What big business insiders are saying Andrew Williams
General Manager of the Seatrade Cruise Asia Pacific Congress
Asia continues to be the cruise industry’s third largest market source after North America and Europe.
Cruise Lines International Association released figures showing a record-high of 4.24 million
Asian people taking an ocean cruise in 2018, an increase of 4.6 percent a year.
Within the global ocean cruise passenger share, Asia accounted for 14.8 percent in 2018, a slight drop on the previous year. The Chinese mainland continues to top the sourcing chart in the region, accounting for 55.8 percent of all Asian passengers. This is despite the market going through a period of adjustment with a marginal 1.6 percent decline in passenger numbers.
After more than 10 years of rapid development, the China cruise scene has completely changed the global cruise tourism map: It is now the largest source market in Asia, and the second largest globally.
The Chinese mainland is also on a positive road in becoming a cruise shipbuilding hub. The first “Made in China” ship, Greg Mortimer, built by China Merchants Heavy Industries, was handed over this year, and there are another nine cruise ships planned for Chinese yards between 20202025. Cruise lines in general remain confident in the market. In fact, Costa Cruises, Royal Caribbean International and MSC Cruises have added new ships to the market.
New this year, Costa Venezia, designed for the Asian market, set off from Italy in March 2019. Following the trip of the Italian explorer Marco Polo, it first called in on Singapore and eventually reached its new home Shanghai. Its sister ship Costa Firenze, which is currently under construction at Fincantieri’s Marghera yard and is scheduled to be launched in October 2020, will also be dedicated to serve the China market.
MSC Bellissima, the line’s second Meravigliaclass ship, will be deployed in Asia in spring 2020. The ship will be MSC Cruises’ newest flagship in the region and will be based in Shanghai and serve its home market. Royal Caribbean’s Spectrum of the Seas was named in Shanghai in June 2019. It is the first Quantum-Ultra ship and is customized for the China market.
China, and Shanghai in particular, is sparing no effort to fully boost the cruise sector and develop the upstream and downstream supply and service chain as well as upgrade the facilities at Wusongkou International Cruise Terminal. An inbound duty-free shop will open at the end of this year, covering 1,700 square meters, one of each at the two passenger terminal buildings. rate, and consumers will put a higher premium on diversity and quality experience of cruise ships and destinations than ever. Based on our deep understanding of the China market, Royal Caribbean has become the industry pioneer who provides a market insight and its trends.
In 2020, Royal Caribbean will offer a diverse range of holiday options with 29 long sailings and approximately 130 onshore sightseeing boutique sailings covering 27 destination ports.
Since January 2019, Royal Caribbean has started to implement an electronic ticket and has upgraded its online check-in procedure, which improved communication efficiency before the trip, simplified the embarkation process, and most importantly, shortened boarding time by nearly 30 minutes, ensuring every procedure is smooth and joyful. Royal Caribbean will continue the deployment in the Chinese market, stimulate the industry’s vitality through innovative initiatives, refresh the quality of cruise experience for consumers and look forward to the next glorious decade. maximum passenger capacity of 5,686 and a gross tonnage of 172,000 tons, the ship will be the largest cruise ship deployed in Asia by the time she makes her maiden call in Shanghai.
To welcome the arrival of the “Flagship Era,” both public and private sector stakeholders in the cruise industry, including government agencies, ports, cruise terminals, cruise lines and travel agencies, should work together to forge an allround and win-win cooperative environment.
For example, they should enhance the public’s understanding of cruise holidays and promote the sustainable development of the whole industry based on diversified distribution channels and a stable pricing system. Furthermore, targeted policies and regulations should be promulgated in a timely manner, while cabotage restrictions should be further lifted to make cruise itineraries more diversified and attractive. All of these measures would lay a solid foundation for the upgrade of the entire Chinese cruise industry.