Viking Cruises announced the first voyage of Zhao Shang Yi Dun-Viking Sun under a joint-venture with China Merchants Shekou on October 1.
The vessel departed from Port Shenzhen-Shekou on an 8-day roundtrip to Sanya (Hainan Island's southern coast).
The ship is China-flagged, with Nordic style interiors, and a spa featuring Scandinavian bath rituals, original Viking restaurant concepts like Manfredi’s Italian Restaurant and Mamsen’s Norwegian Deli.
Viking's Chairman, Torsten Hagen, expressed excitement of launching the innovative product, which is the first of its kind in China. He recommended the Chinese guests to feel the chance to enjoy the new way of experiencing their own area in a brand new way, enriched with Nordic hospitality.
Wee-Hoon Tan, Vice President of the architect of the new product, Product Development & Marketing, said:
"The experience that we set out to create is one built on what has made Viking a success around the world and popular with our Chinese guests. We then added locally relevant elements to complement it.
"We hope every guest onboard CM-Yidun will appreciate the details that went into the design of this product and continue to feel the same vibe that Viking has come to be known for in China – warm feeling of 'home,' a 'thinking person's cruise'."
The novelties, such as the guqin - a stylish classical Chinese instrument, connected to a live music mix gives guests a homey ambiance, together with the refurbishment of the bars and restaurants. The innovations include the face-recognition temperature scanners and ultra-violet light disinfecting robots, which give the necessary traveling safety.