River cruise firms raise the bar as demand surges

Leisure trips along the Yangtze are hot favorite among domestic tourists

The global cruise ship industry has been largely suspended for more than a year amid the COVID-19 pandemic. But now the big ships are increasingly taking to the waterways, with some countries such as the United Kingdom allowing fully vaccinated passengers to get onboard.

Last year, major cruise operators Royal Caribbean International, Carnival Group and Norwegian Cruise Line saw their net losses reach $5.8 billion, $2.2 billion and $4 billion, respectively, according to the companies.

By comparison, the business performance of cruise operators in China, especially those plying the Yangtze River, has fared better. Most cruises started to set sail again beginning in July last year as the pandemic was brought under better control in the country.