Xiamen port sets daily record for number of luxury liners

Three luxury liners drop anchor at the Xiamen International Cruise Home Port in East China's Fujian province on Oct 30. [Photo/xmnn.cn]

Three luxury liners dropped anchor at the Xiamen International Cruise Home Port in East China's Fujian province on Oct 30, setting a new daily record for luxury liners to pass through the port in one day.

Firstly, the liner Costa Atlantica, made by the largest cruise ship company in Europe, Costa Crociere, headed for Manila, capital of the Philippines, from the Xiamen port at 3pm with nearly 2,400 tourists on board.

Then, Viking Orion, an international cruiser operated by Viking Cruises, the world's largest small ocean cruise ship firm, arrived at the port at 4pm, carrying more than 900 tourists from Europe and the United States to the Chinese city at 4pm.

Finally, SuperStar Gemini from Hong Kong's cruise ship company Star Cruises arrived at the port with 1,800 Chinese tourists at 5pm.

The Viking Orion is set to stay in Xiamen for three days, which marks the first occasion that a European luxury liner has stopped in the city for some considerable time.

Organized by local travel agents Sea Holiday Cruises, the liner's 900 tourists will experience traditional Chinese activities and tour the coastal city, such as practicing tai chi, savoring tea, visiting Gulangyu Island, a must-see in Xiamen, and shopping in Bashi, the most popular market among local residents.

Chen Zhigang, vice president of the travel agents, said that Viking liners are expected to sail to and from China from this year to 2022, which indicates China's booming cruise travel market is becoming more attractive to international cruise ship companies.