Cruise industry embarks on big expansion

Cruise chief plots new wave of success

"To launch the EMBA program is a right thing at a right time," he said. "I am quite positive about the cruise sector's prospects in China."

He added Chinese cruise companies may seek out routes to meet the quickly rising domestic demand and overseas appetite to visit China.

As passenger numbers rise, terminal operations and passenger handling becomes increasingly important, said Xiao at the Shanghai municipal government.

Cruise travel is unique in that it's a vehicle and a destination, leaving it sensitive to changeable weather and needing more detail-focused management and passenger handling. That draws in issues including infrastructure, compliance, finance and social factors.

As the Chinese market expands, yet-to-mature companies and passengers have had some unpleasant experiences from cruise trips.

In April 2013, about 200 disgruntled passengers refused to disembark at the end of five-day trip. They said compensation offered for a canceled visit to South Korea's Jeju Island was inadequate. They stayed on board for nine hours in Shanghai, delaying 2,000 passengers scheduled to leave with the same ship.

"Travel agencies, cruise liners, administrators and all other stakeholders in the cruising sector must collaborate to form a synergy and bring about better market conditions," Xiao, at the Shanghai municipal government, said.