Carnival Corporation has revealed plans to further expand its operations in China with the deployment of two additional cruise brands in China in 2017.

Carnival Cruise Line and AIDA Cruises will join Costa Cruises and Princess Cruises in the Chinese market, making Carnival Corporation the first company to operate four brands in China – which is expected to eventually become the world’s largest cruise market based on surging demand for cruise vacations by Chinese travellers.

As a result of Carnival Corporation’s expansion in China in 2017, four of its ten brands will have at least one homeported cruise ship in China, further bolstering the company’s industry-leading presence in the market.

The plan to deploy two additional ships – one new ship each for both its Carnival and AIDA brands – and operate four total brands in China in 2017 embodies Carnival Corporation’s long-term, multi-brand strategy to provide Chinese travellers with a variety of vacation options and experiences to meet growing demand across all segments of the Chinese market.

“We are excited to introduce our Carnival Cruise Line and AIDA Cruises brands to our fleet in China, giving us a total of four global cruise brands in the market and a unique opportunity to provide a diverse line-up of brands and cruise offerings to Chinese guests who are looking for a great vacation experience,” said Carnival chief executive Arnold Donald.

“As we execute our multi-brand growth strategy in China, we are emphasizing choice and variety in our offerings to match the different tastes and preferences of Chinese travellers.”

Further details on plans for Carnival Cruise Line and AIDA Cruises to enter the Chinese market in 2017 will be announced soon by each brand.

Felix Eichhorn, president, AIDA Cruises: “We are honoured to join our Carnival Corporation sister brands in China in 2017, including Costa Cruises, which pioneered cruising in China for the entire industry back in 2006.

“We look forward to offering Chinese guests our authentic AIDA experience of German style on the seas.

“By focusing on the interests of our guests in China, there is a significant opportunity to grow cruising demand for our brand, Carnival Corporation and the industry at large.”