The explosive growth of China's middle class is driving growth in the cruise business, making China the world's second largest cruise market by number of passengers after the United States.

Experts and business insiders say a golden age for the cruise industry is coming with more Chinese people willing to pay for ocean views, onboard entertainment and exploration to lands nearby and distant.

The number of trips by cruise ship travelers leaving from Chinese home ports reached nearly 4.3 million in 2016, nearly double that of a year ago. At the same time, Shanghai has become Asia's largest cruise port city, according to the 2016-2017 China Cruise Industry Development Report published on Friday.