Holidays on the water

Majestic Princess, with a capacity of 3,560 guests, is customized for Chinese tourists. The newly launched ship offers a variety of experiences on board and destinations along the cruise's routes. [Photo provided to China Daily]

And while taking in the sea view at the window seats, they can savor dishes prepared by two Michelin star chefs at the French restaurant La Mer and the Chinese restaurant Harmony Specialty.

They can also walk on an 18-meter-long glass walkway and shop at duty-free outlets selling luxury brands, such as Cartier in an area of about 1,100 square meters.

At night, travelers can watch the Las Vegas-style show, Fantastic Journey, that cost $6 billion to produce.

Speaking about the guests' profiles, Wang Ping, the vice-president and general manager of Princess Cruises China, says: "A lot of Chinese guests on Princess Cruises are from Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou. But we also have potential markets in third-and fourth-tier Chinese cities."

She adds that the cruise brand has three home ports in China－Shanghai, Tianjin and Xiamen－but is looking for more opportunities. She emphasizes the importance of good ties with travel agencies, with the help of whom they are able to attract more Chinese business.

Speaking about marketing, Donald says: "Summer means vacation time because children are not in school. So, our marketing strategy is straightforward－to prioritize China.

"We do conventional advertising as well as broadcast on social media."

Last year, 122 million Chinese tourists traveled overseas, up 4.3 percent compared with 2015.