Majestic Princess: Princess Cruises names new €600 million ship designed for …

The rapidly expanding Chinese cruise market has seen a parade of international ships moving to China. MSC Cruises announced last month that it will deploy its 1,976-passenger MSC Lirica to Shanghai, while Royal Caribbean’s Quantum of the Seas sails from Shanghai. Following its launch in China next April Ovation of the Seas will sail from Tianjin.

China has the potential to deliver 83 million cruise passengers a year according to a recent study by the Hong Kong Tourism Board.

• China plots domination of the global cruise market

Princess ships began homeport cruising in China in 2014 with an inaugural season of Shanghai-based cruises aboard Sapphire Princess, which visited cities including Seoul (Incheon), Busan and Jeju Island in South Korea and Fukuoka (Hakata), Kagoshima, Okinawa and Nagasaki in Japan. Majestic Princess will be based in China year round and will begin sailing to Japan and South Korea (ports not yet confirmed) from Shanghai in summer 2017.

SeaWalk

Most of the signature features shared by sister ships Royal, and Regal Princess, will also be on the new ship, including the above-the-water SkyWalk which is cantilevered over the sea, Starboard; a multi-level atrium; multiple dining venues including the exclusive Chef’s Table Lumiere; the adults-only Sanctuary spa and the on-deck Movies Under the Stars cinema experience.

Eighty per cent (all outside staterooms) of Majestic’s cabins will have balconies. These will be configured to appeal to families and multi-generational travellers.

Read more: Saga’s all-new balcony cruise ship

Weighing in at 143,000 grt and with a build cost of €600 million Majestic Princess is being built at the Italian shipyard Fincantieri, where PO Cruises’ Britannia, Princess’s Royal and Regal Princess and Carnival Magic were built.

Telegraph Cruise Travel Show

Monty Halls will be speaking at this month’s Telegraph Cruise Travel Show about his adventures in the Galapagos, and the Sardine Run in South Africa.The former Royal Marine turned travel adventurer will headline the show, being held at Exhibition Centre Liverpool on Saturday October 17 and Sunday October 18, from 10am-5pm.

More than 50 cruise lines will be exhibiting along with travel experts, Telegraph journalists and cruise experts. Cruise lines include Viking Cruises, Noble Caledonia and Hurtigruten. Tickets cost £10; discounted price available (use code: TELETRAVEL). Offer ends October 16.

For more information, to book a ticket and to pre-book a session with a Cruise Lines International Association expert, see telegraph.co.uk/cruisetravelshow.