Royal Caribbean, Ctrip to establish Chinese cruise brand
Royal Caribbean Cruises has unveiled more plans in its proposed tie-up with Shanghai based Ctrip.com as it looks to exploit the fast growing Chinese cruise market.
RCCL and Ctrip will form a joint venture to be named SkySea Cruises.
Royal Caribbean and Ctrip will each own 35 percent of the new venture with the remaining shareholding controlled by SkySea management and a private equity fund.
"We look forward to working with Ctrip, a Chinese travel leader, to build a national cruise line for China," said RCCL Chairman and CEO Richard D. Fain.
"SkySea Cruises represents an important strategic milestone in our expansion efforts in the Chinese market."
Through its online travel agency, Ctrip has approximately 10% share of the Chinese cruise market.
RCCL said it could begin operations some time in 2015 and sales and marketing for the new company is already underway.
Next April, Ctrip will assume ownership of RCCL’s Celebrity Century after a sale was agreed in September, and at the time both parties said they may expand a working relationship.
Royal Caribbean’s new ship Quantum of the Seas will sail out of Shanghai from April.
TravelMole Editorial Team
Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
France prepares for a massive strike across all transports on September 18
Turkish tourism stalls due to soaring prices for accommodation and food
CCS Insight: eSIMs ready to take the travel world by storm
Germany new European Entry/Exit System limited to a single airport on October 12, 2025
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt