2018 Three Gorges Century Cruise is about to open up new routes

Three Gorges Century Cruise welcomes a new voyage

At present, the Three Gorges cruise ships on the Yangtze River have officially entered the era of large ships. The history of Century Cruise is actually not long, and it is currently in a thriving stage of development. In 2003, the 'Star of the World' was launched, and we redefined the new standards for luxury cruise ships on the Yangtze River, "Huang Yun told reporters; From 2008 to 2010, "Century Diamond" and "Century Gemstone" pioneered technological innovations within cruise ships; In 2013, "Century Myth" and "Century Legend" were released; In 2017, "Century Glory" officially started construction. Huang Yun introduced that on November 28, 2017, the groundbreaking ceremony of the new ship "Century Glory" of Century Cruise was officially launched in Fuling. The construction of the new ship adheres to the four indicators of safety, green, intelligence, and comfort. After completion, 'Century Glory' will be the luxury cruise ship with the largest passenger volume and displacement tonnage on the Yangtze River, and is expected to be completed in 2019 We are not satisfied with being the leader of Yangtze River Three Gorges cruise ships. Faced with the abundant inland resources in China, the idea of developing new routes has been formed for a long time, and we finally decided to come to Shanghai and settle in the Shanghai Port International Passenger Transport Center in 2015. After more than two years of exploration and practice, we have basically clarified our positioning and will launch the Jiangnan route in the spring of 2018. Not only that, this voyage took an unusual route and added many highlights, including Zhangjiagang Shuangshan Island, Xiangshan Scenic Area, Port Carving Tower, Xinghua Rapeseed Flower stomping Field, Qinhu Wetland Scenic Area, etc. "China has been a nation of ceremonies since ancient times, and Chinese people pay the most attention to the inheritance of culture. This time, the" Century Emperor "went to the south of the Yangtze River in the misty rain, which can be said to follow the footsteps of Emperor Qianlong. It is a cultural journey, an elegant journey, so that cruise tourists can look at the ancient and modern times and enjoy the Yangtze River." In addition, Huang Yun revealed to reporters that in addition to traveling to the south of the Yangtze River, they are also planning a two-day trip from the Huangpu River to the mouth of the Yangtze River in combination with the waterway advantages of the Huangpu River in Shanghai. Compared with other routes, this voyage focuses more on leisure and privacy, which is more suitable for the busy urban people at present. Spend a weekend, bring friends or family, and slow down the pace, enjoy a slow life.

The inland cruise market still has potential

When it comes to inland cruise ships, it basically refers to the Three Gorges tour of the Yangtze River. Even though Century Cruise has begun to expand new routes, it is difficult to say how popular the audience will be. Moreover, in the face of the increasing popularity of international cruise routes, how can inland cruise ships break through the encirclement? "In response to reporters' questions, Huang Yun clearly stated that the inland cruise market still has potential and is worth paying attention to.

Compared with international cruise ships, inland cruise ships have their own advantages. Firstly, river boats are also a type of cruise tourism. Compared with traditional land-based itineraries, they have the advantage of providing all inclusive meals, accommodation, and transportation without the need to change hotels. The entire itinerary is also serviced by the onboard staff, so you don't have to worry at all. It can be said that the entire journey will be very relaxed and comfortable. Secondly, river boats and ocean cruise ships are not exactly the same. Compared with ocean cruise ships, the biggest feature of river cruise tourism lies in the richness of port shore itineraries. Ocean cruise ships can only dock at ports far away from the city center, while river cruise ports are usually the most central and bustling areas of the city, providing a more convenient way to gain a deeper understanding of the city's culture and characteristics. River wheel companies are increasingly focusing on developing more distinctive shore itineraries for tourists to choose from, such as cycling trips, kayaking trips, wine tasting trips, and concerts, among others. Compared with long-distance sea voyages by ocean cruise ships, inland cruise ships do not have the concept of sea cruising. They stop at ports every day, sometimes even several ports a day, which also provides more destinations for tourists to explore in their itinerary. Most river boats also choose to sail at night, allowing tourists ample time to visit their destinations during the day. In addition, due to the very flat and calm river and water flow, all passengers taking inland cruise ships do not have to worry about seasickness. Inland river cruise ships have no formal dress requirements for passengers, and they focus on comfort and leisure, which is more in line with Chinese habits. But there are also many areas that inland cruise ships need to break through.

Firstly, domestic cruise ships such as those in the Three Gorges of the Yangtze River have been using the traditional group tour model, with fixed sightseeing spots and tourism forms. The general itinerary is about three nights and four days, which is somewhat short and lacks novelty in terms of itinerary and services. Compared to mature European river cruise ships, there is still a significant gap. Secondly, the inland cruise ship market is currently in a state of oversupply. Unlike the representative Yangtze River Three Gorges cruise ships in China, the river cruise market has always been a market focus for various enterprises in the international tourism market. Taking Europe as an example, there are a total of 170 luxury cruise ships on the Danube and Rhine rivers, which are highly popular among tourists and have become an important part of the local economy and culture as downstream industries. However, the Yangtze River, which has a similar voyage, has less than one fourth of its number of cruise ships.

In addition, the experience and luxury of China's inland cruise products also need to be improved. According to relevant data, the Yangtze River cruise area has an annual capacity to receive 200000 to 300000 high-end tourists, especially as the consumption proportion of middle-aged and elderly people continues to rise, and is expected to account for 15.43% in 2020. The consumption model of inland river cruise ships integrating travel, sightseeing, food, accommodation, and entertainment is highly popular among middle-aged and elderly people. But currently, most of the cruise products on the Yangtze River route are conventional products, and there are relatively few products that focus on high-end experiences. Due to the poor experience of inland river cruise ships, many tourists would rather increase their travel costs to choose more mature international cruise ships or foreign inland river cruise products, "said Huang Yun.

All of the above are challenges for us, but the greater the challenge, the greater the opportunity, and the greater the market potential, "Huang Yun continued." Century Cruise's visit to Shanghai is to explore new products and routes. At the same time, we will continue to deeply cultivate the Three Gorges market of the Yangtze River, providing more choices and higher quality services for tourists who are enthusiastic about inland cruise ships

If European river cruise ships are compared to a mature and elegant noblewoman, then China's river cruise ships are just a young girl who is "kept in the unknown". If you want to grow, imitate, or find a new path, you cannot avoid enduring the wind and rain. Century Cruise is brave enough to be this explorer. Would you be willing to follow the brave warriors to see different scenery?