CSSC Carnival Cruise Shipping Changes Name to Adora Cruises

CSSC Carnival Cruise Shipping Limited announced today it has changed its name to Adora Cruises Limited, effective immediately.

The new name, inspired by its brand name “Adora Cruises” will further strengthen the popularity and reputation among customers and reflects the vision of the company to bring to guests A Voyage in Love and to build a leading homegrown Chinese cruise line, according to a press release.

Adora Cruises Limited also adopts the same logo as its brand Adora Cruises, using Chinese red, sunshine yellow, earth green and star-sea blue in the shape of A and the ship bow to display the brand personality of happiness, care, vitality, and creativity. Its ambition is to bring guests a tasteful combination of traditional elegance and modern flair, and an immersive and fun-filled experience at sea.

“Our new company name is in line with our brand name, which is more memorable and recognizable. It better communicates our goal to build the most admired cruise brand in China. Together with the company’s name changing, Adora Cruises Limited gets ready to set sail in the full resumption of the Chinese cruise market,” said Chen Ranfeng, Managing Director of Adora Cruises Limited.

The former CSSC Carnival Cruise Shipping Limited was founded in 2018. After years of development, the company has solidly enhanced its operational capability in sales, marketing and commercial operation, product design and development, hotel management, maritime operation, and newbuild project supervision and development etc.

Yang Guobing, Chairman of Adora Cruises Limited, said, “After years of development, Adora Cruises Limited has become an independent and full-functioning cruise company and has its own brand. We are getting well prepared in sales and marketing, product and hotel management and maritime operation.”

CSSC Carnival to Deploy Mediterranea to Tianjin Later This Year

CSSC Carnival Cruise Shipping Limited announced that the Mediterranea (the former Costa Mediterranea) will start operations in China in the fourth quarter, sailing from Tianjin.

The ship will be operated by Adora Cruises, the company said, sailing short international itineraries.

The vessel will be upgraded for Adora Cruises, according to a statement, with a new livery and onboard experience tailored to the Chinese market.

The ship’s livery will blend the Mediterranean’s iconic blue, green, and white colours to dynamically recreate the elegant and artistic temperament of the Mediterranean.

CSSC Carnival said Tianjin Port holds a crucial position in the northern cruise market due to its broad geographic reach, substantial influence, and excellent infrastructure and services.

“With MEDITERRANEA calling Tianjin its home port, CSSC Carnival is poised to cater to the growing and diverse cruise holiday needs of local passengers. This move is set to further expand CSSC Carnival’s influence in the Northern China market,” the company said.

Last week, CSSC Carnival announced its first new build, the Adora Magic City, which will debut in Shanghai later this year.

Costa Atlantica Returns to Southern Europe

After several months anchored off the island of Cyprus, the Costa Atlantica recently returned to Southern Europe.

Currently, on its way to Marseille, the Spirit-class vessel also visited two Italian ports in March: Augusta and Naples.

Three years after its last drydock, the 2000-built cruise ship is expected to undergo scheduled maintenance at a local shipyard once it arrives at the French port.

Originally operated by Costa Cruises, the Costa Atlantica was sold into Carnival Corporation’s joint venture with China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) in 2018.

Handed over to its new owners a few days before the COVID-19 pandemic operational pause in early 2020, the vessel has remained out of revenue service.

Despite the change of ownership, Atlantica also retained its original name, in addition to Costa’s colours and features.

In November 2022, the Carnival Corporation – CSSC joint venture revealed plans to launch service in China under the Adora Cruises brand.

With a newbuild under construction in Shanghai, the company intends to welcome its first guests in late 2023.

Plans for the service restart of the Costa Atlantica and its sister ship Costa Mediterranea – which was also sold to the joint venture in 2018 – are yet to be confirmed.

The Atlantica originally debuted in 2000, becoming the first vessel in Carnival Corporation’s Spirit Class.

In addition to the Costa Mediterranea, the series of ships also include four ships operated by Carnival Cruise Line: the Carnival Spirit, the Carnival Miracle, the Carnival Legend and the Carnival Pride.

Built for Costa Cruises, the 2,100-guest ship served the company’s traditional markets in Europe for nearly 15 years before being repositioned to Asia in mid-2013.

Sailing year-round in the region through 2020, the Atlantica served different countries and markets, including Singapore, Taiwan, China and more.

In 2015, the ship also became the first to offer a world cruise from China. Sailing roundtrip from Shanghai, the 86-day itinerary included visits to 28 destinations in 18 different countries.