Adora to Take Delivery of New Ship Sooner than Planned

Adora to Take Delivery of New Ship Sooner than Planned

Adora Cruises will take delivery of its new cruise ship, the Adora Flora City, ahead of schedule.

Based on an agreement with Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipyard, the vessel will be delivered on November 6, 2026, the company said in a press release.

The ship will then launch international routes from Guangzhou, the capital of South China’s Guangdong Province.

Adora’s CEO, Roger Chen, said: “We are now fully focused on the early delivery of Adora Flora City and on preparations for her launch.  We will continue to optimise the deployment, deepen our ‘Cruise + Culture’ strategy and refine the guest experiences, bringing fabulous cruise vacations to more travellers at home and abroad.”

After being floated out on March 20, 2026, the vessel has now fully entered the commissioning phase.

According to Adora, the overall construction progress has reached 96 per cent, with interior outfitting 87 per cent complete and commissioning work 76 per cent complete. At the same time, sea trials are set to follow in mid-May.

Chen added that the ship’s maiden voyage plan would be announced soon.

CSSC Carnival Cruise Shipping Changes Name to Adora Cruises

CSSC Carnival Cruise Shipping Changes Name to Adora Cruises

CSSC Carnival Cruise Shipping Limited announced today it has changed its name to Adora Cruises Limited, effective immediately.

The new name, inspired by its brand name “Adora Cruises” will further strengthen the popularity and reputation among customers and reflects the vision of the company to bring to guests A Voyage in Love and to build a leading homegrown Chinese cruise line, according to a press release.

Adora Cruises Limited also adopts the same logo as its brand Adora Cruises, using Chinese red, sunshine yellow, earth green and star-sea blue in the shape of A and the ship bow to display the brand personality of happiness, care, vitality, and creativity. Its ambition is to bring guests a tasteful combination of traditional elegance and modern flair, and an immersive and fun-filled experience at sea.

“Our new company name is in line with our brand name, which is more memorable and recognizable. It better communicates our goal to build the most admired cruise brand in China. Together with the company’s name changing, Adora Cruises Limited gets ready to set sail in the full resumption of the Chinese cruise market,” said Chen Ranfeng, Managing Director of Adora Cruises Limited.

The former CSSC Carnival Cruise Shipping Limited was founded in 2018. After years of development, the company has solidly enhanced its operational capability in sales, marketing and commercial operation, product design and development, hotel management, maritime operation, and newbuild project supervision and development etc.

Yang Guobing, Chairman of Adora Cruises Limited, said, “After years of development, Adora Cruises Limited has become an independent and full-functioning cruise company and has its own brand. We are getting well prepared in sales and marketing, product and hotel management and maritime operation.”

CSSC Carnival to Deploy Mediterranea to Tianjin Later This Year

CSSC Carnival to Deploy Mediterranea to Tianjin Later This Year

CSSC Carnival Cruise Shipping Limited announced that the Mediterranea (the former Costa Mediterranea) will start operations in China in the fourth quarter, sailing from Tianjin.

The ship will be operated by Adora Cruises, the company said, sailing short international itineraries.

The vessel will be upgraded for Adora Cruises, according to a statement, with a new livery and onboard experience tailored to the Chinese market.

The ship’s livery will blend the Mediterranean’s iconic blue, green, and white colours to dynamically recreate the elegant and artistic temperament of the Mediterranean.

CSSC Carnival said Tianjin Port holds a crucial position in the northern cruise market due to its broad geographic reach, substantial influence, and excellent infrastructure and services.

“With MEDITERRANEA calling Tianjin its home port, CSSC Carnival is poised to cater to the growing and diverse cruise holiday needs of local passengers. This move is set to further expand CSSC Carnival’s influence in the Northern China market,” the company said.

Last week, CSSC Carnival announced its first new build, the Adora Magic City, which will debut in Shanghai later this year.

Meet The New Cruise Brands Entering Service in 2023

Meet The New Cruise Brands Entering Service in 2023

In another big year for start-up brands, at least five new cruise lines are set to launch service in 2023. With new builds and also secondhand vessels, the companies are set to offer different products, including luxury cruises, expedition voyages and more.

