Tianjin cruises unaffected by blasts

TIANJIN - The massive warehouse blasts in north China's Tianjin have not affected arrival and departure of cruises from the port city, according to cruise companies and a trade association.

Henna Cruise, operated by China's HNA Cruise Co., Ltd., will reach Tianjin Port at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, said Zheng Weihang, vice head of the Cruise & Yacht Industry Sub-Association of the China Communications and Transportation Association.

Henna will be the first cruise ship to dock at the gateway to north China since the blasts that have left 50 people dead and more than 700 injured.

The cruise has no plans to change its scheduled departure from the port at 11:59 pm on Saturday.

Another cruise, Mariner of the Seas from Royal Caribbean International, will arrive on Saturday with 3,200 tourists after a five-day trip to Japan.

The company expects no trouble docking in Tianjin Port, but it has made new arrangements to transport tourists after they disembark, said Hu Yanfei, a staff member at Royal Caribbean International.

Costa Cruises also said the scheduled arrival of its cruise Atlantica in Tianjin on Aug. 17 will also not be affected.