In the first cooperation agreement of this kind, China has chartered Royal Caribbean’s Legend of the Seas for a period of four months next year. It will embark on a total of 21 cruises during this period.

The first cruise will depart towards the end of March 2012. Royal Caribbean International will market and operate the cruises, ranging from three to eight-night journeys departing from Xiamen, Hong Kong, Tianjin and Shanghai.

The maiden cruise, a five-night charter sailing, will leave Hong Kong on the 20th March next year. The first Xiamen departure will be on the 26th March.

The agreement has the full backing of the Xiamen Municipal Government and forms part of the Chinese government’s plans to develop Xiamen as the 4th Royal Caribbean home port in the country, after Hong Kong, Shanghai and Tianjin.

Royal Caribbean’s Group Managing Director for Asia and China, Doctor Zinan Liu, said “We are the first cruise brand to bring together the support of the government and local private industry. This is an incredible opportunity for Royal Caribbean International, the Xiamen municipal government and China World Cruises.”

China World Cruises will work with the Xiamen Municipality to invest about $5 billion in upgrading the Xiamen harbour district and waterfront to develop a “Cruise Home Port,” including retail units, a theme park, apartments, luxury hotels and a brand new four-berth cruise terminal.

Xiamen is one of the fastest developing ports along the East coast of China. It is located between Hong Kong and Taiwan – about 200 miles from Taipei.