The "Fun Ships" Are Coming to China in More Ways Than One

Carnival Splendor

Last month it was announced that Carnival Cruise Line is China-Bound and now the ships being deployed there have been revealed—Carnival Miracle will arrive in spring 2017, followed by Carnival Splendor in spring 2018. Both ships will be based in China year round.

"Carnival is the world's most popular cruise line and our style of cruising appeals to guests of all ages and particularly families," said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. "We attract more than 4.5 million guests a year and, as the family cruise leader, we also carry more than 700,000 children each year. Multi-generational families also choose to vacation with Carnival more than any other cruise brand. We look forward to bringing our one-of-a-kind, exceptionally popular cruise experience to the Chinese market."

The Spirit-class Carnival Miracle is a spacious ship given its size and more limited guest capacity (2,124 guests) and has a guest to crew ratio of nearly two to one. This allows the ship to uniquely offer outstanding guest service in a very comfortable environment. The ship offers a variety of popular features including more than 60 percent of accommodations featuring a private balcony. There are also four swimming pools with a magrodome over the main pool area which provides excellent views and an expansive outdoor area to enjoy a wide variety of activities and entertainment in all weather conditions. Carnival Miracle's two promenade decks offer multiple types of locations for gathering with friends and family, playing games or enjoying a host of other exciting activities and entertainment options. Extensive enhancements were added earlier this year with the addition of the RedFrog Pub which features a uniquely Caribbean atmosphere with music and entertainment options from this popular tropical region. The Alchemy Bar was added, as well, and skilled bartenders create custom drinks with unique fresh ingredients based on guests' individual tastes and preferences.

Carnival Miracle also offers multiple dedicated facilities for children, including an expansive water park. The staff ensure that the younger cruisers are well cared for and entertained with fun activities throughout the cruise. For the adults, Serenity is a private and comfortable outdoor area restricted to guests age 18 and older. The ship also features an outstanding steakhouse, offering exceptional cuts of dry aged beef and top quality seafood, along with spectacular views. Several areas of the ship, including the casino, shopping, and dining offerings will be enhanced prior to the start of China service to cater to Asian tastes.

In a class all her own, Carnival Splendor, which enters the China market in 2018, is a larger vessel that carries just over 3,000 passengers and boasts a wide variety of features including an array of dining, entertainment and other options. That ship also has four swimming pools, one of which can be covered by a glass magrodome, seven whirlpools, a Serenity area, and a variety of dedicated facilities for children in different age groups.

But that's not the end of the story. Perhaps you've wondered why a Chinese entrepreneur hasn't entered the cruise industry. Carnival Corporation has an answer to that. The world's largest travel and leisure company has formed a joint venture in China that intends to launch the first world-class, multi-ship domestic cruise brand in the Chinese market. Carnival Corporation is partnering with China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) and China Investment Corporation (CIC) on the new venture aimed at accelerating the development and growth of the overall cruise industry in China, which is expected to eventually become the largest cruise market in the world.

Image Courtesy of Carnival Cruise Lines