Cruising into China: Carnival and Norwegian up the Ante

Carnival Cruise Line on Monday said it will begin operations in China for the first time in its history. Starting in Spring 2017, Carnival will homeport one vessel in China, offering year round cruises to Asian guests. Carnival will partner with Costa Asia for sales, marketing, and operational support. More details about the specific ship and itinerary will be released later.

Meanwhile, Norwegian Cruise Line yesterday announced it is building its first ship designed specifically for the China market. The new ship, which will be the second in the cruise line’s Breakaway Plus class, will have a capacity of 4,200 guests and will be customized with the Chinese guest in mind. The ship is currently under construction. More details to come.