Dinner Under Stars Tops Previous Hong Kong Night to Remember

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Days 87-88, 2026 Grand World Voyage

Wednesday and Thursday, April 1-2, 2026; Hong Kong.

It’s not news that I’ve come to enjoy clothes shopping while on a cruise. Perhaps because there’s no pressure to find something, or the styles in other countries suit me more. Losing a few pounds hasn’t hurt either, I’m sure.

Two years ago in Hong Kong’s Stanley Market, I found a dress, two jackets, two tops, a necklace and a scarf, all for under $200. So on Wednesday, Elaine and I decided to return to the Mei E Fashion boutique there, and I scored again – a dress, blouse and necklace for $60. I may need to buy another suitcase next.

The best thing about our call at Hong Kong was docking at Ocean Terminal. It’s right across Victoria Harbor from Hong Kong island, just steps from the Tsim Sha Tsui Star Ferry pier. Every other time I’ve been in Hong Kong, we docked at Kai Tak, the cruise terminal built at the old airport. From Kai Tak it’s a 20-minute-or-so shuttle to get to Tsim Sha Tsui, where just luxury cruise ships typically are docked.

Our shopping expedition took most of the day, as we took the 973 bus ($3) for the hour-long ride to Stanley Market, past old housing, new high-rises and beaches. We skipped eating lunch near the market because we had special plans for dinner.

As the sun began to set, we joined about 50 other guests for drinks and then Dinner Under the Stars on the Sea View deck with a spectacular view of Hong Kong’s skyline.

This city has more skyscrapers than any other on earth. With 569 buildings at least 150 meters (about 500 fee) tall, Hong Kong is far ahead of No. 2 Shenzhen, China, (468), and No. 3 New York City (324).

At night the city comes alive, with the lights on all those skyscrapers sparkling and reflecting off the harbor. They more than made up for the lack of stars, as high clouds obscured their light. Our seven-course meal paused for a few minutes as lasers shot forth from the latest towers for a 10-minute show.

In 2018, a friend invited me to share her top-floor room at the Peninsula Hotel, known as the Grand Dame of the Far East, where we enjoyed high tea and then the light show. At that time I couldn’t imagine a better venue to see the lights, but dinner on the open back deck of the Volendam topped it, especially as the sky darkened.

Not only did we have a stellar view, but we had another spectacular meal, ranging from “drunken Amaebi shrimp to steamed rainbow trout and crispy Cantonese duck. Champagne, Riesling, sake and pinot noir accompanied the courses, along with after-dinner drinks.

Day two in Hong Kong brought a forecast of rain, so Elaine and I jumped on the Star Ferry to the Hong Kong Maritime Museum. I toured it on my first visit to Hong Kong in 2017, and find it one of the best maritime museums I’ve seen.

I was particularly interested in the exhibit about China’s maritime explorations. It raises some interesting questions, such as what would our world today be like if the Chinese hadn’t insulated themselves just as European countries began to colonize the East.

Rain fell a bit in the early afternoon, but by the time we sailed away, it cleared enough for a sail-away party.