China's first domestically built cruise ship welcomes its 1 millionth guest

Adora Magic City, the nation's first domestically built cruise ship, welcomed the 1 millionth guest boarding its operator Adora Cruises on Feb 8, marking a milestone in the Chinese cruise brand's development. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Adora Magic City, the nation's first domestically built cruise ship, welcomed the 1 millionth guest boarding its operator Adora Cruises on Sunday, marking a milestone in the Chinese cruise brand's development.

"In 2025, Adora Cruises served over 500,000 guests from more than 20 countries and regions across the world, further consolidating its leading position in the Chinese cruise market by accounting for 40 percent market share," Jia Ying, assistant vice-president of marketing and e-commerce at Adora Cruises, said during a ceremony held to celebrate the benchmark achievement on Sunday.

According to Jia, Adora Cruises, the Chinese cruise brand operating Adora Magic City and Adora Mediterranea, has to date successfully accomplished more than 350 voyages, including 172 voyages conducted in 2025.

"In the past year, trips made by our two cruise vessels connected 30 popular destinations and covered nearly 200,000 nautical miles, equivalent to circling the globe nine times," Jia said.

"I have always wanted to take a trip on the China-built cruise ship. As we are planning to celebrate my father-in-law's 70th birthday, I decided that choosing a cruise ship with menus tailored to Chinese tastes would be an ideal choice," Li Lin, Adora Cruises' 1 millionth guest, who is traveling with five family members, said.

"The surprise ceremony has made our trip truly special, and I think it will be unforgettable for a lifetime," Li said.

After the hull structure was completed, China's second domestically made cruise ship, Adora Flora City, has currently accomplished 91 percent of the workload, and the ship is scheduled for delivery by the end of 2026.

Adora Cruises officially launched a campaign for 2026 on Sunday, which looks to enhance guests' experience through comprehensive service upgrades as the Chinese cruise brand aims to build itself into a benchmark of China's cruise industry.