The Chinese market for the cruise industry has been growing rapidly in recent years. A burgeoning middle class is ready to set sail in style. And international cruise liners are tapping the booming Chinese market. Li Jiejun reports from Hong Kong.
The traditional Chinese lion dance - at sea.
Passengers on this cruise had the special experience when their luxury liner came to China. After a night's stay in Hong Kong, it sailed off to Shanghai.
The cruise company sees great potential in China’s fast-growing market. It plans to add more Chinese cities to its itinerary.
"We see huge influx of people from Asia, and also China. We run our business decades ago in Asia. We now see a lot of passengers from China. There’s a very affluent market," said Captain Birger J. Vorland, Crystal Cruises.
Cruises have long been popular in the West, with over a century of development.
In China, the adventure is just starting to set sail.
Deluxe accomodations, superb food, duty-free shopping, and relaxing with a dip in the pools or spas -- cruising has become a lifestyle for some high-end Chinese.
Just how high-end? 700 USD per person per night on the world’s top liner.
And passengers say it’s worth it.
In 2015, cruise travelers from China's homeports totaled 1.1 million, crossing the 1-million barrier for the first time.
Throughout 2015, China's 10 cruise ports received a total of 539 homeporting cruise calls, a year-on-year growth of nearly 50 percent.
And when the customer is king, some of the world’s leading cruise brands are ready with royal treatment.
"We will have authentic Chinese food choices for our Chinese guests. And we have Chinese dedicated spa, that's all about comfort and relaxation. There’re things like Mahjongg for grandma...Our whole environment caters to the Chinese preferences in many ways," said Thatcher Brown, president of Dream Cruises.
International cruise companies are confident of success with the growing middle-class in China. Demand for better quality travel products should rise as spending power increases.
With China's potential to become the world's largest cruise market, industry experts forecast a decade of plain sailing.
