Torstein Hagen, chairman of Viking, predicts that the Chinese cruise market could reach 30m guests by 2035.
He told the China Cruise Shipping event held in Shenzhen that the market will recover to 2019 levels by 2025 and become the largest or second-largest cruise market by 2035.
MSC Cruises China President, Helen Huang, mentioned that MSC is well-prepared to restart in China as they kept their team intact during the pandemic. The MSC Bellissima will undergo drydock in Shanghai in December before its debut in April.
China Merchants, represented by Wei Wu, emphasised the importance of having operational and service standards for cruise companies in China. They currently operate the former Viking Sun in a joint venture with Viking and have built up their own local supply chain.
Customer satisfaction was highlighted by Huang as a key aspect of the cruise experience. The welcoming and friendly shoreside and embarking/disembarking experiences at ports greatly contribute to overall guest satisfaction.
Shanghai Blue Dream International Cruise, a small cruise company, emphasised their ability to quickly adapt to market changes. They cited the example of adding Jeju back as a cruise destination once they received approval.
Cruise companies are shifting their marketing strategies and sales channels. While travel advisors still play a crucial role, MSC has focused more on direct sales channels and establishing a win-win strategy with B2B distribution. They aim to combine online and offline solutions for their marketing endeavours.
