This Day, That Year

Item from April 14, 1987, in China Daily: The luxurious Royal Princess, on her first voyage to the South Pacific and Asian regions, left Shanghai yesterday and will arrive in Tianjin on Thursday. The flagship luxury liner is on course for a major debut.

The Chinese cruise industry has been growing rapidly in recent years, with cruise travelers from the country's homeports totaling more than 1.1 million last year, up 50 percent year-on-year, according to figures from the China Communications and Transportation Association.

By 2020, the industry is expected to contribute 51 billion yuan ($7.9 billion) to the economy, according to the association.