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Carnival plans domestic cruise line in China
Cruise operator Carnival Corp. has signed agreements with China Merchants Group to explore the creation of a domestic cruise line.
Carnival will operate four ships in the region this year, doubling is capacity in the region in just two years, and plans to take a bigger role in developing cruise infrastructure in China.
The line has signed a memorandum of understanding with China Merchants Group to set up a port development joint venture and a separate undertaking which could lead to a domestic joint ship-owning project.
Carnival and CMG will look to form China’s first domestic cruise brand by sourcing new ships made in China.
Alan Buckelew, chief operating officer of Carnival, said in a statement: “We are working with a strategic partner that can help us explore immediate ways to impact cruise growth in China, including the possibility of a new Chinese cruise brand and new destinations.”
CMG is currently building the Prince Bay Cruise Terminal in Shekou, Shenzhen.
It follows the signing of a memorandum of understanding last year with China State Shipbuilding Corp. to jointly build cruise ships in partnership with Italy’s Fincantieri ship builders.
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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