CHON BURI: The ferry service between Pattaya and Hua Hin has temporarily been suspended until Oct 31 due to unfavourable weather conditions. The service will resume in early November.
Royal Passenger Liner Co, the ferry operator, posted on its Facebook page on Thursday that the service between the two resort towns of Pattaya in Chon Buri and Hua Hin in Prachuap Khiri Khan has been suspended from Sept 17 to Oct 31 for safety reasons due to heavy downpours and strong wind waves during the period.
The operator said the ferry service was temporarily out of service, posting the weather agency’s forecast of the strong northern monsoon which prevails across the Gulf of Thailand with strong wind waves 2-4 metres high in the Gulf of Thailand.
A staff member of Royal Passenger Line’s office at Laem Bali Hai pier in Pattaya told the Bangkok Post on Thursday the Marine Office in Prachuap Khiri Khan had announced the suspension of the ferry service during the low tourism season and the monsoon would also impede smooth navigation. The service would resume on Nov 1, the staff said.
However, the 6th Marine Region Office in Pattaya said it had not yet received details about the service suspension and would check the information first.
The ferry service between the two popular tourist destinations was officially launched in February last year.
The double-decker passenger catamaran Royal 1 has 286 economy seats, each priced at 1,250 baht a trip per person. It also offers 44 business-class seats and two VIP rooms with eight seats in each room, but the operator has not yet determined the price of the business and VIP tickets.
The journey takes two hours, much shorter than the five-hour road trip.
The office of the Royal Passenger Liner Co, operator of the ferry service, at Laem Bali Hai pier in Pattaya, Chon Buri. (Photo by Chaiyot Pupattanapong)
The ferry operator announces the suspension of the service between Pattaya and Hua Hin from Sept 17 until Oct 31 on its Facebook page.