TO MACAU
The Special Administrative Region (SAR) of China and former Portugese colony of Macau is a popular excursion destination for visitors to Hong Kong. Macau is quickly and easily reached from Hong Kong by frequent fast ferry services and, for the more time conscious and affluent, by helicopter. There are also plans to revive a scheduled seaplane service last seen during the 1950's.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
Visitors of nearly all nationalities can enjoy a visa free stay of between 30 and 90 days. Full details of visa requirements can be found on the Macau Government website;
http://www.gov.mo/egi/Portal/rkw/public/view/showcomp.jsp?id=InfoShowTemp&docid=c373e909dd97940b8f7ad00d226ced8b
Passports are required and must have a validity of at least 30 days from date of entry into Macau.
Visitors from Hong Kong to Macau pass through immigration and customs formalities on leaving Hong Kong, entering Macau and vice-versa and arrival and departure cards (handed out on the ferries) need to be completed.
With effect from December 10th 2009, under reciprocal arrangements between the respective governments, residents of Hong Kong and Macau are able to register to use an automated clearance system allowing them to use "e-channels" and avoid the need to complete arrival and departure cards when travelling between the two cities.
FERRY SERVICES
Ferry services operate to Macau Maritime Ferry Terminal on the Macau Peninsula from;
Hong Kong Island (Hong Kong Macau Ferry Terminal at Sheung Wan)
Kowloon (China Ferry Terminal, Tsim Sha Tsui)
Hong Kong International Airport (for transit passengers)
and to Pac On Temporary Ferry Terminal, Taipa, Macau (for The Cotai Strip and Venetian Resort) from Hong Kong Island (from Hong Kong Macau Ferry Terminal)
TURBOJET - HONG KONG MACAU FERRY TERMINAL, SHEUNG WAN, HK ISLAND TO MACAU MARITIME FERRY TERMINAL, MACAU
Turbojet operate a fleet of jetfoils and catamarans from Hong Kong Macau Ferry Terminal at Shun Tak Centre at Sheung Wan on Hong Kong Island. The terminal lies a short distance west of Central Ferry Piers and is served by Sheung Wan MTR Station.
This is the busiest and most popular route with departures every 15 minutes from 07-00 to midnight increasing to every 5 minutes at peak times. Between midnight and 07-00 services operate at between 30 and 90 minute intervals. The journey takes approx one hour. Travellers can arrive at the HK Macau Ferry Terminal, buy tickets and usually be able to travel on one of the next one to three sailings. However at certain times, particularly weekends, public holidays or during special events such as the Macau Grand Prix services do become very busy and it may be preferable to make an advance reservation. Seat allocation is made in the Departure Hall about ten minutes prior to departure. For every departure there is a standby queue and it is often possible to obtain an earlier departure by joining the standby queue which is close to the seat allocation desk by the departure gate.
Fare structure is based on time of sailing, day (06-45 to 17-35) or night (after 17-35) and weekends or holidays. Weekday economy fares HK-Macau are HK$134 day, HK$146 weekends and public holidays and HK$168 night. Macau-HK fares are HK$8 higher owing to Macau departure tax. Economy class is very comfortable and will suit most passengers requirements. Snacks and drinks can be purchased on board.
The full timetable and fares can be viewed on the Turbojet website;
http://www.turbojet.com.hk/eng/schedule/prd.html
TurboJet Jetfoil
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TurboJet Catamaran
Turbojet Jetfoil interior upper deck Economy Class
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FIRST FERRY – CHINA FERRY TERMINAL, TSIM SHA TSUI, KOWLOON TO MACAU MARITIME FERRY TERMINAL, MACAU
First Ferry operate a fleet of catamarans from China Ferry Terminal at Tsim Sha Tsui in Kowloon. The terminal is located at China HK City, Canton Road, just north of Harbour City Shopping Mall. The nearest MTR Station is Tsim Sha Tsui (exit A1) about 10 minutes walk or the terminal can be reached by buses 3C, 14 and 238X.
From 1st January 2009 a standard daily schedule operates all year round. Services from Tsim Sha Tsui operate at 30 minute intervals from 7am to 10-30pm daily and from Macau at 30 minute intervals from 7am to 10-30pm daily. Journey time is between 60 and 75 minutes.
The fare structure is similar to Turbojet with sailings being classified into day and night sailings. Economy fares on weekdays from HK-Macau are HK$133(day), HK$168 (night) and from Macau-HK HK$140(day) and HK$175(night). Fares increase at weekends and public holidays and there are some concessionary fares on some sailings.
Full timetable and fare information can be found on the First Ferry website;
http://www.nwff.com.hk/eng/fare_table/local-macau/?section=Macau
First Ferry Catamaran
TURBOJET SEAEXPRESS – HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT SKYPIER TO MACAU MARITIME FERRY TERMINAL, MACAU*
Turbojet Sea Express operate a catamaran service from Skypier at Hong Kong International Airport to Macau Maritime Ferry Terminal. This service enables passengers arriving at HKIA to transit to Macau without passing through Hong Kong Immigration, Customs or Baggage Reclaim and similarly allows passengers from Macau to check in at Macau Ferry Terminal to avoid HK Immigration and Customs when transiting via HKIA. Journey time is approximately 45 minutes.
Tickets can be obtained from the Ferry Transfer Desk at the airport or online and transfer from the airport to Skypier is by bonded bus, a seven minute journey.
Economy fares are HK$215 HK-Macau and HK$235 Macau-HK.
