Carnival Corporation announced Tuesday that it will expand its presence in China with the addition of two more brands in 2017.
Carnival Cruise Line and AIDA Cruises will join Costa Cruises and Princess Cruises in the rapidly growing market, with each set to have one ship homeported in China.
The expansion will make Carnival the first company to operate four brands in China.
"We are excited to introduce our Carnival Cruise Line and AIDA Cruises brands to our fleet in China, giving us a total of four global cruise brands in the market and a unique opportunity to provide a diverse lineup of brands and cruise offerings to Chinese guests who are looking for a great vacation experience," Carnival CEO Arnold Donald said in a statement. "As we execute our multi-brand growth strategy in China, we are emphasizing choice and variety in our offerings to match the different tastes and preferences of Chinese travelers."
Presidents of the respective cruise lines also expressed excitement over the growth potential.
"With cruise demand rapidly increasing in China and our ability to work in partnership with other Carnival Corporation brands to leverage our collective experience and scale, it provides an outstanding opportunity for Carnival Cruise Line to enter the Chinese market," said Carnival Cruise Line president Christine Duffy in a statement.
Meanwhile, AIDA Cruises president Felix Eichhorn said "by focusing on the interests of our guests in China, there is a significant opportunity to grow cruising demand for our brand, Carnival Corporation and the industry at large."
Prior to Carnival Cruise Line and AIDA Cruises' entry into China in 2017, Carnival Corporation will expand with two additional ships in China in 2016, bringing its total to six and increasing capacity by a whopping 58 percent. Currently, the company has four ships operating in China, three of which are operated by Costa Cruises.
By next year, Carnival Corporation will offer four million passenger cruise days in China, asserting its eminence in the region.
In addition to Carnival Cruise Line and AIDA Cruises, 2017 will also see Princess Cruises' Majestic Princess enter the region.
Tuesday's announcement comes one day after Norwegian Cruise Line confirmed its expansion into China with plans to launch a purpose-built cruise ship in the region in 2017.
For the latest travel news, updates and deals, subscribe to the daily TravelPulse newsletter.
Topics From This Article to Explore
