The Celebrity Century will become the SkySea Golden Era this May, as she transfers to the new SkySea brand, a joint venture between Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ctrip and Stone Capital.
Cruise Industry News can reveal that the Century will undergo a significant refurbishment at Singapore’s Sembawang facility.
Among the changes on the vessel will be a complete rethink of the restaurants, aiming them at the Chinese market. Also being added will be an ice bar, trampoline at sea, and mini-golf.
Ctirp, China’s largest online travel platform, has a 35 percent stake in SkySea, while Royal Caribbean has an equal 35 percent share. Stone Capital has a 30 percent share and is a Shanghai-based private equity firm that invests for China’s wealthiest families and entrepreneurs.
The ship’s inaugural season will see it homeport in Shanghai from May to October.