From China to Malaysia and from the Philippines to Taiwan, Asia cruise port operators are improving their facilities to provide better services and experiences to both cruise ships and passengers. China’s Guangzhou is to open its new Nansha International Cruise homeport on November 17, offering one 100,000gt berth and one 225,000gt berth, and a 50,000sq mtr terminal building which is expected to handle 750,000 passengers annually. Two new ports in the Philippines Bloomberry Cruise Terminal, based in the Philippines, is to open Ilocos in mid-October. A tender facility with a small terminal building displaying historic artefacts, it is set to welcome Spectrum of the Seas on December 26 when it will become the largest cruise ship ever to call the Philippines. Additionally, Solaire Cruise Center in Manila will start operations in 2021 with bookings opening in 2020. Malaysia moves ahead Melaka International Cruise Terminal, situated in Malaysia’s Melaka Gateway, is under construction with phase one set to open in second quarter 2021, offering two berths (west outer and west Inner). The outer berth will handle ships up to 362mtr LOA while the inner berth can take vessels up to 348mtr LOA. The ultimate goal is to offer four cruise berths. In Taiwan, Keelung port is investing $24m in its east terminal and $20m in its west terminal renovation and facility expansion, which are expected to be completed in 2020 and 2021, respectively. URL : https://www.seatrade-cruise.com/news/news-headlines/across-asia-new-cruise-port-infrastructure-opening-soon/

More destination choice, a return to Korea and the ability to sell a complete package to passengers were just some of the wishes expressed by leading cruise line executives heading up operations in China at a special session focused on the local market on the last day of Seatrade Cruise Asia Pacific 2019. Asked by moderator Mary Bond, group director Seatrade Cruise, if they could change one thing what would it be, Michael Goh, president of Dream Cruises and head of international sales, Genting Cruise Lines, said: ‘If we can go back to South Korea, it would be helpful.’ Helen Huang, president Greater China, MSC Cruises, which has been steadily growing its deployment in the market, identified being able to sell a full cruise package to consumers as her top wish. Longer cruises Zinan Liu, chairman, Royal Caribbean Cruises, Asia, called for more destinations to welcome larger cruise ships and more diverse shore excursion offerings. He said ex-China cruises of six days or longer are proving very popular and believes this sector will grow, giving opportunities to reach more ports. The cruise business in China is maturing and is upgrading from fast speed to high quality, said Cherry Wang, VP and GM, Princess Cruises China. She is also hoping for more ports to emerge and/or more varied shore tours. Mario Zanetti, president, Costa Group Asia, emphasized that the adjustment period China is experiencing now is proper for achieving long-term sustainable growth but emphasized the need to continue to offer more and better on-board experiences to entice both newcomers and repeaters. URL : https://www.seatrade-cruise.com/news/news-headlines/china-cruise-line-execs-wishing-for-more-destinations-and-expanded-shorex/

As a top shipbuilding country, China is gearing up for improved performance in cruise ship construction and is planning on establishing a cruise supply chain for sustainable development. Several industry professionals shared their opinions on how to improve China’s current cruise shipbuilding business at a Seatrade Cruise Asia Pacific 2019 session sponsored by Bernhard Schulte Cruise Services and moderated by John Hemgard, global marine director, United Technologies. CCTD (CSSC Cruise Technology Development), the cruise arm of China State Shipbuilding Corp aims to form an ecological system of cruise industry and connecting upstream and downstream players to better service the market, said Lyu Zhiyong, deputy general manager. ‘We will set up a joint venture shortly to focus on cruise industry supply chain development,’ Lyu added. Supply chain jv Agreed by Tang Le, sales manager of Deltamarin, there are areas of business that need to be improved, including to promote local supply chain and encourage local suppliers to offer good quality products and services. Kirk Du, deputy managing director of Ulstein China identified helping domestic yards become more profitable in cruise shipbuilding, to upskill shipyard workers in cruise ship building techniques and to strengthen the coordination and communication between China and European cruise industry players as key to future growth. ‘We should establish a system and set up industrial standards to better develop and regulate the industry, and we should consolidate the distributed resources,’ commented Krzysztof Kozdron, managing director of Schulte Marine Concept. Sustainable technology Xie Daming, leader of Ship Type Group of CCS Cruise Project Team, China Classification Society talked about sustainable technology on cruise ships, especially the consideration of using new energy such as LNG. ‘The industry is looking for sustainable development, we can not confirm which technology will lead the market but I believe China will apply new energy options on powering cruise ships in the next years,’ said Maikel Arts, segment sales general manager Cruise & Ferry, Wartsila. Nine newbuilds China is currently building 9 cruise ships: Greg Mortimer the first ever purtpose-built cruise ship by a Chinese yard was delivered by China Merchants Industry Holdings(CMHI) to SunStone at its Haimen production base and is building six more in the series. CSSC Carnival Cruise Shipping and Fincnatieri are moving forward with its plans to build two 133,500gt cruise ships at Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding for the jv with first ship scheduled for delivery in 2023 and CMHI signed a deal to build a 37,000gt cruise ship for Shanghai Style Cruise Industry Development Co with options for three more. URL : https://www.seatrade-cruise.com/news/news-headlines/chinas-cruise-shipbuilding-needs-improved-supply-chain-and-more-skilled-workers/

China is getting its first Oasis-class ship, Royal Caribbean President and CEO Michael Bayley revealed today at Seatrade Cruise Asia Pacific in Baoshan, Shanghai. Shanghai debut Oasis 5, to be called Wonder of the Seas, is going to debut in Shanghai in mid-2021. This underscores Royal Caribbean’s commitment to the China market and makes a big statement: That the market is ready for the world’s largest class of cruise ship. Keel-laying at Saint-Nazaire The 227,000gt vessel is being built at Chantiers de l’Atlantique, where the keel for the vessel was laid today. The 970-ton block was lowered into place by a 1,400-ton crane. Follows Quantum Ultra Spectrum of the Seas Before this, China got the first Quantum Ultra newbuild, Spectrum of the Seas, which debuted earlier this year in Shanghai as Asia’s largest cruise ship. Wonder of the Seas continues the even bigger Oasis series, whose last introduction was 2018’s Symphony of the Seas. Royal Caribbean has said Oasis 5 will have the same seven-neighborhood concept, thrilling experiences, imaginative dining, exciting entertainment and the latest technology. Before Symphony came Harmony of the Seas in 2016. The first two Oasis ships were built in Finland: Oasis of the Seas in 2009 and Allure of the Seas in 2010. Earlier this year, Royal Caribbean entered into an agreement with Chantiers de l’Atlantique for a sixth Oasis-class ship, to be delivered in fall 2023. Seatrade Cruise Asia Pacific URL : https://www.seatrade-cruise.com/news/news-headlines/royal-caribbean-announces-new-wonder-of-the-seas/