The number of liners docking at the Xiamen International Cruise Home Port reached a new annual record, according to local media reports on Oct 16.

The cruise home port in Xiamen welcomed its 100th liner for the first time in a year on Oct 15, the Viking Orion, an international cruise ship operated by Viking Cruises, the world's largest small ocean cruise ship operator.

Viking Orion, which was put into operation in 2018, has dropped anchor at the port for two consecutive years, carrying more than 900 tourists from around the world heading for Hong Kong.

In the first three quarters of this year, the number of liners and passengers arriving at the Xiamen port saw respective year-on-year increases of 33 percent and 24 percent.

As of Oct 15, the port has received 100 liners and 290,000 passengers, according to Huang Yubin, vice-general manager of Xiamen International Cruise Home Port Co.

Huang said that in addition to the featured shipping routes along the countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative, the port also launched special routes for Spring Festival and welcomed 70,000-ton luxury cruise ship Piano Land and the 150,000-ton World Dream this year.

The port is expected to receive more than 400,000 passengers and 136 liners by the end of this year, added Huang.

He also revealed that the port will continue its shipping routes for the Spring Festival in 2020.

Xiamen International Cruise Home Port is expected to receive more than 400,000 passengers and 136 liners by the end of this year. [Photo/VCG]