On Australia Day, the former
‘Australia’s favourite ship’
departed on its maiden Chinese
voyage for its new owners.
HNA Tourism Cruise and Yacht Management
has commenced operation of China’s first and
largest cruise ship, the MS Henna.
The vessel was built in 1986 for Carnival
Cruise Lines as the MS Jubilee and since 2004
it operated as P&O Australia’s Pacific Sun.
On 26 January, the ship made its debut for
HNA, the first mainland company in China to
own a cruise ship, sailing from Sanya-Ha Long
Bay to Da Nang.
Sanya and Tianjin will serve as homeports,
with Vietnam and South Korea as destinations.
The maiden voyage of Henna marks HNA’s
official entering into the cruise tourism market,
breaking the monopoly of foreign cruise companies
in the Chinese market and providing local
tourists with a new choice in cruise holidays.
According to the Chinese brand, a cruise
aboard Henna costs the same as the price of
accommodation in Sanya.
The ship has a maximum passenger capacity
of 1,965 passengers.
From January to April, it will run along three
routes: Sanya to Halong Bay; Sanya to Da
Nang; and Sanya-Halong Bay-Da Nang.
From May to September, its homeport will be
shifted to Tianjin, with a new route launching
between Tianjin, Incheon and Jeju Island.
