Royal Caribbean to Send Giant Ship to China

Royal Caribbean plans to bring its cruise operations to China in the summer of 2012 with one of the world’s largest cruise ships, the $750 million Voyager of the Seas.

The company announced on June 8th that the 138,000 ton cruise vessel will be moved to Shanghai for four, ten-night endeavors ranging from June 2012-October 2012.  The Voyager of the Seas can hold an impressive 3,114 passengers, which is double the size of any cruise ship currently in operation in the entire Asia-Pacific region.  Though the trips are not finalized, included in the itinerary of stops are Fukuoka and Kobe in Japan, and Busan and Jeju in Korea.

Given the rapid growth of China’s economy placing them at #2 economically worldwide, Royal Caribbean’s managing director of China and Asia sees their entrance into China as having huge market potential at a record-breaking stage of development.

Royal Caribbean expects to reach a 50% market share in China this year alone with their number of cruises departing from China’s ports.