It’s been a while since I used a travel agent to plan a trip. But a major travel agent in Belgium posted a deal one can’t refuse in a newsletter in June 2023. Flights from Amsterdam Airport Schiphol to Hong Kong with Cathay Pacific and three nights at the four-star Park Hotel Hong Kong in the Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon area. So I messaged Oriol in ‘panic’ and pressured him to decide quickly (as the deal was popular and the the offer limited in time and availability) to come along to this Special Administrative Region (SAR) of the People’s Republic of China. Being four days in Hong Kong, we used one of these days to Macau (also often spelled Macao) the other SAR. We were there in November 2023.

How to get from Hong Kong to Macau? You can take a bus, as there is bridge-tunnel combination between the two regions. But the practical option is the ferry. And that is the TurboJet. 

TurboJet is a brand of the  Shun Tak-China Travel Ship Management Limited. It is the first to provide round-the-clock jetfoil service and has over 50 years of shipping experience.

“TurboJet has successfully maintained leadership position in the Hong Kong-Macau route for over 5 decades, with a network covering major cities across the Pearl River Delta and handling an annual passenger volume of over 15 million. With its acquisition of First Ferry (Macau) in 2011, TurboJet effectively consolidated and better deployed resources, further enhancing the overall connectivity within the PRD Region”, the company says on its website. 

Services

TurboJet offers four classes of travel. “Economy, Super Class, Premier Grand Class and Premier VIP Cabin are designed to cater for different needs of the passengers.”

“Free WiFi is available onboard and the cabins are also well-equipped with audio and visual systems, bringing a wide range of round-the-clock onboard programs and the hippest trends in town to passengers. At the same time, a selection of food, beverage and duty-free goods are also available for passengers to choose from.”

Super Class is designed with flexible adjustable contoured-seats (depends on vessels types) and provides passengers with a series of value-added services such as complimentary meal and newspapers, priority disembarkation and the exclusive use of waiting lounge.  

Premier Grand Class passengers can also enjoy an array of palatable delights such as hot meals, red and white wine and a variety of beverage throughout the journey in the finest environment available. VIP cabin passengers exclusively enjoy welcome champagnes and more personal space than ever.

Since 2015, TurboJet has rolled out Premier Plus service to Premier Grand Class passengers with complimentary land transfer between Hong Kong – Macau Ferry Terminal and Hong Kong International Airport; and between Macau Outer Harbour Ferry Terminal and any destination in Macau.

Hong Kong – Macau Ferry Terminal 

The Hong Kong – Macau Ferry Terminal is one of the several in Hong Kong that provide ferry services to Macau and cities in southern China. Scheduled helicopter service is provided to Macau, with charter services to other regional destinations.

The terminal is located in Sheung Wan, immediately to the west of Hong Kong’s main business district, on the north shore of Hong Kong Island. It is connected to the Mass Transit Railway or MTR, and well served by other forms of public transport. The terminal forms part of the Shun Tak Centre, a commercial and transport complex. 

So, coming from the Sheung Wan Station, follow the signs into the mall and to the ticket office. 

The process

After buying your ticket, at which point you haven’t received a seating yet, you go to the terminal itself. Don’t forget you’ll have to cross the border so come on time. 

There is no airport-style security check for yourself or your belongings.

At the gate, present yourself to the attendant, who will put a sticker on your ticket with a seat number.

And then you just wait to board. 

The journey

The journey is one hour. TurboJet has several types of ships. We had a Tricat. 

The interiour is basic. The seats are comfortable. There is a seatbealt, which is necessary as the sea can be choppy. 

On screen, there is some information on the journey, bit it’s basic. 

The crossing of the bay thajes about an hour and how nice it is depends entirely on the sea. 

Arrival

Upon arrival at Macau Outer Harbour Terminal you need to cross a border to enter Macau. While you need to fill in a typical paper form to enter Hong Kong, you don’t need to do so in Macau. But this means you will have to fill in a form when you return to Hong Kong.

The terminal in Macau is quite large. Unlike its name suggest, the Outer Harbour is not that far from Macau city. But that’s for next the blog post in the series.

So?

TurboJet is the way to go to Macau. From the MTR to Macau Terminal you need less than two hours. Shorter than a train journey from Antwerp to De Panne (La Panne) in Belgium. 

Hong Kong & Macau 2023

1. REVIEW | Cathay Pacific Airbus A350 in Economy – Amsterdam Schiphol to Hong Kong.
2. HONG KONG | Tsim Sha Tsui – Golden Mile & Nathan Road – Kowloon Park – Sneaker Street & Fa Yuen Street Market – A Symphony of Lights – Temple Street Night Market.
3. REVIEW | Park Hotel Hong Kong in Kowloon.
4. HONG KONG ISLAND CENTRAL DISTRICT | Man Mo Temple – Lan Fong Yuen – Central–Mid-Levels escalator – Victoria Peak & Peak Tram – tram – Victoria Park – Star Ferry.
5. Gay Hong Kong.