Explora Journeys
First ship: Explora I
Built: 2023
Capacity: 922 guests
Inaugural Cruise: July 17, 2023
Maiden Voyage Region: Northern Europe

After years of anticipation, Explora Journeys is making its debut in July. Marking MSC’s entry into the luxury market, the new brand is set to offer what it calls the “ocean state of mind.”

Adora Cruises
First ship: Unnamed Vista-Class Newbuild
Built: 2023
Capacity: 5,000 guests
Inaugural Cruise: TBA
Maiden Voyage Region: East Asia

Result of a joint venture between Carnival Corporation and China State Shipbuilding Corporation, Adora Cruises is the newest homegrown Chinese cruise brand.

Set to launch service later in the year, the startup cruise line has two new builds under construction in China and also acquired two former Costa Cruises vessels. Combining an international vision with local tastes, Adora plans to create the ideal cruise experience for Chinese guests, with year-round cruises departing from multiple homeports throughout China.

CFC
First ship: Renaissance
Built: 1993
Capacity: 1,258 guests
Inaugural Cruise: May 14, 2023
Maiden Voyage Region: Northern Europe

After acquiring Holland America’s former Maasdam in 2022, CFC aims to fill a gap in the French market by developing a customized premium product.

With all guest-facing staff fluent in French, the new cruise line intends to offer “a quality product” that focuses on the country’s identity and needs. Sailing from two different homeports in France, the Renaissance will debut in May, with a program of longer roundtrip cruises that visit destinations in Northern Europe, the Atlantic and the Mediterranean.

Exploris
First ship: Exploris One

Built: 1989
Capacity: 132 guests
Inaugural Cruise: December 23, 2023
Maiden Voyage Region: Antarctica

With Philippe Videau, one of Ponant’s founders, serving as the company’s president, Exploris aims to operate a fleet of small expedition vessels for the French market.

Acquired from Silversea Cruises, the brand’s first vessel is set to enter service in December, offering exploration French-speaking exploration cruises in South America and Antarctica. Renamed Exploris One, the former Silver Explorer is set to sail in the Amazon, the Atlantic Islands, Western Europe and the Arctic during its inaugural season, including 30 departures and 26 unique itineraries.

Crystal Cruises
First ships: Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity
Built: 1995 and 2003
Capacity: 606 and 740 guests
Inaugural Cruise: July 31, 2023
Maiden Voyage Region: Mediterranean

After being acquired by the A&K Travel Group in 2022, the Crystal Cruises brand name is returning later this year under new management. The new luxury operator plans to launch service in July by using two of Crystal’s former oceangoing vessels, the Crystal Serenity and the Crystal Symphony.

China Cruise Line Staffs Up, Anticipating Restart

China Cruise Line Staffs Up, Anticipating Restart

The Chinese cruise industry may be ready to start sooner than later, as CSSC Carnival China Cruise Shipping, which will operate as Adora Cruises, is staffing up in the sales department.

The company is a joint venture between China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) and Carnival Corporation.

The company announced the appointment of Chen Yinglan as the sales director of the East China region, Lin Binbin as the sales director of the South China region, and Sun Wen as the sales director of the North China region.

Chen Ranfeng, CEO of CSSC Carnival, said in a translated statement: “The three are ‘senior cruise people’ who have been deeply involved in the industry for many years. They are also leaders in the cruise sales field. They have rich experience in marketing and a solid industry foundation in their respective regions. Maintain long-term and good cooperative relations with partners in the same industry. I believe they will play an important role in the market expansion of CSSC Carnival.”

The company said it will use a multi-vessel multi-homeport operation strategy and operate international routes in East Asia and Southeast Asia throughout the year. The company will focus on homeporting ships in China but is also committed to selling international departures as well, according to a statement.

As far as ships, the Costa Atlantica and Mediterranea previously transferred to Carnival’s joint venture in China prior. A new building is scheduled to be delivered from a shipyard in Shanghai this year.