New Year, New Ship: Adora Magic City Embarks on Maiden Voyage in China

The Adora Magic City set sail on its first commercial voyage for Adora Cruises today. Built to serve the Chinese market, the 135,000-ton cruise ship is now offering a series of four- and five-night cruises departing from Shanghai.

The itineraries include visit to different destinations in the Far East, including the Jeju Island, in South Korea, and the Japanese cities of Fukuoka, Okinawa, Sasebo and Nagasaki.

Sailing on a year-round basis, the short cruises also feature one or two full days cruising at the East China Sea.

With a design based on Carnival Cruise Line’s Vista Class, the Adora Magic City is the first ever large cruise ship built at a Chinese shipyard.

As part of a partnership with the Italian shipyard Fincantieri, the 5,000-guest vessel was constructed at the Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding Yard, a subsidiary of the China State Shipbuilding Corporation, in Shanghai.

According to Adora Cruises, the Magic City combines Eastern and Western aesthetics, as well as diverse concepts to bring guests “ingenious gastronomy, immersive entertainment, trendy shopping areas, and several creative and enjoyable spaces.”

Among the ship’s features is a series of dining venues that serve world cuisine, the company added, as well as special performances at a 1,000-guest, state-of-the-art theater.

With no casino onboard, the cruise ship also offers super-large duty-free shops that sell products from both global and local brands.

In addition to the Magic City, the Mediterranea is also in service for Adora Cruises. After launching service for the company in September 2023, the 2003-built ship is currently offering a series of short cruises departing from Tianjin, in Northern China.

A second Vista-Class ship is also being built for the homegrown cruise line at the Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding Yard. Slightly larger than the Adora Magic City, the yet-unnamed vessel is expected to enter service in 2025.

Meet The New Cruise Brands Entering Service in 2023

In another big year for start-up brands, at least five new cruise lines are set to launch service in 2023. With new builds and also secondhand vessels, the companies are set to offer different products, including luxury cruises, expedition voyages and more.

Explora Journeys
First ship: Explora I
Built: 2023
Capacity: 922 guests
Inaugural Cruise: July 17, 2023
Maiden Voyage Region: Northern Europe

After years of anticipation, Explora Journeys is making its debut in July. Marking MSC’s entry into the luxury market, the new brand is set to offer what it calls the “ocean state of mind.”

Adora Cruises
First ship: Unnamed Vista-Class Newbuild
Built: 2023
Capacity: 5,000 guests
Inaugural Cruise: TBA
Maiden Voyage Region: East Asia

Result of a joint venture between Carnival Corporation and China State Shipbuilding Corporation, Adora Cruises is the newest homegrown Chinese cruise brand.

Set to launch service later in the year, the startup cruise line has two new builds under construction in China and also acquired two former Costa Cruises vessels. Combining an international vision with local tastes, Adora plans to create the ideal cruise experience for Chinese guests, with year-round cruises departing from multiple homeports throughout China.

CFC
First ship: Renaissance
Built: 1993
Capacity: 1,258 guests
Inaugural Cruise: May 14, 2023
Maiden Voyage Region: Northern Europe

After acquiring Holland America’s former Maasdam in 2022, CFC aims to fill a gap in the French market by developing a customized premium product.

With all guest-facing staff fluent in French, the new cruise line intends to offer “a quality product” that focuses on the country’s identity and needs. Sailing from two different homeports in France, the Renaissance will debut in May, with a program of longer roundtrip cruises that visit destinations in Northern Europe, the Atlantic and the Mediterranean.

Exploris
First ship: Exploris One

Built: 1989
Capacity: 132 guests
Inaugural Cruise: December 23, 2023
Maiden Voyage Region: Antarctica

With Philippe Videau, one of Ponant’s founders, serving as the company’s president, Exploris aims to operate a fleet of small expedition vessels for the French market.

Acquired from Silversea Cruises, the brand’s first vessel is set to enter service in December, offering exploration French-speaking exploration cruises in South America and Antarctica. Renamed Exploris One, the former Silver Explorer is set to sail in the Amazon, the Atlantic Islands, Western Europe and the Arctic during its inaugural season, including 30 departures and 26 unique itineraries.

Crystal Cruises
First ships: Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity
Built: 1995 and 2003
Capacity: 606 and 740 guests
Inaugural Cruise: July 31, 2023
Maiden Voyage Region: Mediterranean

After being acquired by the A&K Travel Group in 2022, the Crystal Cruises brand name is returning later this year under new management. The new luxury operator plans to launch service in July by using two of Crystal’s former oceangoing vessels, the Crystal Serenity and the Crystal Symphony.

Chinese Eye 80,000-Ton Cruise Newbuild

n 80,000-ton cruise newbuild concept in China has obtained a China Classification Society in Principle approval certificate, a key item needed in moving forward with the construction process.

The ship was designed and developed by China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) and its CSSC Cruise Technology Development subsidiary.

CSSC announced last week that its homegrown domestic Chinese brand, in partnership with Carnival Corporation, will launch service soon under the name Adora Cruises.

While two 135,000-ton Vista-class new ships are slated for Adora Cruises, this 80,000-ton ship could also join the brand should construction commence.

According to a statement, the ship is 293.5 meters long and features a high proportion of balcony cabins with approximately 70 per cent of accommodations featuring a balcony.

Next, CSSC will complete the basic design of the ship and submit plans to the China Classification Society for final approval.