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 ROUTES

Ferry services operate to;

MACAU MARITIME FERRY TERMINAL, MACAU from;

HONG KONG ISLAND (Hong Kong Macau Ferry Terminal, Sheung Wan), operated by TurboJET

KOWLOON (China Ferry Terminal, Tsim Sha Tsui), operated by First Ferry Macau and CotaiJet

HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT SKYPIER (for air/sea transit passengers), operated by TurboJET and CotaiJet

and to;

PAC ON TEMPORARY FERRY TERMINAL, TAIPA, MACAU (for The Cotai Strip and Venetian Resort) from:

HONG KONG ISLAND (Hong Kong Macau Ferry Terminal, Sheung Wan), operated by CotaiJet and Macao Dragon

KOWLOON (China Ferry Terminal, Tsim Sha Tsui), operated by First Ferry (Macau) and CotaiJet

HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT SKYPIER (for air/sea transit passengers), operated by TurboJET and CotaiJet

Future route expected 2011 - Tuen Mun Ferry Terminal to Macau - In July 2010 the Hong Kong SAR Government invited tenders for operating ferry services between Tuen Mun Ferry Terminal, Tuen Mun, New Territories and Macau subject to a minimum of 14 round trips per week. It is expected that the successful tenderer will be able to commence operating services in early 2011.

FERRY OPERATORS AND SERVICES;

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 (07-00 to 17-35) or night (17-40 to 6-30) 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

HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT SKYPIER TO MACAU MARITIME FERRY TERMINAL, MACAU

TurboJET also 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.

Timetable and fares can be found on the TurboJETwebsite;

http://www.turbojetseaexpress.com/eng/schedule/airport.html

More information on ferry services from Hong Kong International Airport Skypier procedures can be found here;

http://www.hongkongairport.com/eng/transport/transport-connection-with-mainland-china/ferry-transfer/service-at-a-glance.html

TurboJET Jetfoilxx

TurboJET Catamaran

TurboJET Jetfoil interior upper deck Economy Class

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FIRST FERRY (MACAU) 

CHINA FERRY TERMINAL, TSIM SHA TSUI, KOWLOON TO MACAU MARITIME FERRY TERMINAL, MACAU

First Ferry (Macau) 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.

Since1st January 2009 a standard daily schedule has operated 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

Service has been gradually increased in frequency since operations commenced and there are now sailings every 30 minutes from Hong Kong from 7am until midnight and then at 1am. There is a similar pattern of sailings from Macau until 11-59pm followed by sailings at 1am, 3am and 5am. Journey time is approximately one hour with a free 5 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;

http://cotaijet.com.mo/en/destinations/index.aspx