The new Ovation of the Seas - the third in the Quantum class of cruise ships from Royal Caribbean International - has arrived in its homeport of Tianjin, China. Marking the occasion was the official naming ceremony where Chinese actress Fan Bingbing presided as the vessel's godmother as a bottle of champagne traditionally struck its hull.
"We are excited to bring our newest and most technologically advanced ship to China," said Michael Bayley, President and CEO, Royal Caribbean International. "The unprecedented first-at-sea experiences will provide an incredible vacation adventure to our guests in the region. Chinese consumers have grown to expect the best the world has to offer, and this ship meets that standard like no other - this is a cruise from the future."
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Like her sister ships, the Ovation of the Seas accommodates 4,180 guests and features attractions like the North Star craned capsule, RipCord by iFly skydiving simulator, SeaPlex with bumper cars and Two70 entertainment venue and unique aft observation lounge. For dining, the ship offers 18 restaurants, and private accommodations include everything from interior Virtual Balcony staterooms to palatial double-decker Loft Suites.
"With the arrival of Ovation of the Seas in Tianjin, Royal Caribbean now has the largest fleet in the region. Now, Chinese guests can enjoy a wider variety of world-class cruise experiences and destinations right from their home market. We believe that this ship will continue to take cruisers to new heights with our extraordinary activities, creative entertainment and diversified dining options." said Dr. Zinan Liu, President, Royal Caribbean International - China and North Asia Pacific, "We can provide the unforgettable and unexpected cruise experience that the Chinese market deserves."
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Additionally, Royal Caribbean partners with the Tianjin Marine Talent Institute and has constructed a training facility, creating more than 100,000 jobs across four Chinese port cities over the last four years. Altogether, China is the largest-growing cruise market internationally, with double digit increases since 2013 according to Royal Caribbean. One million cruise passengers were sourced from China last year over about 700,000 in 2014, and the Chinese Ministry of Tourism predicts 4.5 million passengers by 2020.
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