[April. 4^th, 2017. Incheon, Korea]

Incheon Port Authority (www.icpa.or.kr, CEO Bong-hyeon Nam) announced that Crystal Symphony, a cruise ship affiliated with Crystal Cruise sailing around the world, called at Incheon Inner Port for the first time at 9 a.m. on March 30^th.   

According to IPA, Crystal Symphony is a 51,000-ton luxury cruise ship whose length is 238 meters, passenger capacity is 922 persons and crew capacity is 545 people. It is the second time when a ship affiliated with Crystal Cruise called at the port following Crystal Serenity that arrived in the port last year. 

An official with IPA said, “As the number of Chinese tourists entering Incheon Port is showing a sign of decrease due to a Chinese governmental ban on Korea visit, the Crystal Symphony calling at the port on March 30^th following Queen Mary 2, a cruise ship sailing around the world that entered the port on March 27^th, signifies diversification of cruise ships in Incheon Port that has been dominated by Chinese vessels.

According to IPA, World Cruise that had called at the Incheon Port only three times in 2015 entered the port as many as ten times last year, and it is expected to record a total of 14 times this year, which is the highest number of callings ever.    

IPA said that travelers entering the Incheon Port through Crystal Symphony left the vessel in the morning of March 31^th to enjoy sightseeing in Korea before departing through the Incheon International Airport. This method is characterized by high added value as new travelers enter Korea through the Incheon International Airport to get on a cruise ship. Many think that ‘Fly & Cruise’ Marketing that emphasized the geographical advantages of the Incheon Port located close to the Incheon International Airport was effective.

Passengers of the vessel that entered the Incheon Port on the day numbered 867, and they are known to be mostly Europeans and Americans.