The Chinese Taishan, sailing for Bohai Ferry, is now including Russian destinations in its deployment as a recent cruise from Qingdao called on the Russian Far East and Vladivostok.

The company is mixing up itinerary planning as the August 2 sailing was nine days, as opposed to its usual short program of four- and five-day cruises. The longer sailing with new ports helps underline the development of the Chinese cruise market.

Bohai, which operates a fleet of ferries in China, became the second home-grown Chinese cruise company, when it started up in 2014 purchasing the 1999-built 832-passenger Costa Voyager.