Cruise ship MSC Splendida arrives in Xiamen
The cruise ship MSC Splendida embarked on its maiden voyage in Xiamen, East China's Fujian province on Nov 21, according to local media reports.
The 4,363-passenger MSC Splendida, operated by Swiss-Italian international shipping line Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), offers a fun-filled, informal cruising experience in a lavish setting that includes Swarovski crystal studded staircases.
The ship, carrying roughly 4,000 passengers bound for Manila, capital of the Philippines for a journey of five days and four nights, is the largest capacity cruise ship to ever dock at a local Xiamen port.
According to Huang Ruiling, president of MSC's China region, the cruise ship is scheduled to make four stops after Xiamen, including Okinawa, Nagasaki, and other ports along the Maritime Silk Road.
As of October 2019, the Xiamen International Cruise Home Port had received 110 cruise ships and welcomed 329,000 passengers, respective year-on-year increases of 30.95 percent and 21.55 percent.
The port now operates shipping routes to nine countries and more than 20 ports, including Japan and Southeast Asian countries.
The cruise ship MSC Splendida embarks on its maiden voyage in Xiamen, East China's Fujian province on Nov 21 [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
Why Xiamen
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Xiamen is one of the most economically competitive cities in China and was one of the first Special Economic Zones on the Chinese mainland. As a vice-provincial city independently listed on the State development plan, it has provincial-level authority in economic administration and local legislative power. In 2010, the Xiamen SEZ was expanded to cover the entire municipality. Today, Xiamen is a modern and international port city.