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Sapphire Princess sparks interest in cruise trips

2014-06-11 13:54 Shanghai Daily Web Editor: Wang Yuxia
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Cruise liner Sapphire Princess

Cruise liner Sapphire Princess

It is hard to imagine the sheer size of the cruise liner Sapphire Princess without seeing it.

The 116,000-ton vessel has capacity for 3,770 people, which is more than some village populations. It has 1,337 well-designed cabins and plenty of large public spaces.

Owned by Carnival Corporation and operated by Princess Cruises, the ship recently completed its maiden berth at Wusongkou International Cruise Terminal in Baoshan District on May 22, shortly before the 2014 Shanghai Cruise Tourism Festival began on Sunday.

The three-month festival showcases various cruise products and attracted thousands of participants, which attests to the increasing popularity of cruise holidays among Chinese travelers. During the four-month cruise season, the 18-deck Sapphire Princess will carry approximately 70,000 guests on 24 cruises with itineraries ranging from three to five days.

The voyages include stops in South Korea and Japan, including Seoul, Busan, Jeju Island, Okinawa and more.

"We are excited to bring a new premium cruise travel experience to China's shores," says Alan Buckelew, president and CEO of Princess Cruises.

"Though we have carried thousands of Chinese travelers on our ships for many years, we think the time is right for a premium cruise experience that offers a new type of vacation experience for Chinese consumers sailing from China," he adds.

Launched in 2004, Sapphire Princess is known for its sleek and streamlined design, comfortable cabins and diverse entertainment facilities like theaters, casino, clubs, spa, fitness center and more.

The ship has placed a higher priority on food and shopping to cater to the preferences of Chinese travelers. Princess Cruises also added more crew members who speak Chinese.

Passengers can opt for a fine dining experience with the World Leaders Dinner or savor a hot-pot meal in an ocean-view restaurant. The Grand Ballroom is the place to dance or guests can spend time gazing upon the sea while meditating or doing tai chi. Many special events are offered including the Sommelier Wine Excursion featuring a rare collection of Tuscan and Bordeaux wines, as well as art appreciation and cocktail classes.

"Princess Cruises has blazed many trails in the cruise industry, continuously evolving to meet the needs of today's vacationers, and we're doing so in the China market as well," says Cherry Wang, Carnival plc country director for China.

"The innovations we've developed for our first cruise season here are behind the already promising demand for our Shanghai-based voyages. A place on Sapphire Princess is this summer's hot travel ticket."

Wusongkou International Cruise Terminal cost 870 million yuan (US$139.5 million) and it's set to rival Singapore and Hong Kong as the best in Asia.

According to the Baoshan government, Wusongkou terminal is the largest in Asia and it has received 217 cruise ships and more than 1 million passengers so far this year.

It is estimated that by the end of 2020, the terminal will annually accommodate about 500 cruises and 2.5 million passengers.

Shaped like a giant silver shell, the terminal represents the "eyes of the Yangtze River." It includes a 1.5-kilometer-long wharf.

The Cruise Tourism Festival boasts a myriad of summertime activities and shindigs including art exhibitions, open air concerts, family-themed games at Estuary Science and Technology Museum, lotus appreciation at Gucun Park and more.

The end of this month through early August is the prime time to see lotus flowers at Gucun Park. Take a stroll around the lotus pond or sit in the pavilion and café built next to the pond and avoid the summer heat.

Lotus flowers have often inspired Chinese poets and artists due to their beauty and elegance. Zhou Dunyi, a famous philosopher from the Song Dynasty (960-1279), once wrote an ode to express his admiration of lotus flowers.

He is known to have said the best quality of life is a pure lotus growing out of dirty water.

"It's never entangled, never branched to the side. Its fragrance spreads far, yet its pureness does not fade. Straight, lofty and clean is its character. The world can only behold it from afar, yet never tamper with it," he wrote.

Meanwhile, the "Royal Wares, Brilliant Treasure Exhibition of 18th Century China Snuff Bottles" will be held at Shanghai Museum of Glass in Baoshan. The exhibition runs until April 30, 2015.

Glass snuff bottles represent the most refined and elaborate Chinese glassware techniques. Each one has a unique shape and intricate pattern.

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