👋 Hello, everyone!
A while back, I flew to Sydney via Hong Kong with Cathay Pacific. Having heard that they recently opened a new lounge at the Shekou Cruise Homeport, I decided to switch up my route to Hong Kong International Airport and take the ferry from Shekou just to check it out. Let’s dive in!
Check-in
The entry requirements for this lounge are the same as at the airport: you need a Cathay Pacific Business or First Class ticket, or Silver status or above. You can just buy a standard ferry ticket and still get access to Cathay’s priority check-in counters, the lounge, and priority boarding at the terminal.
There’s usually a line for Economy, and honestly, the priority counter is a bit hit-or-miss too. It wasn’t terribly crowded when I got there, but only one priority counter was open. As luck would have it, the two guys ahead of me were checking six massive suitcases between them, completely holding up the line for everyone behind. I really have to gripe about this—the staff could clearly see the line backing up and easily could have opened another window to help clear it. The ground service definitely left something to be desired.
From picking up my ferry ticket, checking my bags, and printing my boarding pass to clearing security and walking to the boarding gate, the whole process took about 40 minutes. I’d recommend getting to the terminal 1.5 to 2 hours early so you’re not scrambling to catch your boat.
The Lounge
The location is pretty easy to find. After clearing security, just follow the corridor toward the departure hall. There are signs all along the way that lead you straight to the main entrance with that familiar brass plaque.
The moment you step inside, you’re greeted by that signature “Cathay vibe”—warm wood tones paired with greenery (that classic StudioIlse design). Frequent Cathay flyers will feel right at home the second they walk through the door.
Cathay’s aesthetic is always on point. They tucked the lounge right at the very end of the terminal, giving it fantastic natural light and views. Looking right out over Shenzhen Bay—with distant mountains and sunlight glistening on the water on a clear day—is way more relaxing than staring at tarmac and planes taking off from an airport lounge. It puts you in a completely different frame of mind.
Food-wise, there’s a dedicated dining area. Besides standard pastries like egg tarts and croissants, they also have a noodle bar where you can order freshly made noodle soups. However, I had just eaten a big lunch before leaving home and couldn’t fit another bite, so I skipped ordering and didn’t get any photos of the hot food.
While the space isn’t as massive as their flagship lounges in Hong Kong, it’s very well laid out with distinct zones. Beyond the usual dining area and lounge seating, they even managed to squeeze in a small meeting room and a VIP reception room.
I arrived around 3 PM, and the place was nearly empty and super quiet. I’m not sure if it gets noisy during the morning or evening rush, but considering ferries to Hong Kong Airport don’t run all that frequently anyway, I’d bet this place is still much more peaceful than an airport lounge even at peak times.
Verdict
| Category | Rating | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Decor | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | That familiar Cathay formula, with bonus points for the ocean view |
| Food & Drinks | ⭐⭐⭐ | Smaller food and drink selection than at the airport, though there’s a noodle bar |
| Comfort | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Not huge, but wins big for being uncrowded and quiet |
Visiting an airline lounge outside of an airport for the first time was a pretty fresh experience. The biggest perk here is how quiet and uncrowded it is. If you’re like me and mainly use lounges to find a comfy corner to zone out and enjoy some peace and quiet, this Shekou lounge will definitely hit the spot. Overall, a solid four-star review!