In another move aimed at expanding cruising in China, Carnival Corp. & PLC is exploring two potential joint ventures with a Chinese transportation and real estate development company.
The Miami-based cruise company has signed a memorandum of understanding with China Merchants Group — China’s oldest state enterprise — to consider developing ports, destinations and ship-owning ventures.
The partnerships could result in launching the first Chinese domestic cruise brand, Carnival said.
In recent years, the world’s largest cruise company has been bullish about growing its presence in China.
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Two of its nine cruise brands — Costa Cruises and Princess Cruises — operate ships there. By April, Carnival will have four company ships based in China: Costa Serena, Costa Atlantica, Costa Victoria and Sapphire Princess.
From 2013 to 2015, Carnival will increase its presence in China by 140 percent.
This year, the company’s ships expect to carry a half-million cruise passengers in China, Carnival said.
Through the new ship-owning joint-venture, Carnival and CMG would own and operate cruise ships for its domestic cruise line catering to Chinese travelers. The new venture might design and build its cruise ships in China as well as acquire existing vessels.
As part of its port and destination development partnership, Carnival and CMG would jointly develop turnaround and transit ports within and around China beginning with a flagship port now being developed by CMG in Shekou, Shenzhen.
The agreement “signifies a great opportunity to take the next step in the future of Chinese cruising, while addressing some key needs for both the cruise industry and its passengers in China,” Carnival Corp.’s chief operating officer, Alan Buckelew, said in a statement.
In October, Carnival announced another potential joint venture with a Chinese shipbuilder as part of its efforts to develop cruising in China.
China’s cruise industry is poised to become one of the world’s cruise largest markets by 2020, with 4.5 million passengers, according to data from the Chinese Ministry of Transport.
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