The Prince Bay Cruise Terminal will start operations later this year, having been built within a free trade zone. It is the only homeport in Southern China to have a comprehensive sea, land, air and train transportation connection.

The port was developed by China Merchants Group, which also has a Memo of Understanding with Carnival Corporation to explore port and destination development and ship-owning with a local cruise brand.

 However, this past April, China Merchants Group also signed a deal with Genting Hong Kong for the SuperStar Virgo to become the first ship to homeport at Prince Bay.

The Star Cruises’ vessel will debut in the port in November, sailing to Sanya and Vietnam. Silversea has also scheduled a visit to the port in January 2017.

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The 11th edition of the China Cruise Shipping and International Expo is the Asia/Pacific’s No. 1 cruise event, learn more at http://www.ccyia.com/. The show takes place Sept. 23-26 in Tianjin.

Read a detailed analysis of the Chinese cruise market Cruise Industry News Fall/October 2016 Quarterly Magazine, due out Sept. 23.

Visit Cruise Industry News, the official event media sponsor and partner, at CCS in Tianjin