China's two homegrown cruise ships berth side by side in historic Shanghai meeting

China's second domestically built large cruise ship, Adora Flora City, departed from Shanghai's Wusongkou International Cruise Terminal on November 9, for its first trial voyage, marking another milestone in the country's efforts to develop its homegrown cruise industry.

The vessel is scheduled to arrive at Nansha International Cruise Home Port in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province, on November 12. During the voyage, systematic tests and adjustments will be conducted in areas including maritime operations, navigation safety, products and services, ship-shore coordination, and integrated information systems, according to the operator.

Under simulated real operating conditions, the trial will also assess key passenger experiences, including cabin services, dining, entertainment, shopping and leisure activities, while testing coordination and response capabilities across different departments. The comprehensive testing marks a crucial step toward the ship's commercial operation. Adora Flora City is scheduled to begin its inaugural season on November 22.

The ship's departure came just one day after a historic scene unfolded at Wusongkou. On November 8, Adora Flora City and Adora Magic City, China's two domestically built large cruise ships, berthed side by side at Shanghai's Wusongkou International Cruise Terminal for the first time. The two vessels sounded their horns to greet each other.

The historic gathering reflects a major step forward for China's shipbuilding industry, from the breakthrough of building its first large cruise ship to developing the capacity for serial production. Large cruise ships are among the most complex engineering projects in the global industrial system, involving extensive coordination across shipbuilding, advanced equipment manufacturing, information technology and supporting industries. The emergence of the two sister ships highlights China's growing capabilities in high-end shipbuilding and industrial integration.

The development of the cruise industry is also closely tied to the transformation of Shanghai's Wusongkou International Cruise Terminal. At the 2026 Wusongkou Forum held at Baoshan District on Sunday, industry representatives highlighted the vision of transforming the port from a cruise home port into a comprehensive hub connecting river and sea transportation, while fostering a broader cruise industry ecosystem.

As a key gateway for China's cruise industry, Wusongkou International Cruise Terminal has maintained its leading position in the country's cruise market for several consecutive years. In the first three quarters of 2026, cruise ship calls and inbound and outbound passenger traffic at the port accounted for 55% and 76% of the respective national totals, according to Baoshan District People's government. The growing presence of international travelers has also become a notable feature of its operations. On March 28, a registered nearly 5,900 passenger visits marked a new record at the terminal for the highest number of inbound foreign passengers in a single day.

The increase in international cruise passengers comes amid China's expanded visa-free entry policies and facilitation of inbound tourism. Cruise travel is also emerging as an important channel for overseas tourists to explore China, with Shanghai serving as a major gateway connecting international travelers to more destinations.