A ticket for the worldwide cruise costs around $ 30,000 per person and 657 Chinese reserved to be part of China's first cruise around the world. Costa Atlantica left Shanghai on March 1. The 86-day trip will sail to five continents and visit 28 destinations in 18 countries. The cruise ship arrived in New York on April 14 and visited the port of Miami in Florida on April 19. Los Angeles is the third leg in the United States. 

The cruise will arrive on Wednesday in San Francisco, and the Hawaiian ports of Hilo, Kahului and Honolulu next week, before heading to the South Pacific.

"I am not a rich woman. I sold my apartment to pay for the trip, but I think its worth it," Xiang told Xinhua, a woman from Guangxi, China, where he boarded Costa Atlantica.

Xiang said his father is 80 and his mother 75. They had never visited a foreign country before. As a long flight is not an option for them because of their age and health conditions, reserved places for his parents when he heard about the 86-day trip around the world.

"I am happy that my parents both enjoy the journey. They are so excited to see different countries and people. They were very surprised with tourist attractions that they had learned through books before, said Xiang. 

Tourism from China to the United States is growing rapidly. According to statistics from the US Department of Commerce, it is expected that the number of Chinese tourists visiting the United States to rise to 3.1 million by 2019, 2.3 million more than in 2014.