Norwegian Cruise Line will base a ship in China for the first time in 2017, with the introduction of a new vessel purpose-built for Chinese passengers.
Currently under construction, the new Breakaway Plus class ship will have a capacity of 4,200 passengers and will feature a range of facilities tailored to the needs of the Chinese market. The announcement was made by Frank Del Rio, CEO of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, during this week’s CruiseWorld China summit in Shanghai.
“Our new purpose-built ship for China will have characteristics that are authentic to Norwegian Cruise Line and yet distinctively Chinese in all of its sensibility,” said Del Rio.
“With this new ship, Norwegian will unquestionably offer our Chinese guests a superior product and introduce a new standard of innovation and excellence into the marketplace, with an unrivalled level of customisation for the Chinese consumer. It will perfectly suit what modern Chinese travellers value from an upscale cruise experience.”
The new ship will be the second of Norwegian’s Breakaway Plus class, following the Norwegian Escape, which will launch this month. The company says the new vessel will provide Chinese passengers with a “resort-style vacation experience”, including Mandarin, Cantonese and international dining options, duty-free luxury shopping and other activities.
“The level of customisation will go beyond the physical design of the ship. Working with partners in China and local experts on the subtleties of Chinese culture, Chinese guests who sail on this new ship will be provided with an unmatched quality-level for service, cuisine, entertainment and overall experience that is simply not available in the China market today,” the company said in a statement.
To support the company’s Chinese expansion efforts, Norwegian has already opened offices in Beijing and Hong Kong, and this week launched its new office in Shanghai.
The Chinese ship will be delivered in spring 2017. Norwegian said that additional details about the vessel’s name, homeport and facilities will be announced in the coming months.
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