China's first domestically built cruise ship, the Adora Magic City, has successfully completed 54 voyages, serving 220,000 passengers - both domestic and international - within its first 7 months of operation. This milestone underscores China's strategic ambition to secure a significant position in the global cruise market.
The Adora Magic City, with a capacity for 5,246 passengers and 2,125 cabins, has operated at full occupancy on every journey, according to data presented by China State Shipbuilding Corp (CSSC), the parent company of the ship's builder. The vessel is a product of a joint venture between CSSC and American cruise operator Carnival and is set to offer 86 international cruises from Shanghai this year, with most itineraries including stops in Japan and South Korea.
The ship's annual purchase volume - a metric used to estimate the expenditures required to service and supply the vessel - was projected to reach 220 million yuan (US$30.8 million). The maiden voyage in January alone reportedly generated a purchase volume exceeding 60 million yuan.
Beijing's broader economic strategy includes enhancing service consumption, alongside initiatives for consumer goods trade-ins and equipment upgrades, to bolster national economic growth, particularly after the country's second-quarter GDP growth of 4.7% fell short of its annual target of around 5%. According to reports, over 95% of passengers on the Adora Magic City expressed satisfaction with the ship's food, accommodation, shopping, and entertainment offerings. In 2024-H1, the Adora Magic City captured 42% of China’s cruise tourism market, serving ~180,000 passengers.
As the world's second-largest source of cruise tourists, China is expected to hold over 10% of the global market share by 2030. Projections indicate that by that year, China's cruise passenger numbers will reach 4.5 million, with the economic contributions from cruise operations surpassing 75 billion yuan, and the total industry scale reaching 120 billion yuan.