* There is one daily sailing each way between HKIA and Taipa Temporary Ferry Terminal, Macau
Timetable and fares can be found on the TurboJet Sea Express website;
http://www.turbojetseaexpress.com/eng/schedule/airport.html
More information on ferry services from Hong Kong International Airport and Skypier procedures can be found here;
http://www.hongkongairport.com/eng/transport/transport-connection-with-mainland-china/ferry-transfer/service-at-a-glance.html
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COTAIJET – HONG KONG MACAU FERRY TERMINAL, SHEUNG WAN, HK ISLAND TO PAC ON (TAIPA) TEMPORARY FERRY TERMINAL, MACAU
This new service was introduced on 1 December 2007 following the opening of the Venetian Resort on the The Cotai Strip in Macau. The service is operated by CKS (Chu Kong Passenger Transport) for Cotai Water Jets Macao, a firm controlled by Las Vegas Sands Corp and Macau company Giant Dragon, and operates from Hong Kong Macau Ferry Terminal on HK Island, which is the same location as the TurboJet service operates from.
The service was suspended from 11 December 2007 after only ten days of operation following court intervention after objections to the tendering process. However on 18th January 2008 the Macau Intermediate Court lifted the interim injunction and the service resumed on Sunday 20th January 2008. However on 19th February 2009 Macau's Court of Second Instance ruled the service illegal for the Macau Government to have granted the service to CotaiJet without public tender. Las Vegas Sands appealed against the decision on 26th February and to date the appeal, which will be judged by Macau's Court of Final Appeal, has not been heard. The court ruling results from a lawsuit by North West Express who were refused permission to operate a ferry service between Tuen Mun and Macau in 2006.
From mid-June 2008 the service frequency was substantially increased and there are now sailings every 30 minutes from Hong Kong from 7am to 7pm then hourly sailings until 1am. There is a similar pattern of half-hourly/hourly sailings from Macau until 11-30pm followed by sailings at 1am, 3am and 5am. Cotaijet are planning to operate a 15 minute frequency 24 hours a day at some future date and are also planning to operate services from Hong Kong International Airport. Journey time is approximately one hour with a free 7 minute coach connection to The Venetian from the temporary pier.
Economy single fares from Hong Kong are HK$134 on weekdays , HK$146 on weekends and public holidays and HK$168 for night sailings (from 6pm). Fares from Macau to Hong Kong are slightly higher (about HK$8) owing to Macau departure tax,
Timetable and full range of fares can be viewed on the CotaiJet website;
http://cotaijet.com.mo/en/destinations/index.aspx
Cotaijet Catamaran
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MACAO DRAGON - HONG KONG MACAU FERRY TERMINAL, SHEUNG WAN, HK ISLAND TO PAC ON TEMPORARY FERRY TERMINAL, TAIPA, MACAU
This service operated by Macao Dragon, a subsidiary of Giant Dragon Sea Transportation Company was expected to commence operations during October 2008 but as at March 2010 the service had not started and there was no indication of commencement date. The ferry seen in the picture below is currently berthed in the Rambler Channel off Tsing Yi. The service will utilise 1200 seat fast catamaran ferries and operate the same route as the CotaiJet service from HK Macau Ferry Terminal on Hong Kong Island to Pac On Temporary Pier on the Cotai Strip in Macau. Macao Dragon website;
1200 seat Macao Dragon fast catamaran at Hong Kong Macau Ferry Terminal. However, at early 2010 this service had still not commenced operating
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SKY SHUTTLE HELICOPTER SERVICE
Sky Shuttle Helicopters Ltd operate a helicopter shuttle service between Shun Tak Centre at Sheung Wan on Hong Kong Island (Hong Kong Macau Ferry Pier) and the Macau Ferry Terminal using a fleet of six Agusta Westland (AW) 139 helicopters. The company installed a second helipad at Hong Kong Macau Ferry Terminal during 2009. Flights operate at 30 minute intervals from 09-30 to 22-59 (22-30 from Macau) and the journey takes 16 minutes.
Fares are HK$2300 each way plus a peak day surcharge of HK$200 on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays.
Full details can be found on the Sky Shuttle website;
Sky Shuttle lift-off from helipad at HK Macau Ferry Terminal, Sheung Wan
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TRANSPORTATION TO/FROM MACAU FERRY TERMINAL
Macau Maritime Ferry Terminal is served by Macau Bus Routes 10a, 12 and 28 and taxis are inexpensive and in plentiful supply. Details of bus services and routes in Macau can be found here;
http://www.gov.mo/egi/Portal/rkw/public/view/area.jsp?id=22
Most casinos including The Venetian, Sands and MGM Grand operate free shuttle bus services to and from the ferry terminal.
SEAPLANE SERVICES
Canadian firm WaterfrontAir is awaiting approval to commence a scheduled seaplane service from a new Kai Tak Waterfront Aerodrome to Pak On Ferry Terminal near the Cotai Strip in Macau. The service would use a fleet of leased 18-seater DHC-Twin Otter floatplanes to operate 20 flights daily for the 20 minute flight. The company intends to charge a one-way fare of about HK$1500. The plan is supported by the Tourism Commission and appears to rest on satisfactory resolution of a wide range of technical issues. At January 2010 an environmental impact assessment was still awaited and in the meantime WaterfrontAir has announced it will commence seaplane services from Shenzhen to Macau and Guangzhou in the fourth quarter of 2010. The company intends to start services between Hong Kong, Macau and Guangzhou during 2011 provided all approvals have been granted. Scheduled seaplane services have previously operated between Hong Kong and Macau between the 1930's and 1950's