According to Chinese news sources, MSC Cruises is looking to expand into China, seeking to partner with the Xiamen government in a potential joint venture.

When asked, a MSC Cruises spokesperson told Cruise Industry News that Neil Palomba, COO, MSC Cruises, had just returned from a trip to China where he attended the China Cruise Industry Development Summit in Tianjin.

Royal Caribbean has already partnered with Xiamen, using the port as a turnaround point for Asia sailings.

Xiamen is also rumored to be involved with a newbuilding project, a Chinese-built 100,000 ton cruise ship, although those rumors have circulating for months and could not be confirmed.