Cruise line brand Royal Caribbean International delivered a new ship to China on Friday to cater the country's rapidly expanding market.

The third ship of the Quantum series Ovation of the Seas is being dubbed as the first major cruise ship customized to suit the Chinese palate. The vessel, which can carry more than 4,000 passengers, will be based in Tianjin. This will give Royal Caribbean four home ports in the country, namely, Tianjin, Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Xiamen.

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The cruise ship, which was built at Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany, will join four other Royal Caribbean ships previously deployed in the country, including Quantum, Legend of the Seas, Mariner of the Seas, and Voyager of the Seas. With Ovation's arrival, Royal Caribbean will become China's biggest cruise fleet.

Cruise lines recently started sending their newest and cutting-edge vessels in China to tap the increasing domestic demand for cruises. The first ship of the series, Quantum of the Seas, was also devoted to China's growing market and is sailing all year round out of Shanghai.

The Royal Caribbean cruise ships will offer three- to 12-nights sailing towards neighboring Asian countries such as Korea, Japan, Vietnam, and Taiwan.

Meanwhile, China is set to launch a direct cruise line service to Japan on April 17, a move that also supports China's growing cruise travel industry. Cruise liner SuperStar Virgo will set its maiden voyage from Nansha port in Guangzhou city, China, to Okinawa and Miyakojima, Japan, and back again.

China's cruise travel market is expected to surge by 2020 with an anticipated 4.5 million annual passengers,  four times higher than the current 1 million yearly cruise liner travelers in the country.

TagsRoyal Caribbean, Royal Caribbean International, Cruise Ship, china, Ovation of the Seas, Quantum of the Seas, Travel