2nd homegrown large vessel undocks as nation ramps up industrial chain
A little more than two years ago, China's first domestically built cruise ship began its inaugural voyage.
Since then, the world's largest shipbuilding country has formed a complete industrial and supply chain for cruise ships, ushering in a golden decade for China's cruise sector, according to industry experts and officials.
China's large cruise ship industry, a crown jewel of the overall shipbuilding sector, reached a new milestone as its second domestically built large cruise ship completed undocking, and agreements to build two more cruise vessels were inked on March 20, charting a clear roadmap for the country's cruise industry.
"These developments signal that China's cruise industry is booming and entering a golden age, supported by a complete industrial chain including local manufacturing and operations," said Zheng Weihang, executive vice-president and secretary-general of the China Cruise and Yacht Industry Association.
"Compared with the first golden decade between 2008 and 2017, when China experienced rapid growth in scale as a cruise tourism market, the second golden decade involves fundamental changes, with a comprehensive industry taking shape and Chinese cruise ship operators catching up with their international peers," said Zheng.
Booming orders
The emergence of China's cruise industry traces back to the successful delivery of Adora Magic City, the nation's first domestically built cruise ship, which made China one of the few countries — including Italy, France, Germany and Finland — that could design and build a cruise ship.
"The delivery in November 2023 marked the start of China's cruise shipbuilding sector. The latest developments in building more large cruise vessels indicate the sector is entering a new era of high-quality development, which will ensure the cruise industry chain and supply chain make further progress at an accelerated pace," said Wang Guoqiang, general manager of China State Shipbuilding Corp.
"It took nearly four years for Adora Flora City, China's second domestically built large cruise ship, to reach the undocking stage since construction began in August 2022, and it remains on track to be delivered for operation by the end of this year," Wang said during the undocking ceremony on March 20 at its builder CSSC Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding Co Ltd.
Compared with its predecessor, Adora Flora City shortened its construction period in the dock by eight months, improved overall efficiency by more than 20 percent, and increased the proportion of domestic facilities by 5 percent, Wang added.
Known as a gigantic engineering project, this majestic and imposing steel structure contains hundreds of systems, more than 20,000 sets of key equipment, over 25 million components and parts, and more than 4,700 kilometers of cables.
Measuring 341 meters in length and 37.2 meters in width, the cruise ship is now more than 94 percent complete. The 141,900-gross-tonnage vessel can accommodate up to 5,232 passengers, with a total of 2,130 guest rooms.
Li Ming, CEO of China Cruises, a subsidiary of China Tourism Group, said Adora Flora City is not a simple duplication of Adora Magic City, as it incorporates elements of Lingnan culture from southern China.
According to Li, the ship is scheduled to begin regular operations by the end of 2026, with Guangzhou, Guangdong province, as its home port.
Full ecosystem
Yan Guodong, a senior researcher at the Shanghai International Cruise Business Institute, said a comprehensive cruise industry chain and development ecosystem lies behind the construction of the cruise ship.
"Through innovation and breakthroughs in cruise shipbuilding, the entire cruise industry chain is undergoing high-quality development at an accelerated pace," said Yan.
"It's worth noting that the cruise industry not only reflects the development of the nation's maritime industry and manufacturing capabilities, but also serves as an important vehicle for tourism consumption," said Fan Yunjun, general manager of China Tourism Group.
"With a long industrial chain combining high-end manufacturing and modern services, the cruise industry is a key sector for expanding domestic demand, boosting consumption, and promoting deeper integration of culture and tourism," Fan explained.
Against this backdrop, China International Cruises Ltd, a subsidiary of China Tourism Group, was established in December 2023. It will be in charge of Adora Flora City's operations along with the existing four cruise ships, including the Adora Magic City.
"There is still huge potential for China's cruise market to reach the level of countries in Europe and the United States. With the delivery of more cruise ships and the launch of diversified, high-quality cruise products, we are optimistic about riding the wave of China's cruise market boom, and thus contributing to its rise as an important growth engine and key market in the global cruise industry at an accelerated pace," Fan said.
According to Wang, after a memorandum of understanding was signed between CSSC and China Tourism Group, the two sides will carry out comprehensive and in-depth cooperation in the design, construction, and operation management of large cruise ships, with a target of cultivating a high-level, specialized industrial chain supply system in China.
Under the deal, two cruise ships will be built through cooperation under the framework, with an additional vessel as an option, and the two groups pledged to make tireless efforts to ensure the delivery of the first ship of the new batch before the end of 2030.
"We hope to move from quantitative growth to qualitative development through the completion of more cruise ship orders, spanning state-of-the-art design, shortened construction procedures, market cultivation, and new orders from both domestic and international markets," said Wei Shengsheng, head of Shanghai Waigaoqiao Ship-building's cruise project.
"To catch up with European peers, we expect to establish our own manufacturing and management for Chinese cruise ships. Therefore, our focus will be on cultivating independent capabilities, including design, support facilities, construction, as well as operation and maintenance. Our goal is to develop capabilities covering the full life cycle of a cruise ship," Wei said.
To date, a cruise construction ecosystem involving 1,500 suppliers at home and abroad is taking shape, according to Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding.
"CSSC is resolute and confident in ensuring the subsequent construction and delivery, thereby promoting China's cruise industrial chain and supply chain to develop at an accelerated pace," Wang said.
Golden decade
In stark contrast to the first golden decade, which mostly relied on the growth of cruise tourism, the second golden decade of China's cruise industry will feature a comprehensive industrial chain encompassing cruise ship operators, ports, tourism, shipbuilding, talent, and supply, said Zheng of the China Cruise and Yacht Industry Association.
"Such an industrial chain has been basically formed in the past few years, and after the coming decade's development, we are optimistic it will become globally competitive," Zheng added.
"We are extremely optimistic about the future of China's cruise market, especially as it transitions toward more resilient and high-quality development," said Li.
According to Li, the foundation for the market's long-term growth is solid: China has the world's largest source market, sustained investment in domestically made large cruise ships, and national-level policy support for inbound tourism and the marine economy.
"Overall assessment suggests that by 2030, China's cruise market is expected to surpass 2 million passengers again. Despite fluctuations in the transformation process, the upward trend is clear, and the industry is on a path of higher-quality development, with greater resilience and a stronger focus on excellence," Li added.
