Construction Begins on Cruise Ship in China

China has started construction of a 2,000-passenger cruise ship, the first major cruise ship to be built in that nation. According to a report by China News Service, the 100,000-ton ship will cost 3.1 billion yuan, or about $488 million, and take nearly four years to build.

The ship is to be operated by Beijing-based Shan Hai Shu Group, a conglomerate that has a partnership with Royal Caribbean International to develop cruising.

Chinese officials said the ship will sail from the Port of Xiamen, and is part of a larger package intended to add tourism and shipbuilding to the port's portfolio. The port is currently devoted to cargo shipping.

The package includes a cruise terminal with a large shopping complex and a shipping business center. The ship is aimed at Chinese travelers and is part of an initiative to stimulate domestic spending and develop a broader middle class in China, the news service report said.

In May, Royal Caribbean deployed the 3,114-passenger Voyager of the Seas on a series of cruises from Shanghai and Tianjin, joining the Legend of the Seas, which has been operating in China since 2010. Next year, Mariner of the Seas is also scheduled to be repositioned to China.

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