This Chinese New Year, cruise travel emerged as a top holiday choice, with tickets from multiple cities selling out well in advance, highlighting the rapid development of China's cruise tourism industry and its expanding economic potential.

During the holiday that ran from Jan 28 to Feb 4 in Shanghai, nearly 5,000 passengers boarded China's first domestically built large cruise ship, the Adora Magic City.

In this period, nearly 70,000 inbound and outbound travelers in Shanghai chose to celebrate the Spring Festival at sea, marking a staggering 337.5-percent increase compared to the same period in 2024.
Since the Adora Magic City began commercial operations from its Shanghai home port on Jan 1, 2024, the enthusiasm for cruise tourism has continued to rise.

"In 2024, approximately 2.02 million Chinese tourists traveled by cruise throughout the year. Among them, about 1.4 million departed from Shanghai alone, with the 'Adora Magic City' accounting for nearly 60 percent of that share. Cruises departing from Shanghai mainly head for Japan and South Korea. Overall, cruise tourism products are of relatively high quality, offering a wide range of choices, and the overall satisfaction level is also quite high," said Ye Xinliang, deputy director of the Shanghai International Cruise Economic Research Center.

The cruise travel boom is not limited to Shanghai. In north China's Tianjin Municipality, the cruise season has officially begun, with more than 40 inbound and outbound cruise voyages expected in the first quarter of 2025.

Meanwhile, in south China's Guangzhou City, a group of travelers boarded the Adora Mediterranean cruise ship at Nansha International Cruise Home Port, embarking on a five-night, six-day journey from Guangzhou to Vietnam's Da Nang and Ha Long Bay before returning. During the 2025 Chinese New Year holiday, popular cruise routes departing from Guangzhou also saw cabin availability sell out well in advance.

"The kids will be starting school next year and haven't been on a large ocean cruise before. They're really excited, so we decided to take this trip together," said Xu Jian, a passenger who was traveling with his wife and grandchildren.

"It's really popular, which surprised me. When I signed up around 14:00 that day, it was already almost fully booked," said Liang Jiehong, another passenger.

"For cruises spanning the Chinese New Year period, it's extremely difficult to secure a cabin. Some of our premium room types, such as suites and balcony rooms, were already sold out during the pre-sale stage," said Guan Jian, a brand manager of the Guangzhou GZL International Travel Service.
The rapid growth of cruise travel reflects China's expanding tourism market and the increasing preference for high-quality travel experiences. With more luxury cruise options and diverse itineraries, the industry is unlocking new economic potential, boosting sectors such as hospitality, retail, and entertainment.