In the wake of Zheng He

Wang says the company envisions the new cruise line as a 21st-century Maritime Silk Road. It conveniently transports Chinese tourists to Southeast Asian destinations.

Apart from the 12 first-and business-class rooms, the other 39 cabins were similarly equipped with bunk beds. Many passengers, however, weren't too excited about their plainly furnished nautical residence.

They looked for enjoyment in the entertainment facilities. Young children spent all day in the play area, while their parents spent time on treadmills or in the reading room. Young adults preferred playing poker and soaking up the sun on the deck.

And one would find no other travelers more dashing than the group of "dama" (aunties) and "dashu" (uncles), who are in their late 40s, 50s and early 60s. They had great fun aboard, whether the sea was peaceful or turbulent.

They turned the deck into an open-air photo studio. Flamboyantly dressed aunties seemed to know dozens of photo poses. And uncles patiently did photographers' duties. They danced and sang to their utmost at parties.

They paid no heed to the strong waves, which made young people－some crew members included－terribly sick and confined them mostly to their beds. Typically, they showed a good appetite and enjoyed sharing travel anecdotes.

"I don't feel nauseated at all. I just have difficulty editing photos because of the rocking," Qu Caihong, a photographer from Guangxi's capital Nanning, said as she worked on her laptop in our cabin one day. "Don't look down upon us seniors," added Qu, who is in her 60s. "After all, we've been through much more of life's vicissitudes than you guys."

Then she left for the deck, where she had an appointment with a passenger who was a dancer before retirement, to learn some dancing tips.

I couldn't help thinking about those heroic Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) navigators. Zheng He's fleet traveled the seas seven times, reaching as far as East Africa.

Our ship covered only a small part of their sailing range. Many felt relieved to be ashore again when we returned to Beihai's port.

The ocean is paradise, it seems, for the brave and the veterans of life.

Su Qiulan and Huo Yan contributed to the story.