The new Crystal Bus food tour on wheels presents a fun way for corporate groups to appreciate Hong Kong’s sights while feasting on some of the best food in the country.
Concept Launched in March, the double-decker Crystal Bus offers sightseeing tours around Hong Kong while travellers dine on Michelin-star dishes. The company is currently the first and only operator to serve food supplied by Michelin-star restaurants onboard.
The 47-seater vehicle has an interior that is blinged out with 200,000 pieces of crystal and is equipped with quality audio equipment, an LED TV, a PlayStation 4 and karaoke system.
The bus also has audio guide devices that provide guests with a history of each attraction in five languages – Japanese, Korean, Cantonese, Mandarin and English.
Delivery Day tours last 2.5 hours and take place twice daily. Pick-up and drop-off points are in Tsim Sha Tsui. I picked Day Tour B which departs in the afternoon and visits 21 spots in Kowloon, Tsing Yi and Lantau Island.
Although I have lived in Hong Kong all my life, I was excited to visit places like Lantau Link View Point and Sunny Bay for the first time.
Upon boarding the bus, I was escorted to the upper deck and offered a choice of non-alcoholic drinks. It turns out that the bus doesn’t have a licence to sell alcoholic drinks, though guests may bring their own.
The bus departed on time and food was served 30 minutes later. Day tour tickets include a Michelin-star dim sum set, and I received a platter of eight items such as shrimp dumpling, turnip cake, crispy spring roll and barbecue pork buns. For that day, food was supplied by the one-Michelin-star One Dim Sum.
The only stop where I could alight was Lantau Link View Point, where we had a stay of 20 minutes. The staff guided us for a short distance and there wasn’t time to check out the nearby visitor centre and park. Dessert was then served when we were back onboard.
MICE application The operator provides charter services for groups, parties or business events for up to 47 guests. The five-hour night tour “attractions-on-demand” journey features Michelin-starred dishes for dinner including seafood, Chinese and Western cuisine.
Moreover, business meetings for small groups can be arranged and free pickup location is offered. A breakfast tour is also available upon request.
For night book-outs from Monday to Thursday, planners can expect to pay HK$8,800 (US$1,126), or HK$12,800 for charters on Fridays and weekends, public holidays and the eve of public holidays. Rates include drinks and snacks.
Contact
Email: info@crystalbus.com.hk
