China Ups Influence on Cruise Industry with 2nd Domestic Ship
China has made significant progress in its shipbuilding industry as its second domestically produced large cruise ship enters the final assembly stage at a shipyard in Shanghai. This marks a notable advancement in China's capacity to mass-produce cruise ships.
Chen Jianwei, director of the cruise ship project at Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of China State Shipbuilding Corporation Limited, announced the news.
Slated to leave the dock in March 2026 and to be delivered by the end of the year, this new ship will surpass its predecessor, the Adora Magic City, in size and efficiency. It boasts a total tonnage of 141,900 tonnes, with dimensions of 341 meters in length and 37.2 meters in width, and houses 2144 cabins which expand its passenger capacity.
Chen Gang, general manager of Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding, highlighted that 500 global suppliers have contributed to the construction, fostering a robust cruise supply chain essential for the large-scale production of cruise ships.
The construction of the vessel's hull structure commenced with a keel-laying ceremony, signaling the start of physical assembly.
Chen Jianwei emphasized that enhancing efficiency has been pivotal in the construction process, with the second ship being completed faster and with superior quality compared to its first.
At present, 20% of the ship's construction, procurement, and logistics phases have been completed smoothly.
Drawing on experiences from the Adora Magic City, China State Shipbuilding Corporation has achieved a 20% improvement in construction efficiency through design enhancements, supply chain refinement, management innovations, and procedural upgrades.
The vessel is expected to be floated in May 2025, reaching the midpoint of construction and set for undocking by March 2026.
The successful deployment of China's first domestically built cruise ship, Adora Magic City, underscored China's growing influence in the international cruise market, having completed 26 voyages with over 100,000 passengers. This new development is a significant milestone for China as it continues to expand its presence and innovation in the global maritime industry.