Ship completes maiden voyage to Xisha Islands

Sanya (CNS) -- The first cruise ship with official approval to sail between South China's Hainan Province and the Xisha Islands finished a three-day trial journey on Monday.

The vessel, Yexiang Princess, which belongs to Hainan Strait Shipping (HSS), started her maiden voyage from the tourist city of Sanya toward Xisha's North Reef on the evening of April 6.

According to a Ms.Wang who joined the trial voyage as a passenger, "The water is diamond blue, totally different from the sea I saw before." She expressed strong approval of the unpolluted and natural look of the islands.

A source from HSS said on Monday that some details of the trip need to be improved, and that more time will be needed before they can begin official operation.

Huang Pengri, a local official from the transportation bureau, said the trial voyage was necessary to ensure safety and improve services for future operations.

The provincial department of transportation authorized HSS to start a shipping route from Haikou to Sanya, then to the Xisha North Reef in last November, according to the Hainan Tourism Development Commission.