SHANGHAI, Sept. 2, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Ctrip.com
International, Ltd. (NASDAQ: CTRP), a leading travel service
provider for accommodation reservation, transportation ticketing,
packaged tours and corporate travel management in China ("Ctrip" or the "Company"), today
announced that it has, through Exquisite Marine Ltd. ("Exquisite"),
an affiliate of Ctrip, entered into an agreement to acquire
Celebrity Century, a 1,814-passenger cruise ship, from Royal
Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (NYSE, OSLO: RCL). Royal Caribbean
Cruises Ltd. will continue to operate Celebrity Century until
April 2015.
Exquisite is a wholly owned subsidiary of Skyseas Holding
International Ltd, ("Skyseas"), a co-founded company by Ctrip and
other investors, which targets to provide Chinese customers the
world-class and tailor-made cruise products. Ctrip has entered into
a Memorandum of Understanding with Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. to
form a joint venture to manage the operations of the acquired
cruise ship and potentially broaden the relationship.
"China is becoming one of the
largest cruise markets in the world," said Min Fan, Vice Chairman of the Board and
President of Ctrip. "As the largest cruise agency in China, Ctrip has sent over 120,000 guests to
cruise trips so far and acquired more than 10% of market share in
China. We are excited about the
strong growth of the cruise industry and strive to strengthen our
leadership in this market.
"We are thrilled about our acquisition of Celebrity Century,
which is one of the top-tier vessels in the world," Min Fan continued," Century will be
renovated to provide an outstanding cruise experience to
China's leisure travelers,
including premium hotel services, diversified dining options,
exciting on-board facilities, varieties of entertainments, and
inspiring excursions and tours. Ctrip will capitalize on our strong
brand, large customer base, and superior service quality, as well
as our partner's extensive cruise operating experience to generate
great value to our customers and shareholders."
About Ctrip.com International, Ltd.
Ctrip.com International, Ltd. is a leading travel service
provider of accommodation reservation, transportation ticketing,
packaged tours, and corporate travel management in China. Ctrip aggregates accommodation and
transportation information to enable business and leisure travelers
to make informed and cost-effective bookings. Ctrip also helps
customers book vacation packages and guided tours. In addition,
Ctrip corporate travel management services help corporate clients
effectively manage their travel requirements. Since its inception
in 1999, Ctrip has experienced substantial growth and become one of
the best-known travel brands in China.
About Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (NYSE, OSE: RCL) is a global cruise
vacation company that owns Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity
Cruises, Pullmantur, Azamara Club Cruises and CDF Croisières de
France, as well as TUI Cruises
through a 50 percent joint venture. Together, these six
brands operate a combined total of 41 ships with an additional 8
under construction contracts. They operate diverse
itineraries around the world that call on approximately 490
destinations on all seven continents. Additional information can be
found on www.royalcaribbean.com, www.celebritycruises.com,
www.pullmantur.es, www.azamaraclubcruises.com,
www.cdfcroisieresdefrance.com or www.rclinvestor.com.
For further information, please contact:
Investor Relations
Ctrip.com International, Ltd.
Tel: (+86) 21 3406 4880 X 12928
Email: iremail@ctrip.com
SOURCE Ctrip.com International, Ltd.