Floating resorts with fun for the whole family
Print Edition
A cruise ship is a floating city and a floating resort filled with recreational activities, famously good and bountiful food, and entertainment.
The fun and facilities include swimming pools, tennis courts, gyms, spas, discos, libraries, bars, golf, mahjong, yoga, movies, duty free shopping and casino gaming. There are plenty of parties.
Broadway musicals, acrobatics and magic shows are also staged.
Cruising is recommended for all ages, providing they like the cruise culture.
Baby-sitting and child care by certified staff are available, as are children’s entertainment and various activities.
Families are major cruise clients.
This is shaping up as a big year at city’s two major terminals — Wusong International Cruise Terminal and Shanghai International Passenger Transportation Center. They are hosting various liners making Shanghai their home port this year.
Royal Caribbean’s Mariner of the Seas operates from mid-March through November 4. The Voyagers of the Seas will operate from May 31 to June 20.
From Shanghai, their main routes will cover Jeju Island, South Korea’s most popular tourist destination, Busan and Yosu. They will also stop at Fukuoka in Japan.
Royal Caribbean International has added a lobster feast this year to satisfy the appetite of Chinese tourists who like seafood. It has also launched a new service of custom-tailored cruise ship weddings starting this year.
Costa Cruise’s Costa Atlantica operates throughout the year, and its Victoria operates from February 7 through October 29. Their major routes cover Jeju Island, Inchon and Busan in South Korea and Fukuoka and Kagoshima in Japan.
HNA Tourism’s Henna will operate between March 31 and May 30, and from October 6 to November 5, stopping in Hualien, Taichung and Keelung in Taiwan.
Carnival Corp’s Sapphire Princess will operate from April 25 to November 15, covering Jeju Island, Busan and Inchon.
Cruise operators said Chinese and Western passengers have different tastes and habits, Chinese customers preferring shorter cruises and doing more shopping than Western guests.
In 2013, more than 99 percent of the itineraries operated by international cruise companies in China ranged from three to seven nights, an average of four and a half nights. Western passengers prefer seven- to 14-night cruises, according to a survey by Royal Caribbean covering more than 1,000 cruise tourists and potential tourists.
Compared with Westerners, Chinese spend more in shopping both onboard and onshore. Almost all Chinese passengers take part in onshore excursions.
“We hope Chinese passengers will feel as though they are on vacation once they board ships and view it as a destination in itself rather than an transport vehicle,” said Liu Zinan, Asia area vice president and China managing director of China of Royal Caribbean International.
Online travel operator Ctrip said that compared with overseas tourists, who care more onboard leisure and entertainment, Chinese tourists highlight sightseeing. Itineraries have been changed this year to allow overnight stays in cities such as Seoul to allow more time for sightseeing and shopping, it said.
If people seek more space and more options such as large theaters, then larger ships are recommended. For those seeking a more tranquil environment and tailored service, medium-sized vessels of 50,000-70,000 tons are recommended.
Crew members and staff speak Chinese and English, so language is not a problem.
HNA Tourism’s Henna will be at Shanghai International Passenger Transportation Center, and the liners of Royal Caribbean and Costa Cruise, and Sapphire Princess as well will be at Wusong International Cruise Terminal.
The earlier cruises are booked, the cheaper they are.
While booking, find out about onshore excursion packages if sightseeing is important.
Note the visa policies of ports where the ships will dock.
Take along necessary medication, books and binoculars. Evening wear is required for formal receptions.
Do not take items like candles, flammable liquid, and clothes irons.
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