SHANGHAI, March 20 (Xinhua) -- China's second domestically built large cruise ship was undocked in Shanghai on Friday, moving a step closer to sea trials and final delivery as the country expands its push into the cruise tourism market.
The vessel, Adora Flora City, was slowly pulled and guided out of the construction dock by tugboats at Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC). It will fully enter the wharf commissioning stage, said the shipbuilder.
The ship will speed up interior installations and systems commissioning, according to operator Adora Cruises, with more than 92 percent of its construction already completed.
Sea trials are scheduled for mid-2026. The ship is scheduled for delivery by the end of this year and will launch international routes from the Nansha International Cruise Home Port in Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong Province.
With a gross tonnage of 141,900 tonnes, the cruise ship represents a further step forward in China's large cruise ship construction capability, one of the most complex segments of the shipbuilding industry.
Its sister ship, Adora Magic City, China's first domestically built large cruise liner, was undocked at the same yard in June 2023, marking the country's entry into the sector, often described as a "crown jewel" of shipbuilding following earlier advances in large LNG carriers and aircraft carriers.
Since entering commercial service on Jan. 1, 2024, the vessel has carried nearly 690,000 domestic and international passengers.
Adora Flora City is larger, greener and smarter. It is 341 meters in length, 17.4 meters longer than its predecessor, and its gross tonnage has increased by 6,400 tonnes, allowing for expanded spaces.
The ship can accommodate up to 5,232 guests with 2,130 cabins and suites. It features 26 restaurants and bars, a 1,000-seat theater, a shopping center, an art gallery, a gym, a spa and a kids' club.
"Operations of Adora Magic City have provided valuable experience," said Chen Gang, on-site chief commander and chief designer of China's domestically built large cruise ship project. "Based on passenger feedback, we have expanded open-air decks and shopping areas to enhance the passenger experience."
Flower motifs, smart technologies and elements of Chinese culture have been incorporated into its design, interiors and services.
Environmental upgrades include more desulfurization towers and selective catalytic reduction systems to reduce emissions. The vessel also integrates artificial intelligence into its control systems and passenger services.
Chen said the construction cycle for the second ship has been shortened by eight months, while the localization rate, the share of domestically sourced components, has risen by five percentage points, reflecting improvements in China's shipbuilding supply chain.
The shipbuilder will continue to raise the localization rate with the building of another three to five large cruise ships in the coming decade, he said.
The ship's delivery will provide capacity support for multiple port operations and offer high-quality cruise vacation experiences, said Guo Jia, assistant vice president of product & guest experience, Adora Cruises.
Currently, Adora Cruises operates three large cruise vessels, including Adora Magic City, across routes covering eastern, southern and northern China, as well as Hong Kong, achieving year-round operations from multiple home ports.
On Friday, China Tourism Group and CSSC signed a memorandum of understanding on new cruise ship construction. Adora Cruises is jointly owned by two cruise subsidiaries of the two sides.
Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding plans to accelerate the construction of a cruise ship assembly base and aims to deliver China's first independently designed large cruise ship, which will also be the country's third domestically built vessel, by 2030, paving the way for mass production and series operations.
China Tourism Group will leverage its experience in the cultural and tourism business to facilitate the design of new cruise ships better tailored to consumer demand.
China has seen booming cruise tourism, with total cruise passenger throughput surging 25.3 percent year on year in 2025, according to the Ministry of Natural Resources. ■
