rarely drive in Hong Kong; taxis are plentiful and reasonably priced by international standards. From the airport, the route crosses the Tsing Ma Bridge and follows expressways through Kowloon to Kai Tak. Tunnels and some roads are tolled, and the driver will add those charges to the fare.
Parking
Kai Tak has a car park for local cruisers, but international visitors have no reason to bring a car. Use taxis, the Airport Express or a prebooked transfer.
Where to stay before a cruise from Hong Kong
Tsim Sha Tsui (TST), at the tip of the Kowloon peninsula, is the classic choice, with harbor-view hotels, the waterfront promenade and the Star Ferry, and it’s about 20 minutes by taxi from Kai Tak. On Hong Kong Island, Central and Admiralty are polished and convenient for the Peak, while Wan Chai and Causeway Bay are livelier and often better value. Kowloon East has newer business hotels closest to the terminal.
Things to do in Hong Kong before or after your cruise
- 1
Victoria Peak
scenery
The Peak Tram climbs steeply from Central to the summit area for the classic view over skyscrapers, the harbor and Kowloon. Go early to beat the lines, or in the evening for city lights, and walk the shaded Lugard Road circuit for the best panoramas with fewer people. Skip it on hazy or low-cloud days.
- 2
Star Ferry and the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront
scenery
The green-and-white Star Ferry has crossed Victoria Harbour between Tsim Sha Tsui and Central since the late 1800s, and the short ride costs very little. Back on the Kowloon side, the waterfront promenade and Avenue of Stars face the island skyline, which glows with the nightly Symphony of Lights.
- 3
Dim sum and Temple Street Night Market
food
Start with a dim sum lunch: har gow (shrimp dumplings), siu mai, char siu bao (barbecue pork buns) and egg tarts, ideally at a busy traditional teahouse. In the evening, head to Temple Street in Yau Ma Tei for stalls of gadgets and souvenirs, fortune tellers and open-air seafood and claypot rice restaurants.
- 4
Tian Tan Buddha and Ngong Ping
culture
On Lantau Island, close to the airport, a giant bronze seated Buddha looks over green mountains next to the Po Lin Monastery. The Ngong Ping 360 cable car provides a dramatic ride up, with glass-floored cabins available. It’s ideal on your arrival or departure day, but check that the cable car is running and leave plenty of time.
- 5
Man Mo Temple and Sheung Wan
history
Incense coils hang from the ceiling of this 19th-century temple on Hollywood Road, dedicated to the gods of literature and war. The surrounding streets of Sheung Wan mix antique shops, dried-seafood stores and galleries, and the nearby PMQ creative hub houses local design shops.
- 6
M+ museum
culture
In the West Kowloon Cultural District on the harborfront, M+ is a major museum of contemporary visual culture, with art, design and architecture from Hong Kong, China and across Asia. The building’s terraces and the surrounding Art Park offer excellent skyline views, and the Hong Kong Palace Museum is next door.
When cruises sail from Hong Kong
October to April is the main season. October to December is ideal, with sunny, dry weather and comfortable temperatures. January and February are cool and can be gray, and spring brings humidity and fog. From May to September, it’s hot, humid and rainy, and typhoons can force itinerary changes, especially from July to September, so fewer international ships are based here. Lunar New Year, usually in late January or February, is festive but crowded.
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F (°C) | 6921 | 7122 | 7624 | 8027 | 8529 | 8730 | 8831 | 8731 | 8731 | 8329 | 7826 | 7122 |
| Low °F (°C) | 5714 | 5915 | 6518 | 7122 | 7725 | 8127 | 8228 | 8127 | 8027 | 7423 | 6720 | 5814 |
| Rain in (mm) | 2.052 | 2.153 | 4.2107 | 5.2131 | 10.9276 | 11.6294 | 8.0203 | 11.8300 | 8.0203 | 3.793 | 2.359 | 1.026 |
| Daylight (hrs) | 11 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 11 |
Embarkation day tips
- Give yourself two nights in Hong Kong before boarding. The time difference from North America is around 12 to 16 hours, and you’ll want a full day for the Peak, the Star Ferry and a dim sum feast.
- Get an Octopus card for the MTR, buses, ferries and many shops, or tap a contactless credit card at MTR gates. Some taxis still prefer cash, so carry Hong Kong dollars.
- Allow extra time to get to and from Kai Tak; it’s not on a direct MTR line, and taxi lines can be long when a big ship disembarks.
- Hong Kong taxis are color-coded: red for most of the city, green for the New Territories and blue for Lantau. Show your destination written in Chinese if possible.
- Bring a light layer even in summer. Shopping malls, restaurants and the MTR are strongly air-conditioned.
Cruises from Hong Kong: FAQs
Where do cruise ships dock in Hong Kong?
Mostly at Kai Tak Cruise Terminal, on the former airport runway in Kowloon East. Smaller ships sometimes dock at Ocean Terminal in Tsim Sha Tsui, which is right in the center of Kowloon.
How far is Hong Kong airport from Kai Tak Cruise Terminal?
About 40 to 50 minutes by taxi, covering roughly 25 miles (40 km). Alternatively, take the Airport Express to Kowloon station, then a taxi for the final stretch.
Can you take the MTR to Kai Tak Cruise Terminal?
Not directly. The nearest practical connection is Kowloon Bay station, where buses and green minibuses run to the terminal. With luggage, a taxi is much easier.
Do Americans need a visa for Hong Kong?
No, not for a short tourist visit. Hong Kong admits US and Canadian visitors visa-free for up to 90 days. Make sure your passport has comfortable validity remaining, and check current entry rules before travel.
What is the best time for a cruise from Hong Kong?
October to December. The weather is dry, sunny and pleasant, and the typhoon season has largely passed. January to April is also good, though cooler and sometimes hazy.
Updated November 2026 by the BookMyDreamCruise editorial team. How we research and fact-check.
Sources: Wikipedia, Wikidata, NASA POWER climate data.