Former airport becomes luxury cruise terminal

Royal Caribbean's 311 meter-long "Mariner of the Seas" was the first mega luxury cruise liner to dock the new cruise terminal at the site of its former airport.

Hong Kong opened a $US1.1 billion ($A1.15 billion) cruise terminal at the site of its former airport last week.

The new terminal, built on the runway of the old Kai Tak airport, will be able to accommodate the largest cruise ships in the world.

The former Kai Tak International Airport was considered one of the most challenging places to land an aircraft due to its central location in the city and tall mountains surrounding it.

The airport closed in 1998 after being in service for over 70 years and was replaced by the current Chek Lap Kok International Airport.

The cruise terminal will open to the public in the third quarter of the year with its second berth opening in 2014.
Source: AFP