Chinese cruise ship to embark on an epic voyage

The Chinese-funded cruise ship Blue Dream Melody is set to embark on a 33-night ultra-long-haul voyage from Shanghai on November 26, marking the end of a decade-long absence of such extensive itineraries from domestic ports.

This journey will traverse 10 countries and regions, 15 ports, and 17 destinations across Southeast Asia and East Asia. To cater to diverse tourist needs, the trip allows for partial segmented purchase, with total sales reaching 30 percent as of Aug 15, according to the company.

"The route not only serves as a tribute to Zheng He's monumental voyages to the Southern Seas over 600 years ago but is also a proactive engagement with China's Belt and Road Initiative," said Xu Ying, the general manager of Shanghai Blue Dream International Cruises Co Ltd.

Xu highlighted that this itinerary, the first ultra-long Southeast Asian cruise route departing from a domestic port in the past decade, will take travelers through seven ASEAN countries: Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei, and the Philippines. It will also offer visitors the chance to explore eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Before introducing this route, the Blue Dream had already undertaken several lengthy routes, including 7-night trips to four different ports and 11-night journeys to seven ports.

Building on past experiences, the company selected Southeast Asia, which holds greater appeal to Chinese travelers during the winter season, to launch this ultra-long route, aiming to provide tourists with a warm winter getaway, Xu said.