The cruise ship "Piano Land." (Photo: China News servie/Zhang Wei)
(ECNS) - The first luxury cruise ship from Astro Ocean, a new cruise line co-founded by China Travel Service and China COSCO Shipping, completed its maiden voyage from Xiamen in Fujian Province to Hong Kong on Saturday.
The 70,000-ton cruise ship "Piano Land" measures 260 meters long and 32.2 meters wide, with a capacity of 1,880 passengers. The ship’s decor and services are said to best represent Chinese identities and tastes. The ship’s facilities include gyms, basketball courts, tennis courts and shops.
While extending his welcome to the ship, Paul Chan Mo-po, financial secretary of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, said the city aims to be an international tourism hub and will boost efforts to develop a diversified cruise industry.
The ship is expected to operate other voyages in 2019, including routes to Southeast Asia and Northeast Asia from home ports in Xiamen, Shenzhen and Shanghai.
