South Korea will open a new cruise ship terminal capable of hosting ultra-large cruise ships carrying 5,000 or more passengers in April 2019.

The Incheon Port Authority (IPA) announced Tuesday that it plans to open a cruise ship terminal in Songdo on April 26, 2019. The terminal commanding an area of 7,365 square meters will be able to accommodate a call from the world’s largest 225,000-ton cruise ship.

There are four cruise ship terminals in the country at North port in Busan, Ganjeong port in Seogwipo, Jeju port and Sokcho port.

The IPA will operate 114,000-ton cruise liner named Costa Serena that will travel from Incheon to Shanghai, Fukuoka and Busan in partnership with Lotte Tour Development Co. after opening the terminal.

The ship capable of carrying 3,780 passengers is bigger than 20 soccer fields put together. It houses various entertainment facilities such as a swimming pool, theater, and casino.

By Ji Hong-gu and Choi Mira

[ⓒ Pulse by Maeil Business Newspaper & mk.co.kr, All rights reserved]