HAL and China? Possible?

[SilvertoGold]

I thought Volendam was a regular visitor to Shanghai?

 

It spends quite a few months each year in Asia. Looks like mostly not China itself, but the Singapore to Hong Kong route.

 

In Shanghai it usually docks on the Bund which makes this great city a really great port. Just walk off the ship, over the small bridge and there is Nanjing Road and the gateway to everything!

 

Seriously LOVE this port: The Old Town, Yu Yu Gardens, Fuxing Park, French Concession, Oriental Pearl Tower.

[sail7seas]

Have done a few Asia cruises on HAL. The potential for ports in this area are outstanding! Just imagine the back-to-backs you could do.

 

Japan: Yokohama, Kobe, Aomori, Otaru, Kagoshima, Hiroshima, Okinawa.

 

South Korea: Jeju, Busan, Seoul

 

China: Beijing and Dalian

 

Indonesia: Bali, Java , Komodo

 

Taiwan, Singapore, Hong Kong, Philppines, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar

 

Sign me up!!

 

 

 

What is the minimum number of days a cruise boarding in Shanghai needs to sail to be at all interesting for Asian/.Chinese guests? The minimum......

 

Thanks.

 

[SilvertoGold]

What is the minimum number of days a cruise boarding in Shanghai needs to sail to be at all interesting for Asian/.Chinese guests? The minimum......

 

Thanks.

 

 

I have no idea about Chinese preferences.

 

In this area, I prefer 3 weeks, 2 at minimum.

[Lovely other]

I just asked my mother in law about this ...she thinks they'll need to have a bigger casino as the chinese are prolific gamblers and food available for much longer hours. I'm always astounded at my in-laws food consumption :eek:

 

As a European married into a chinese family I find the idea interesting and would love to cruise from China but I see a few issues culturally. The hotel service charge will not go down well for a start ...

[taxmantoo]

If HAL were to offer a cruise out of Shanghai, I could definitely see us doing it. What a wonderful way to see that part of the world without needing to do a "too long for us" cruise. A few days in China, before and after, would make the package complete. As for cultural differences that might need to be accommodated onboard, I see that as adding to the adventure. Wherever we travel, we enjoy visiting the areas where we can enjoy the local way of life. I think it would be fascinating to actually live with one of those cultures on a ship. If it ever happens, count us IN.

 

That is exactly why we chose Princess for this year and are leaving in a few days. Fly to Beijing, three days in Beijing, fly to Shanghai, three days in Shanghai, 17 days on the Sapphire Princess to South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Bangkok and finishing with three days in Singapore. Really looking forward to our first visit to this part of the world. Would have preferred to go with HAL but not a big fan of the Volendam or the time of year they do a similar voyage.

[rkacruiser]

Personally, I think the idea of placing the newbuild in the Pacific region is quite possible. As others have pointed out, the variety of itineraries is quite numerous.

 

It is my understanding that relatively short vacations are what most Chinese people expect. I think it will be a major marketing challenge for all of the cruise companies to fill their ships each and every voyage without also marketing these cruises to the North American, Australian/New Zealnd, and European market.

 

The deafening silence from Seattle about the newbuild could also be explained by "where are we going to put the new ship" discussion.

[mariner]

What I find funny is this: A shift to an Asian itinerary aint about North Americans. You're baggage. The cruise will be geared to those who live there.

[sail7seas]

What I find funny is this: A shift to an Asian itinerary aint about North Americans. You're baggage. The cruise will be geared to those who live there.

 

Yes, of course.

That is the point. The 'perhaps' continuing emergence of a middle-class in China. When North Americans moan about cost of air to FLL, they are not likely to go in droves to sail from Shanghai. I think it will be the 'usuals' who will make such a journey but certainly not most of us. Most working people don't have that kind of time and how many retired people with the means would be interested in addition to Grand Voyages and WC? Home porting a ship in China is about selling cruises to the Chinese/Asians.

Edited August 24, 2014 by sail7seas

[mariner]

They wont want us. Period. Might have a menu and program in English. An announcement in English. They don't want us.

