Cruise trips are proving to be popular among local residents during the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year holiday with all tour packages leaving the city during and around the holiday fully booked.

Travel agencies said yesterday that Shanghai families were the main purchasers of the cruise trips.

A cruise ship heading to South Korea and Japan on January 28 and February 2 from Baoshan International Cruise Terminal has been sold out despite the high prices.

The ship can accommodate more than 2,600 passengers.

It is believed that cruise operators will have a breakthrough year in 2014 as seen from the demand, said He Bin, a public relation official with Costa Cruise, which operates the cruise ship Atlantica.

Tourists can watch the popular China Central Television festival gala on the eve of the Lunar New Year and participate in a lucky draw that night.

A package of Star Cruises to Hong Kong on February 9 is also fully booked.

A group of three to four people, mostly families, account for more than half of the deals, online travel operator Ctrip said. It said the number of cruise tourists during the holiday period has doubled from last year.

South Korea, Japan and Southeast Asia are the popular destinations.

Cruise tours are suitable for families with children and seniors, and the festival is peak time for family tours, said Qu Juan, director of cruise business with Ctrip.

The travel operator said some people have even started to book packages for the National Day holiday.