Princess Cruises, the United States-based company that's part of the world's largest cruise ship operator, Carnival Corp & Plc, was officially introduced to the Chinese market on Wednesday.

Shanghai will be the home port for the Sapphire Princess, which can carry 2,670 passengers.

The four-month-long 2014 China season, which runs from May to August, will feature four different itineraries ranging from three to seven days, bound for Seoul and other destinations in South Korea.

"We're excited to bring a new premium cruise travel experience to China's shores. Although we have carried thousands of Chinese travelers on our ships over many years, we think the time is right for a new premium cruise experience that offers a new type of vacation experience for the Chinese consumer, sailing from China," said Alan Buckelew, president and CEO of Princess Cruises .

Jan Swartz, executive president of sales, marketing and customer service, explained that the company is entering China at this moment, because "Chinese consumers' interest in travel has grown dramatically".

(China Daily 08/22/2013 page13)