Ctrip Appoints WSS as Agent for Cruise Ship Venture

China travel services provider Ctrip has furthered its expansion into the cruise market with the appointment of Wilhelmsen Ships Service (WSS) as its General Agent in China.

The partnership, which was announced at the official Ctrip vessel naming ceremony last week, will see WSS China providing full ships agency services in Japan to Ctrip’s brand new fleet, the M/S ‘SKYSEA GOLDEN ERA’, cruise vessel operating across routes between China and Japan.

This new relationship comes as the Chinese cruise market continues to expand at a rapid rate. WSS Ships Agency Manager for China, Emilia Shao said, “With a general improvement in standards of living across China, more and more people are choosing cruise as a travel option. The Chinese maritime industry is seeing a shift from the traditional merchant shipping sector to the cruise market.”

“This new and exciting Chinese cruise market brings with it opportunities for entertainment, catering and tourism, subsequently improving our employment rate and the steadily blooming Chinese economy.”

The Port Operations Director of Skysea Cruise Line said:  “The port calls that our cruise vessels will make will typically be short, and the ability to coordinate timely and safe berthing with local authorities is vital. Working with a global ships agency such as WSS, who has extensive experience in the Asian cruise market and who can provide a fast, accurate, end to end service, makes perfect sense.”

Working closely with growing numbers of cruise customers around the world, WSS provides full agency services including port call and vessel service pre-planning, arrival and clearance arrangements, monitoring of vessel operations, boarding and departure management and disbursement accounts.