Royal Caribbean Cruises is sending what it says will be
Asia's two biggest cruise liners to serve China's growing tourism market.
The 3,114-passenger Voyager of the Seas is due to
arrive in Singapore this weekend en route to Shanghai, Royal Caribbean Cruises
Ltd. said Friday. Its sister ship Mariner of the Seas will be sent to China
next year. The two ships will carry Chinese cruise passengers on routes to
Southeast Asia, Japan and South Korea.
Royal Caribbean is taking the unusual step of
committing a second ship to a new market before its first vessel has arrived
because of China's significance to the company's plans, chairman Richard D.
Fain said. The U.S.-Norwegian line is based in Miami.
"We see Asia in general and China in particular
as a major strategic objective for our company," Fain said. "China
has proven to be a very special market."
The ships, with 15 guest decks, are equipped with ice
rinks, a 9-hole miniature golf course, three swimming pools each, a
rock-climbing wall, restaurants and shops. Royal Caribbean said it has hired
chefs in China to create menus for Chinese passengers.
The
outfitting of the two ships bound for China is part of a $300 million
investment program for Royal Caribbean's fleet, Goldstein said.
Source: CNBC
Source: CNBC
