Carnival sails record fleet to China

28 Jul 2015  2036 | World Travel News

Carnival Corporation has revealed that it will add two ships to its Chinese fleet in 2016, making it the first global cruise company with six ships based in China. The move will increase Carnival’s total capacity in the country by 58%.

The two new ships being deployed to China next will be operated under the Costa Cruises and Princess Cruises brands.
At a press conference in Beijing on Friday, Carnival announced that Princess Cruises will send its Golden Princess ship to northern China in 2016, sailing a series of North Asian itineraries out of Tianjin.

Costa Fortuna will be deployed in China in 2016
Costa Fortuna will be deployed in China in 2016
Golden Princess joins the brand’s first China-based ship, Sapphire Princess, which has been homeported in Shanghai since 2014 and will start operating year-round in China in 2016.

Costa Cruises meanwhile, will debut its Costa Fortuna ship in China in April 2016, becoming the brand’s fourth ship based in the country. Costa Fortuna joins Costa Serena, Costa Atlantica and Costa Victoria in China, increasing the brand’s total capacity by 43%.

“As momentum accelerates in the market, we have a significant opportunity to increase cruising demand amongst China’s growing middle class and a new generation of Chinese travellers who are hungry for new vacation experiences,” said Carnival Corporation’s chief operations officer, Alan Buckelew.

“Our focus is on exceeding guest expectations on every ship and really tailoring our product for Chinese tastes, which helps create new advocates and spread the joy of cruising in China. Through our brands, our expanding operations and our potential joint ventures in China, we’re excited to play a lead role in helping China become one of the world’s leading cruise markets.”

Together, the Costa and Princess ships will operate approximately four million passenger cruise days in 2016.
Carnival also recently announced that its latest Princess Cruises ship, which is currently under construction, will be based in Shanghai year-round from 2017. This vessel is being designed specifically for Chinese guests.

Carnival is also exploring joint ventures in China with China Merchants Group (CMG) and China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC), including the possibility of launching a Chinese domestic cruise brand, building new ships in China, and supporting the country’s port and infrastructure development.

sourced:traveldailymedia.com 

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