[PathfinderEss]

What I find funny is this: A shift to an Asian itinerary aint about North Americans. You're baggage. The cruise will be geared to those who live there.

 

Very true........:)

[USN59-79]

That is exactly why we chose Princess for this year and are leaving in a few days. Fly to Beijing, three days in Beijing, fly to Shanghai, three days in Shanghai, 17 days on the Sapphire Princess to South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Bangkok and finishing with three days in Singapore. Really looking forward to our first visit to this part of the world. Would have preferred to go with HAL but not a big fan of the Volendam or the time of year they do a similar voyage.

 

We are doing the same thing although we are doing two 17 days on Sapphire Princess B2B. Will spend a couple of days in Shanghai pre-cruise and a few days in Beijing post cruise. One of the reasons we chose this cruise was because of the stop in Taiwan. Not sure why HAL never stops there; even on our two Grand Asias they bypassed Taiwan. We have taken three repositioning cruises on the Diamond Princess from Beijing to Vancouver and have noticed that each year there was a higher percentage of Asian passengers on board.

[taxmantoo]

They wont want us. Period. Might have a menu and program in English. An announcement in English. They don't want us.

 

A bit of paranoia maybe :confused: Your logic would conclude that the cruises leaving Fort Lauderdale would not want anyone that is not American :rolleyes: I think you need to go out more often.

[chrispb]

They wont want us. Period. Might have a menu and program in English. An announcement in English. They don't want us.

 

I don't think it's a case of "not wanting you". There's a whole new market opened up in China so I'm sure HAL doesn't want to miss the boat (pun intended:) ) Costa already have a ship based in the Far East and I'm sure other cruise lines will follow suit.

 

Nothing stopping you from joining them either:cool:

Edited August 24, 2014 by chrispb

[MickyBee]

 

I was so hoping someone would post like you have. I'd love to know more about this cruise.

 

Were the menus Asian oriented? Would most North Americans be okay with the food?

Were any announcements in English?

Who crewed the ship? The usual stewards and bartenders we are accustomed to?

 

Activities?

Non-Asians feel 'out of place'?

So many questions but I find the idea very interesting.

 

Thanks if you care to share any about your experience.

 

The menu had a few Asian style dishes on it, but mostly what I would consider average North American fare.

 

The announcements were in three languages; English, Chinese, and, ummmm, lol, I don't remember the third, Korean or Japanese, I believe.

 

The crew was mostly Filipino. I'm not sure if that is the usual as it was my first cruise.

 

We certainly didn't feel "out of place", but one thing that was a little funny was all the photos being taken. The spiral staircase was constantly filled with people posing for photos.... and I don't mean a few quick shots, more like full blown photo shoots, LOL. No matter where you were on the ship, you would see girls sprawled on furniture, even on the piano in the piano bar, putting on their best sultry look for the camera, it was quite entertaining.

 

Michele

[NMLady]

Someone is a little confused. Royal caribbean's Princess sapphire. It's the sapphire princess. Not royal.

 

In two different places the article says Quantum of the Seas.

That IS a Royal Caribbean ship.

[NMLady]

:) The site suggested I subscribe! Otherwise, no article.

 

Sapper cited the entire article in the third post because of the subscription requirement. So you can read the article in the third post.

Edited August 24, 2014 by NMLady

[USN59-79]

In two different places the article says Quantum of the Seas.

That IS a Royal Caribbean ship.

 

That is correct. But if you read further, it mentions a software engineer and her husband taking a five day cruise on "Royal Caribbean's Princess Sapphire". That is what people are mentioning; the implication is that if they can't get the ship and cruiseline correct, what else is bogus in the article?

[cruz chic]

In two different places the article says Quantum of the Seas.

That IS a Royal Caribbean ship.

 

And your point is? Sapphire Princess is not royal and that is what I pointed out. I did not say anything about the other ship so why would you even bring that up?

[mariner]

The point is if the line is marketing to Asians they are not marketing to North Americans. So don't expect things to be the same.