On July 24, the first cruise ship “Gulangyu” under Astro Ocean Cruise, jointly funded by CTG Travel Group and COSCO SHIPPING Group, held an opening ceremony in Shanghai Wusongkou Internaitonal Cruise Terminal, marking the return of China’s first state-funded luxury cruise ship back to the Chinese market.
The “Gulangyu”, which is approximately 70,000 gross tons and can accommodate up to 1,880 passengers, was officially unveiled at the end of September 2019 for the Chinese market. The hull of the cruise ship is made of teak deck and tier ducktail classic design. The interior of the ship is equipped with a panoramic bar surrounded by 270-degree floor-to-ceiling Windows in the 4-story atrium with Tiffany glass ceiling, a wide waterfront promenade, complete facilities, with elegant decor full of rich British aristocratic atmosphere.
On July 25th, “Gulangyu” sailed away from Shanghai Wusongkou Internaitonal Cruise Terminal with blessings and expectations, officially restarting the operation of home port in China. With the opening of the experiential trial voyage, the “Gulangyu” will provide a series of routes via a number of popular tourist destinations, including Osaka, Fukuoka, Nagasaki, Sasebo and Kagoshima in Japan, and Jeju in South Korea.