VIKING has kicked off its inaugural China coastal cruise from Shenzhen with Chinese-flagged ship Yiduan (pictured). The cruise marks the first of the new itineraries to be launched under Viking’s joint venture with China Merchants Shekou (CW 30 Nov 2020). Yiduan, formerly Viking Sun (CW 16 Mar) set sail from...
VIKING has kicked off its inaugural China coastal cruise from Shenzhen with Chinese-flagged ship Yiduan (pictured).
The cruise marks the first of the new itineraries to be launched under Viking’s joint venture with China Merchants Shekou (CW 30 Nov 2020).
Yiduan, formerly Viking Sun (CW 16 Mar) set sail from Shekou port and will cruise to Sanya in Hainan before returning to Shenzhen on an eight-day itinerary, marking the first of a planned series of China Coastal Cultural Cruises.
While Yiduan is Chinese-flagged, it features the brand’s Nordic-style interiors, and the China Coastal Cultural Cruise experience retains many of Viking’s signatures, including a well-curated library of books, enriching lectures, a spa featuring traditional Scandinavian bath rituals, shore excursions with several Privileged Access experiences, and original Viking dining concepts such as Mamsen’s Norwegian deli, Manfredi’s Italian, and more.
Updating Yiduan to prepare her for her new cruises took about 12 months.
“It is very exciting that we are able to launch a brand-new product and the first of its kind in China,” said Viking Chair Torstein Hagen.
“We believe cruising is a boom industry in China, and that Chinese consumers’ demand for cruise travel will continue to grow and become more sophisticated.
“Our joint-venture partnership with the China Merchants Group will enable us to take advantage of this trend.”
