The arrival of Royal Caribbean International’s new Ovation of the Seas at the port city of Tianjin in northeast China, took place today to huge fanfare. The historic milestone was celebrated with the first ever cruise ship naming ceremony in China. The first Chinese Godmother, world famous actress Fan Bingbing, presided over the celebrations which culminated with the maritime tradition of the breaking of a champagne bottle on the hull of the ship to wish good fortune to the ship and all who sail on her. Royal Caribbean already deploys sister ship Quantum of the Seas in China.
Designed and built to deliver an unforgettable vacation experience for guests of all ages, Ovation of the Seas is the first world-class ship to make China its homeport immediately after its delivery. As one of the largest cruise ships ever built, accommodating 4,180 guests at double occupancy and 1,500 international crew members, Ovation of the Seas boasts an array of stunning features and experiences many of which are only on the Ovation and its sister ships Quantum of the Seas (based in Shanghai, China) and Anthem of the Seas (based in Bayonne, NJ, USA).
Michael Bayley, President and CEO, Royal Caribbean International, said “We are excited to bring our newest and most technologically advanced ship to China. The unprecedented first-at-sea experiences will provide an incredible vacation adventure to our guests in the region. Chinese consumers have grown to expect the best the world has to offer, and this ship meets that standard like no other – this is a cruise from the future.”
Royal Caribbean’s innovations in onboard attractions include the North Star, a glass capsule that takes guests more than 300 feet above the ocean for incomparable panoramic views. For guests seeking an adrenaline-fueled experience there is the thrilling RipCord by iFly skydiving experience, and the FlowRider surfing simulators where guests have the opportunity to surf on the high seas. TWO70, a daily social space with incredible 270 degree views of the ocean at the aft of the ship transforms into a multifunctional entertainment place at night. The young at heart will be kept busy at SeaPlex, the largest indoor activity space at sea, that features basketball, roller skating, bumper cars and more.
There are 18 restaurants onboard Ovation with a variety of international cuisines to choose from. Well-appointed accommodations include the unique Loft Suites which offer the most luxurious accommodations at sea, and Virtual Balcony staterooms, interior accommodations with large digital screens displaying real-time views of the destinations the ship visits.
“With the arrival of Ovation of the Seas in Tianjin, Royal Caribbean now has the largest fleet in the region. Now, Chinese guests can enjoy a wider variety of world-class cruise experiences and destinations right from their home market. We believe that this ship will continue to take cruisers to new heights with our extraordinary activities, creative entertainment and diversified dining options.” said Dr. Zinan Liu, President, Royal Caribbean International – China and North Asia Pacific, “We can provide the unforgettable and unexpected cruise experience that the Chinese market deserves.”
As further testament of its commitment to China, Royal Caribbean continues to invest in people though its strategic collaboration with the Tianjin Marine Talent Institute. Royal Caribbean has built a training facility site for onboard crew training and development in hotel operations and over 100,000 jobs have been created in the past four years for major ports cities in China. Royal Caribbean is committed to cultivate talent for the cruising industry in China.
China is the cruise industry’s fastest-growing market in the world and the demand has increased by double digits since 2013. China alone accounted for 1 million cruise passengers last year, up from about 700,000 in 2014, and the Chinese Ministry of Tourism has forecasted 4.5 million passengers by 2020.
2017 Singapore season
Ovation of the Seas will also offer return trips from Singapore in 2017 in March and April, ranging from 3 to 5 nights to Penang, Phuket, Bangkok (Laem Chabang), and a one-way cruise to Tianjin with calls at Ho Chi Minh City (Phu My) for an overnight, Hue/Danang (Chan May), Hong Kong and Seoul (Incheon).
