Residents and visitors alike all realize the great potential of Qingdao as one of the best holiday spots in Asia. And why not, since Qingdao has a lot to offer: nice sandy beaches, great mountains for hiking, historic international and traditional Chinese architecture, excellent Tsingtao beer and fresh, delicious seafood, beautiful weather and friendly people. To top it all off, the price is right as the cost of living, dining, and having fun in Qingdao is relatively low even with the recent appreciation of the yuan (RMB). Now it seems the cruise industry has decided to let their passengers in on the deal.

From the Elite Traveler website:

Seabourn Pride Makes Maiden Call At Qingdao, China
May 7, 2010 – Qingdao, China – Reported by Elite Traveler, the Private Jet Lifestyle Magazine

The Yachts of Seabourn’s intimate, all-suite Seabourn Pride made its maiden call at Qingdao, China, on the morning of Sunday, May 2, 2010.

The yacht docked at the Qingdao Olympic Sailing Center, marking the first time a cruise vessel docked at the facility, and received a warm and celebratory welcome from city officials. Two local brass and drumming bands assembled on the pier, along with Chinese traditional dancing lions, and greeted Seabourn Pride guests with a lively music performance representing the rich Chinese history and culture. Local residents also gathered around the marina to welcome the yacht to their city.

Seabourn Pride is currently operating a series of voyages in Asia, visiting China, Japan, Korea, Thailand and Vietnam, and featuring stops at many new ports of call, such as Qingdao and Dalian, China; Busan and Yeosu, Korea; Nagasaki and Kagoshima, Japan. For a limited time, Seabourn is offering two-for-one cruise fares with included round-trip air, or cruise-only fares featuring savings up to 65 percent. The promotion is valid for Seabourn voyages in Asia departing between June and November 2010.

As China becomes richer and luxury lifestyles increasingly common, the cruise industry is sure to boom along with the rest of the economy. Smaller cruise ships on the Yangtse River have been plying the domestic waters for years, and now it seems the international jet set are checking out the amazing economic engines churning along China’s eastern seaboard. This in turn is sure to be a boon to Qingdao’s economy, from restaurants to bars to hotels and more. For more information on cruises in China, call your travel agent or check the web for all the latest news, schedules, and prices.

Qingdao Olympic Sailing Center

Relevant Links:
Elite Traveler
The Yachts of Seabourne