Largest cruise ship built in China completes first trial voyage
China’s largest domestically built cruise ship will undergo further tests on a Hong Kong voyage before starting its Guangzhou season on November 22.
- The Adora Flora City, China's largest domestically built cruise ship, has successfully completed its first trial voyage, traveling from Shanghai to Guangzhou.
- During the voyage, the crew tested the vessel's operational capabilities, navigational safety, information systems, and ship-to-shore coordination.
- This is the second large cruise ship independently built by China, following the Adora Magic City, and was constructed by Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding.
- A second trial voyage to Hong Kong is planned before the ship's first commercial season begins on November 22 from its home port in Guangzhou.
Adora Flora City finished its first trial voyage in Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong province, on Thursday, with further tests due before its first commercial season begins on November 22. It is China’s largest domestically built cruise ship.
According to operator Adora Cruises, the crew carried out a comprehensive assessment of the vessel’s operational capabilities. Alongside maritime operations and navigational safety, the checks covered information systems, onboard products and services, and coordination between the ship and shore.
Fudan University and Nanjing University were among the 16 universities in eastern China whose teachers and students joined the voyage at Adora Cruises’ invitation. The group numbered nearly 1,000 and reached Guangzhou Nansha International Cruise Home Port on Thursday morning aboard the vessel, which had left Shanghai Wusongkou International Cruise Terminal on Monday.
Delivered to Adora Cruises earlier this month, the ship was built by Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding, a subsidiary of China State Shipbuilding Corporation. Work began in August 2022.
China’s decade-long effort to build large cruise ships independently has now produced two vessels. Adora Flora City follows Adora Magic City, the country’s first, and combines a larger size with an improved design. Large cruise ships are regarded as among the most sophisticated civilian vessels and among the hardest to design and build.
Crew members will turn to testing regional cruise itinerary arrangements during a second trial voyage from Guangzhou to Hong Kong, running from Saturday to Monday. Their checks will also cover immigration, customs clearance and other related procedures in Hong Kong, according to Adora Cruises.
Adora Cruises will also continue work in Guangzhou now that the ship has arrived, improving both home port berthing operations and port entry coordination in preparation for its maiden commercial voyage.
Six international voyages are scheduled between November 22 and January 2, 2027, with Guangzhou Nansha International Cruise Home Port serving as the main base.
Travellers from across China will have a new option for holidays at sea in Southeast Asia, with itineraries ranging from short breaks to longer trips for more in-depth exploration, according to Adora Cruises. The operator said its balanced mix of short-, medium- and long-distance routes was designed around the travel patterns of consumers in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.
Source: China Daily
