Fact check: Are there ferries to Macau from Tsim Sha Tsui (China Ferry Terminal)?
Many travellers searching for transport from Tsim Sha Tsui to Macau remember walking to the China Ferry Terminal (China Hong Kong City on Canton Road) to board a ferry. However, under current Cotai Water Jet and TurboJET operations, regular passenger ferries between Tsim Sha Tsui’s China Ferry Terminal and Macau are not operating—all downtown Hong Kong–Macau ferry sailings depart from the Hong Kong–Macau Ferry Terminal at Shun Tak Centre in Sheung Wan on Hong Kong Island.
For guests staying in Kowloon (at The Peninsula, Rosewood Hong Kong, The Langham, Marco Polo, The Ritz-Carlton or along Nathan Road), taking the ferry now requires a cross-harbour taxi or MTR transfer to Hong Kong Island first, followed by terminal check-in queues, a one-hour crossing, and another shuttle or taxi in Macau.
Comparing 3 ways from Tsim Sha Tsui to Macau: Direct MPV vs Sheung Wan Ferry vs Cross-Border Coach
From Kowloon, driving west along Route 3 (West Kowloon Highway) and the Lantau Link toward the Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macao Bridge is a direct expressway run with no harbour crossing required:
| Comparison Factor | Mayline Direct Cross-Border MPV (Toyota Alphard) | Cross Harbour to Sheung Wan Ferry Terminal | Cross-Border Coach from Elements / Prince Edward |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tsim Sha Tsui Departure | Curbside pickup at any Tsim Sha Tsui hotel porte-cochère, mall loading bay or residence; driver loads all bags into the boot | Must take a cross-harbour taxi or carry suitcases onto the MTR from Tsim Sha Tsui to Sheung Wan Shun Tak Centre | Must take a local taxi with luggage to Elements Mall coach station or a street-side boarding stop in Prince Edward / Jordan |
| Luggage & Shopping Bags | Generous boot space: Reference capacity of 4 large suitcases (28-inch) + 2 carry-ons (20-inch)—ideal after shopping at Harbour City or K11 MUSEA | Strict cabin baggage size/weight limits; oversized suitcases require paid wharf check-in and baggage claim waits | Coaches typically allow only one standard suitcase per passenger; extra bags or boxes require supplemental tickets |
| Border Crossing & Transfers | Same car door to door (or choose seamless transfer for a lower fare); stay in the car at HK Port, and eligible ID/permit/visa-free passport holders stay in the car at Macao Port | Walk through Sheung Wan immigration → sea crossing → walk through Macau pier immigration → queue for hotel shuttle or taxi | All passengers must get off the coach with all luggage at both HK Port and Macao Port to walk through the immigration halls |
| Macau Drop-Off | Direct to the front door of any hotel, restaurant, arena or residence across Macau Peninsula and Cotai | Arrives at Outer Harbour or Taipa Ferry Terminal only; requires a second transfer to your hotel | Stops only at designated partner casino stops; guests staying at non-partner or boutique hotels need another taxi in Macau |
| Late-Evening & Night Departures | Available late at night: Leave Tsim Sha Tsui right after dinner, harbour-front drinks or late-night shopping | Limited night sailings from Sheung Wan; no service after the last boat | Cross-border coaches stop running in the late evening |
| Pricing Model | All-inclusive flat fare per vehicle (up to 6 passengers, highway and bridge tolls included); check Kowloon ⇄ Macau live fares on the booking page | Per-person ferry tickets (higher at night or in Super Class) + cross-harbour taxi + Macau terminal transfer | Per-person coach tickets + Kowloon local taxi to the coach station |
Exact pickup points across Tsim Sha Tsui hotels & shopping malls
Because Canton Road, Salisbury Road and Nathan Road have strict double-yellow-line loading restrictions, our chauffeurs use the designated hotel driveways and VIP pick-up bays across Tsim Sha Tsui:
- Victoria Dockside & Salisbury Road Waterfront (Rosewood Hong Kong, K11 MUSEA, Regent Hong Kong, The Peninsula Hong Kong, Sheraton): Rosewood, Regent and The Peninsula each have private covered driveways where your Toyota Alphard pulls straight up to the bell desk. If departing after shopping or dining at K11 MUSEA, set your pickup at the K11 MUSEA / Rosewood designated drop-off bay.
