Norwegian Cruise Line to Add Ship Customized for Chinese Market

The ship is now under construction and the announcement was made by CEO Frank Del Rio during the CruiseWorld China summit in Shanghai.

Price checks with several large travel sellers in China reveal that “cruise tour products are well liked by Chinese travelers and have good momentum”, says Farley.

The new ship, as yet unnamed, will be the second of Norwegian Cruise Line’s Breakaway Plus class; the first, Norwegian Escape, debuts next week. Six analysts have provided estimates for Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings’ earnings.

In 2014, Royal Caribbean took the first of a new class, Quantum of the Seas, to China after a brief introduction in the USA, and has announced other ships bound for China. The level of customization will go beyond the physical design of the ship. The company is working with partners in China and local experts on the subtleties of Chinese culture.

Further details, including the ship’s name, homeport and accommodation options have not yet been released. The Organization operates cruise lines under the Regent and Norwegian, Oceania brands. Golden Princess joins the brand’s first China-based ship, Sapphire Princess, which has been homeported in Shanghai since 2014 and will start sailing year-round in China in 2016.

The move follows a course set by competitors including Carnival and Royal Caribbean. The line’s third and fourth ships in that class are scheduled for delivery in 2018 and 2019, respectively. Zacks downgraded shares of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Monday, August 10th. Now it has a fleet of 21 ships, with roughly 40,000 lower berths and a total portage of over 420 destinations worldwide. With unparalleled entertainment and dining choices, the concept is ideal for China’s younger cruising demographic.

It will cater to the unique vacation preferences of Chinese passengers, the cruise company said. Last month Italian line MSC Cruises announced it would deploy a ship to Shanghai starting next May. Ports of call include Sanya and Hong Kong. “The China story is that volume is growing massively because of the high China price premium, and that also helps capacity and price in existing markets”. It offers guests gourmet culinary experiences, elegant and spacious accommodations, a casual dress environment and personalized service.