China unveils its first mega cruise ship

03-01-24

To coincide with the start of the new year, China announces the maiden voyage of its first large mega cruise ship Adora Magic City, manufactured in the Asian country.

The ship marks an important milestone for the Chinese shipbuilding industry. Among its features we mention its 135,500 tons of weight and the possibility of accommodating a maximum of 5,246 passengers in its 2,125 cabins.

Until the construction of this vessel, China had not stood out as a leading player in the shipbuilding industry, a difficult segment of the tourism industry. The cruise ship, with public areas distributed over its 16 floors, is a true "Modern City on the Sea".

Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding Co. was in charge of the construction, which began in 2019. Last June the ship, which is 323 meters long, has 107 different systems, 5G technology, 25 million parts and components, in addition to 4,750 kilometers of cables and 365 kilometers of pipelines, had its first contact with the sea, China Daily reports.

The Adora Magic City, China's largest cruise ship, will homeport in Shanghai and sail to nearby destinations in Japan and Southeast Asia, as well as medium- and long-haul routes such as the Maritime Silk Road. Together with the Mediterranean, which will also enter service this year, it features a combination of Chinese and Western style elements in its décor. Its (duty-free) shopping area will be the largest in the Chinese cruise market and will include stores, bars and restaurants. A theater (Metropol), with a capacity of 1,000 people, will host shows of all kinds.

There will also be a brewery on board the ship to supply beer to several bars, a first in the Asian cruise market, according to Adora, although this is not a new concept out of the gate.