The "Ideal" cruise ship commenced its maiden voyage from the Tianjin International Cruise Home Port yesterday, carrying nearly one thousand passengers to Jeju and Busan in South Korea for a six-day, five-night journey at sea. This vessel also marks the first 100,000-ton Chinese-funded cruise ship to operate from the Tianjin port.
As the second international cruise ship under Oriental Cruise Company, the "Ideal" has a gross tonnage of 105,000 tons and a maximum passenger capacity of 3,470. It will be based long-term in Tianjin, having completed trial voyages earlier this month. A sales director from Oriental Cruise mentioned that during the trial period, adjustments were made to address details in areas such as guest rooms and front desk reception, while enhancements were also implemented for onboard performances and dining experiences. Feedback from this inaugural voyage will be collected to further improve passenger services.
Passenger demographics for this voyage showed that over seventy percent traveled as families, with individuals aged sixty and above accounting for more than half of all travelers. The majority of passengers originated from the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, as well as Liaoning, Shandong, Shanxi, and Anhui provinces.
A traveler from Beijing noted that they had previously taken a cruise from Tianjin and were impressed by the recreational facilities and performances. This time, they specifically brought their grandson to experience the new ship.
To facilitate the maiden voyage, border inspection authorities deployed additional personnel and completed information collection for over six hundred crew members from nearly ten countries and regions in advance, streamlining exit procedures. Special channels were set up for elderly passengers and those with mobility challenges to ensure efficient clearance.
Leveraging policy advantages of the Dongjiang Comprehensive Bonded Zone, more than sixty tons of catering supplies and over twenty boxes of crew necessities were pre-positioned using bonded storage, with customs clearance accelerated by approximately six hours compared to traditional methods.
Since the beginning of the year, the Tianjin cruise port has handled over twenty cruise ship entries and exits, with nearly forty thousand passenger movements. The cruise industry, often referred to as a "golden industry floating on the sea," not only boosts tourism but also stimulates related sectors such as manufacturing, maintenance, ship supply, and finance. Recent efforts have focused on integrating cruise travel with music, shore excursions, and wellness activities, while expanding partnerships with local attractions, restaurants, and hotels to offer discounts to cruise passengers. Additional cultural, tourism, and sports events are planned for this year to attract more visitors to Tianjin.
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