Chinese cruise market gathering pace as more seek fun on seas

Cunard cruise line will enter Chinese market in 2017, starting to operate a seven-night roundtrip loop from Shanghai with the line's flagship, Queen Mary 2.[Photo provided to China Daily]

According to Ctrip, one of China's leading online travel agencies, more than 2 million Chinese passengers will travel overseas by cruises in 2017, with destinations covering Japan, South Korea, Southeast Asia, Europe and the United States.

Additionally, other global cruise operators will boost their services in the Chinese market, with more lines to be opened soon.

According to Guangzhou-based Nanfang Daily, Costa Cruises will add three new cruises in its Shanghai homeports by 2020. It launched a vessel service in the city in April. Royal Caribbean International will also introduce a homeport service in June in China.

Michael Thamm, chief executive officer of Costa Cruises, said China would likely overtake the US to become the world's largest cruise market within the next decade.

According to Thamm, business revenues of Costa Cruises increased 40-50 percent year-on-year on average in China since launching its Chinese operations in 2006.

"We will continue to invest in China, aiming to get quickly integrated into the Chinese market," said Thamm, adding the company is talking with relevant Chinese authorities to establish joint ventures in the fast-growing market.

"We will introduce the largest fleet in China in the near future," he said.