Voyaging into new era in cruise trade

According to Huang, a well-developed supply chain can help deploy different vessels, operate itineraries, cooperate in shipbuilding or maintenance, optimize guest experience and recruit talents. In return, cruise operators have also helped accelerate this process, generating more port fees, taxes, expenditures, crew employment and tourism revenues.

"This approach creates a virtuous cycle, to form an ecosystem connecting upstream and downstream players to better serve the market," she said.

In Shanghai, the Wusongkou Cruise Port of Baoshan district receives more than half of the country's cruise passengers, and after being chosen as the shipbuilding location for the first homegrown cruise vessel, the city is embracing a larger landscape.

CSSC Cruise Technology Development Co Ltd and Shanghai's Baoshan district are working together to build and develop a 2-square-kilometer international cruise industrial park, as well as make Shanghai a globally influential headquarters for the cruise industry.

CSSC Cruise Technology Development looks to invest 50 billion yuan ($7.15 billion) over the next decade and operate a Chinese-funded cruise fleet of between eight and 10 vessels by 2030, said Yang Guobing, its chairman.

Baoshan district is on its way to building an international cruise city and a cruise industry chain entailing 100 billion yuan in investments in the next decade.

"With gradual upgrades of capacity and products, we expect to grow with the whole industry, achieving stable and sustainable development," said Huang.

MSC Cruises established its regional headquarters in Baoshan in 2018, becoming the first international cruise line to locate its regional headquarters in China. On Dec 5 2019, it also signed an agreement with China Merchants Shekou, demonstrating its confidence and commitment to China's cruise market.

Zhu said his Genting Cruise Lines remains highly optimistic as the China market contributes 30 percent of the business with the launch of services of Star Cruises and Dream Cruises in 2019.