Shanghai Sees Strong Cruise Traffic Growth in Early 2025

In the first two months of 2025, the Port of Shanghai recorded 130 cruise ship calls and welcomed more than 350,000 passengers, according to a report from Shangguan News. 

This represents a rise of over 2.5 percent compared to the same period in 2024. The report also noted that over 70 percent of cruise travelers in China this year have passed through Shanghai, reinforcing the port's status as the country's leading cruise hub. 

Between January and February, five cruise ships used Shanghai as a homeport. These included MSC Bellissima, Blue Dream Melody, and Piano Land operated by Astro Ocean. Also among them were China’s first domestically built large cruise ship, Adora Magic City, which debuted in early 2024, and Royal Caribbean’s Spectrum of the Seas. 

Shanghai has also seen an increase in simultaneous ship visits in early 2025, with up to three cruise vessels docking at the port at the same time. 

“To ensure smooth and orderly customs clearance for cruise passengers during the peak entry period, we have comprehensively optimized the customs clearance process through the digital transformation of travel inspection,” said Liu Maohua, Chief of the Passenger Inspection Section 2 of Baoshan Customs under Shanghai Customs, in a statement to Shangguan News. 

Liu added that the improved process now enables cruise guests to pass through customs in just seconds. 

Beyond homeport operations, Shanghai has also served as a stopover for a number of luxury cruise ships this year. Notable recent visitors include Hapag-Lloyd’s Europa 2, the Seven Seas Explorer, and the Crystal Symphony, which together brought more than 1,500 international guests to the city.