Maiden Maritime Silk Road voyage docks in Xiamen

Sichuan opera performers pose with a passenger on cruise ship Majestic Princess, June 19, 2017. [Photo/Xinhua]

An international cruise ship carrying thousands of passengers arrived at Xiamen on June 26, finishing its 37-day maiden voyage.

The Majestic Princess set sail from Rome on May 21 and has passed key Maritime Silk Road ports, including Greece, the United Arab Emirates, Sri Lanka, Malaysia and Thailand.

Roughly 7,000 tourists from more than 40 countries and regions were on board and enjoyed a series of programs featuring traditional Chinese culture, such as tea, painting, calligraphy, opera, fashion, and sculpture.

The programs were arranged by the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries to allow western guests to better understand and savor Chinese culture and traditions, Li Xinyu, a senior official with the friendship association, said.

Alan Stein, the ship's entertainment experience director, was pleased with how the journey went.

"So much has been learned through the friendship association's willingness to work and collaborate with all of us to bring some of the richness of China to the ship," Stein said.

Stein said the highlights would be shared beyond the ship by pictures and word of mouth.

More cruise trips are likely to be offered along the route in the future, he says.