CRUISE NEWS

  The Marina Bay Cruise Centre in Singapore welcomed its first ship, Royal Caribbean’s Voyager of the Seas, May 26, signaling an upswing in cruise visitors. A downward trend, caused by casino resort popularity appears to be easing and Singapore’s cruise industry is preparing for increased demand, adding new check-in and immigration counters to accommodate close to 7000 passengers. (TravelMole.com, May 24)

Vietnam expects to host a record number of cruise passengers this year, welcoming about 30 percent more visitors over last year. More cruise lines are planning stops in Vietnam as tourists’ taste for exotic itineraries fuels demand. (Eturbonews.com, May 29)