Carnival Cruise Asia will relocate its corporate headquarters outside of Seoul, Korea, during the next six months.

Started as a joint venture between Carnival Corporation and Hyundai Merchant Marine, Carnival Cruise Asia has been temporarily based at the Hyundai offices in Seoul since early February.

The operator’s current inaugural season plans are to conduct three- and four-day China itineraries departing Inchon, Korea, on the 1,022-passenger Tropicale during the summer months. During the fall/winter of 1998, the ship will reposition to southern Asia – possibly sailing from the Port of Singapore, with which Carnival is presently in negotiations.

Additionally, it is believed that the Tropicale will undergo an estimated $6 million refurbishment, primarily to modify various public areas.