China’s first large domestically built cruise ship, Adora Magic City, berthed at Qingdao International Cruise Home Port on April 6, marking the commencement of her coastal operations from a Chinese port other than Shanghai.
While the vessel began commercial service on January 1, 2024, this Qingdao call represents the first deployment beyond the designated homeport in Shanghai.
Following the port call, Adora Magic City departed Qingdao on April 6 for a 5-day, 4-night international voyage with over 4,000 passengers embarked. The itinerary includes scheduled port visits to Jeju, South Korea, and Fukuoka, Japan. A subsequent voyage along the same route is scheduled to depart on April 10, 2025.
The vessel, measuring 323.6 meters in length with a gross tonnage of 136,200 metric tons, features 2,125 cabins and suites outfitted to international standards of passenger comfort. The ship derives her name from Shanghai’s colloquial moniker, “Magic City.”
Since entering active service, Adora Magic City has completed over 100 sailings. The vessel is operated by Adora Cruises, which currently manages two major cruise ships: Magic City and Mediterranea. Combined, these vessels have carried in excess of 560,000 passengers, both domestic and international.
Adora Cruises is concurrently advancing the construction of its second large-scale cruise vessel, Adora Flora City. With hull assembly completed, the ship is slated for delivery by the end of 2026. Upon completion, Adora Flora City will be homeported in Guangzhou—commonly referred to as the “Flower City”—and is expected to initiate international cruise services from the southern port thereafter.