How young Chinese travellers are fuelling a cruise ship holiday boom
Advertisement
Living in Shanghai, a
major global port city with regular cruise ship departures, gave him an idea. Dong saw business potential in organising group trips that would bring former students back together for quality time at sea.
Over the past three years, he has organised weeklong round-trip cruises for groups ranging from four to 30 people, with some journeys reaching as far as Japan. Travellers pay between 3,000 (US$418) and 10,000 yuan each, depending on the ship's level of luxury.
Dong's venture is part of a growing trend among younger Chinese travellers – particularly high school and university graduates – who are increasingly embracing ocean cruises as a social way to travel, analysts have found.
Cruise ships provide a unique environment for groups to bond, with recreational activities and shared spaces without the limitations of crowding into a rented apartment.
Advertisement
'It's not quite a road trip or hiking – [passengers] can't do that on ships, so those are the limitations,' Dong said. 'But they can be in a communal space enjoying lots of activities.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South China Morning Post
20 minutes ago
- South China Morning Post
Will China's bid to boost domestic demand pay off?
At the World Economic Forum's 'Summer Davos' meeting in Tianjin last month, Premier Li Qiang said that China is evolving into a 'mega-sized consumption powerhouse'. This was more than a rhetorical flourish. It marked a reaffirmation of Beijing's long-standing ambition to change its growth model, placing domestic demand , rather than exports or real estate, at the heart of the economy. This vision is not new. Policymakers have been talking about rebalancing for over a decade. But the timing of Li's message is noteworthy: global demand is faltering, supply chains are shifting and geopolitical tensions are reshaping the global trade landscape. For China – and much of Asia – this consumption pivot could be transformative, provided it is backed by strong structural reform. As for now, China's efforts could go either way. On one hand, retail sales rose 6.4 per cent year on year in May – consumer spending saw the strongest growth in nearly 18 months – buoyed by the 618 shopping festival and a suite of policy incentives. Electric vehicle purchases have surged. reported a double-digit increase in sales of household appliances. These are encouraging signs that Chinese households are cautiously returning to the market. According to the National Bureau of Statistics, retail sales reached 4.1 trillion yuan (US$572 billion) in May. The broader context is more complicated. Imports declined for a second straight month in June, indicating that internal demand – while recovering – is still uneven. As of last year, China's per capita savings stood at 24.5 per cent, lower than the Covid-era peak of 2022 but still quite high. Meanwhile, the purchasing manager's index edged up to 49.7 in June but remained in contraction territory, reinforcing the urgency of domestic demand as a stabilising force. These figures underscore the reality that China faces: a steady return to consumption tempered by structural frictions that inhibit a full economic handoff. Part of the caution stems from structural factors. Chinese households still save at high rates, shaped by a legacy of limited social safety nets and concerns around healthcare, education and retirement. Disposable income rose 5.5 per cent in the first quarter of 2025, but that growth has yet to translate into broad-based confidence.
South China Morning Post
an hour ago
- South China Morning Post
Chinese Premier Li Qiang hails ‘best in history' Brazil ties as he meets Lula in Rio
Chinese Premier Li Qiang has lauded his country's growing ties with Brazil as at their 'best in history', as both nations brace for a battle with the US over trade and the global order. Advertisement Meeting Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva for talks on Saturday ahead of the Brics summit in Rio de Janeiro, Li said the two sides were 'working together to build a more just world'. 'The two sides are working together to build a China-Brazil community of shared future in a more just world and a more sustainable planet,' the Chinese foreign ministry quoted Li as saying. The Chinese premier is in Rio de Janeiro for the annual two-day summit of the Brics bloc , an emerging economies group of which China and Brazil are founding members. The bloc takes its name from the initials of early members – Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa – and has expanded to include Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Ethiopia, Indonesia, and Iran. Li Qiang and Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva pose with Chinese Finance Minister Lan Foan (far left) and Brazil's Economy Minister Fernando Haddad after the signing of a bilateral agreement, in Rio de Janeiro on Friday. Photo: AFP
South China Morning Post
2 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
Will China's bid to boost domestic demand pay off?
At the World Economic Forum's 'Summer Davos' meeting in Tianjin last month, Premier Li Qiang said that China is evolving into a 'mega-sized consumption powerhouse'. This was more than a rhetorical flourish. It marked a reaffirmation of Beijing's long-standing ambition to change its growth model, placing domestic demand , rather than exports or real estate, at the heart of the economy. This vision is not new. Policymakers have been talking about rebalancing for over a decade. But the timing of Li's message is noteworthy: global demand is faltering, supply chains are shifting and geopolitical tensions are reshaping the global trade landscape. For China – and much of Asia – this consumption pivot could be transformative, provided it is backed by strong structural reform. As for now, China's efforts could go either way. On one hand, retail sales rose 6.4 per cent year on year in May – consumer spending saw the strongest growth in nearly 18 months – buoyed by the 618 shopping festival and a suite of policy incentives. Electric vehicle purchases have surged. reported a double-digit increase in sales of household appliances. These are encouraging signs that Chinese households are cautiously returning to the market. According to the National Bureau of Statistics, retail sales reached 4.1 trillion yuan (US$572 billion) in May. The broader context is more complicated. Imports declined for a second straight month in June, indicating that internal demand – while recovering – is still uneven. As of last year, China's per capita savings stood at 24.5 per cent, lower than the Covid-era peak of 2022 but still quite high. Meanwhile, the purchasing manager's index edged up to 49.7 in June but remained in contraction territory, reinforcing the urgency of domestic demand as a stabilising force. These figures underscore the reality that China faces: a steady return to consumption tempered by structural frictions that inhibit a full economic handoff. Part of the caution stems from structural factors. Chinese households still save at high rates, shaped by a legacy of limited social safety nets and concerns around healthcare, education and retirement. Disposable income rose 5.5 per cent in the first quarter of 2025, but that growth has yet to translate into broad-based confidence.
