News and notes from the second conference day of the China Cruise Shipping Conference & International Cruise Expo (CCS14), hosted by the China Cruise and Yacht Industry Association (CCYIA) in Guangzhou.

*While the new Guangzhou Nansha homeport is poised to open this weekend, port officials have already outlined bigger plans. Yumin Huang, executive general manager of the port, said that the plan is to add two more megaship berths by 2024 and another terminal building. This will go with the port’s brand new terminal and twin berths, currently capable of holding one 225,000-ton ship and one 100,000-ton ship.

*Raymond Lim, senior vice president, planning and port manager, Genting Cruise Lines, said in a presentation that long-term planning was key to port design as ship classes get significantly larger over time.

*There is a major focus from the Chinese education system on training students for the cruise industry, whether shoreside or aboard. Over 170 schools in China are now offering various cruise programs, according to Baojia Xiao, vice president of the CCYIA. “We need both capital support and talent to develop the cruise industry,” Xiao said.

*Jimei University is concentrating on crew training, said Li Fu, associate dean, noting that the school was looking to build a comprehensive training facility. Current partnerships include a deal with Astro Ocean Cruises for crew recruitment and training.

*Tianjin Maritime College’s partnership with Royal Caribbean Cruises includes a five-floor, 14,000 square-meter training center that has areas for galley staff, mock staterooms for potential cabin stewards to practice on and more.

*Royal Caribbean Cruises Asia Chairman Dr. Zinan Liu has authored a new book in Mandarin, An Inside Look at the Chinese Cruise Industry, not only covering China but the entire cruise business and Royal Caribbean’s build up in Asia. A signing ceremony (pictured above) was a hit at China Cruise Shipping.

*Matthew Wu, chairman of the International Cruise Council, Taiwan, said that the cruise industry was growing in Taiwan with better and newer ships driving demand. The SuperStar Aquarius is based year-round, with 156 departures scheduled. Princess also has significant deployment out of Taiwan, with 26 departures on the Majestic Princess, 23 on the Sun Princess and four on the Diamond Princess. Other homeport operations include departures from Costa and Dream Cruises. Also helping is significant infrastructure development including a new cruise homeport facility in Kaoshing.