- Canton Road & Harbour City (The Langham, Marco Polo Hongkong Hotel, Gateway Hotel, Prince Hotel): Never try to load suitcases on the Canton Road kerbside. Guests staying at—or shopping inside—Harbour City can simply select the porte-cochère of Gateway Hotel, Prince Hotel, Marco Polo Hongkong Hotel or The Langham for weather-protected indoor loading.
- West Kowloon, Austin Road & ICC (The Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong, W Hong Kong, Elements Mall, West Kowloon Cultural District M+ / Hong Kong Palace Museum): Sitting directly above the Route 3 expressway ramp, West Kowloon and ICC pickups reach the highway in under two minutes—making this the fastest launchpad from Kowloon to the Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macao Bridge.
- Tsim Sha Tsui East & Hung Hom Bay (New World Millennium, Hotel ICON, Kowloon Shangri-La, Kerry Hotel): Direct pickup at each hotel’s main driveway with fast access onto the West Kowloon Corridor and Route 3.
Route 3 expressway link & HZMB stay-in-car customs rules
Once your car departs Tsim Sha Tsui or West Kowloon, it joins the multi-lane Route 3 (West Kowloon Highway) and Route 8 (Stonecutters Bridge / Lantau Link) directly to Lantau Island, reaching the HZMB Hong Kong Port in roughly twenty-five to thirty minutes under normal traffic.
- 30 minutes of complimentary waiting: Every hotel or mall pickup includes complimentary waiting of 30 minutes so you never have to rush checkout.
- Stay-in-car border clearance: At HZMB Hong Kong Port, all passengers and luggage stay inside the car. At HZMB Macao Port, holders of HK/Macau IDs, Home Return Permits, Mainland Exit-Entry Permits with valid Macau endorsements, or Macau visa-free passports remain seated in the vehicle lane (only those needing a visa on arrival or hall verification step into the hall and rejoin the same car outside).
See the exact flat fare from your Tsim Sha Tsui hotel or shopping mall to Macau on our booking page, or review our pricing and cancellation policy.
Frequently asked questions
Can I still take a ferry to Macau from China Ferry Terminal in Tsim Sha Tsui?
No. Regular passenger ferries between Tsim Sha Tsui’s China Ferry Terminal and Macau are currently not operating; downtown ferries to Macau depart from Sheung Wan on Hong Kong Island. From Tsim Sha Tsui, booking a direct cross-border private car from your hotel door over the Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macao Bridge avoids crossing the harbour with luggage.
How long does a private car take from Tsim Sha Tsui to Macau Cotai hotels?
Via the West Kowloon Highway (Route 3) and Lantau Link, your car reaches the HZMB Hong Kong Port in about twenty-five to thirty minutes. Including border clearance at both ports and the bridge crossing, the total door-to-door trip to Macau Peninsula or Cotai hotels typically takes around seventy-five to a hundred minutes under normal conditions.
We are shopping at Harbour City or K11 MUSEA and not staying at a hotel. Can the car pick us up at the mall?
Yes. Simply enter the designated pickup driveway of K11 MUSEA / Rosewood or one of the hotels directly attached to Harbour City (Gateway Hotel, Prince Hotel or Marco Polo Hongkong Hotel) on our booking page. Your driver will meet you at the driveway and load all your shopping bags and suitcases into the Toyota Alphard.
Do we have to carry our luggage through customs on a Tsim Sha Tsui to Macau private car?
No. Your suitcases remain inside the boot throughout the bridge crossing. All passengers stay in the car at Hong Kong Port, and travellers holding HK/Macau IDs, Home Return Permits, eligible Exit-Entry Permits or Macau visa-free national passports also stay seated in the car at Macao Port.
Can we pick up friends at a Tsim Sha Tsui hotel and then make a second stop at West Kowloon High-Speed Rail Station on the way to Macau?
Yes. You can add an extra pickup stop when booking or via the My order chat after booking (extra stops are priced according to our standard tariff). Up to six passengers can travel together in one seven-seat luxury MPV straight to Macau.