Page 21 - 2025 China Market Report

CHINA

 The Spectrum of the Seas in Shanghai
Looking forward, Bouldin said the ambition is also to return from an operational effectiveness perspective. And we look at
to Tianjin. what is happening around the broader market and the world,
“It is a part of the market that is very important to us and look at trends, and what our guests are enjoying,” Bouldin said.
certainly within our line of sight. “For 2025 we will also be looking seriously into how we
“We have delayed the deployment of a second ship, but you can start to tap more into the outbound travel market as well
need to recognize how quickly we have returned to full speed as inbound travel.
here since April 27,” he added. “The market is still finding its “This year we have understandably been laser focused on
groove and getting back on track post pandemic, and while we resuming sailing from Shanghai and sourcing the right number
are doing very well, we felt that another year of consolidation of passengers for this product. But as we move forward, it is
would help us as we prepare to expand our footprint.” also time to think about our outbound and inbound strategies.
While China has been developing more cruise ports, Bouldin In 2019, for example, China was the fastest growing outbound
said Royal Caribbean is wedded to Shanghai as its marquee market from the UK, and I think we are starting to see that
port, and equally Hong Kong, and that it will continue to de- coming back. The (Chinese) authorities are supportive, trying
velop those ports. to make visa free travel to China as possible as they can.
Beyond that, he said: “We are constantly exploring options, “I think there is an increasing appetite in many markets
and we are constantly evaluating where we feel our target around the world to visit China. And equally among the upper-
guests can be found. Clearly the populations around Shanghai, class and middle-class population of China, which is not an
Beijing, Hong Kong are very attractive for us.” insignificant number, there is an increasing appetite for out-
bound travel again.”
2025 and 2026 Bouldin said that Royal Caribbean has many travel partners
Royal Caribbean will put its 2026 China products on sale in China with outbound travel licenses who are actively pro-
in March. moting and driving Chinese guests to land-based resorts and
“I would not want to commit to any further news at this hotels all over the world. So, it makes absolute sense to him
stage but suffice to say that every year we evaluate our top that they should be including Royal Caribbean in their busi-
performing itineraries. We evaluate the performance of all the ness model, and he plans to start talking to them about that
sailings that we have had from a guest perspective as well as opportunity very soon. 

Cruise Industry News: 2025 China Market Report 55