Seatrade Cruise News is part of the Informa Markets Division of Informa PLC

This site is operated by a business or businesses owned by Informa PLC and all copyright resides with them. Informa PLC's registered office is 5 Howick Place, London SW1P 1WG. Registered in England and Wales. Number 8860726.

Ovation of the Seas to showcase Forbidden City treasures

2754c72b6d184dc12be369886970a4dc_XL
The agreement signing at Jianfu Palace between Royal Caribbean and the Forbidden City's Imperial Palace Museum
When it enters service in China, Ovation of the Seas will host expert lecturers from the Forbidden City's Imperial Palace Museum and display signature pieces from the palace collection.

These and other initiatives were announced as part of an agreement between Royal Caribbean International and the Palace Museum, announced during a signing ceremony in the Forbidden City’s Jianfu Palace.

Ovation of the Seas is set to debut in April and will cruise from Tianjin, the port for Beijing, starting in June.

As part of the agreement, experts from different research fields selected by the Palace Museum will be invited to give lectures on Chinese history and culture aboard Ovation of the Seas. The Palace Museum also will provide professional consultation on the ship’s interior décor and art program. Plus, paintings and art pieces created by artists from the Palace Museum will be available to purchase at auctions on board.

'We are proud of the extensive collection of art and relics that represent the imperial treasures of the Ming and Qing dynasties and it is our goal at the Palace Museum to showcase the traditional Chinese culture to people all over the world,' said Shan Jixian, director of the Imperial Palace Museum. The partnership with Royal Caribbean will further this objective, Shan said, expressing the hope that this effort will be expanded.

The partnership will showcase China's rich heritage and bring another unique element to Royal Caribbean's vacation offering, said Zinan Liu, president of North APAC and China, Royal Caribbean International.

Ovation of the Seas will join Quantum-class sister Quantum of the Seas in China. Shortly after delivery from Meyer Werft, the new ship will sail from Southampton to China on a 53-day voyage.

Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas, Voyager of the Seas and Legend of the Seas also serve the China market.