China's first domestically built large cruise ship set sail on its inaugural voyage for Adora Cruises this week.
The 135,000-gross-ton Adora Magic City sailed on Jan. 1 from Shanghai Wusongkou International Cruise Port on a six-day voyage with calls in Jeju in South Korea and Fukuoka and Nagasaki in Japan.
The Magic City can accommodate 5,246 guests at maximum capacity.
The vessel is the first of two large cruise ships under construction by Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding Corp. The second Chinese-built large ship will be even bigger: 142,000 gross tons.
Adora Cruises Limited, the brand's parent company, was formerly known as CSSC Carnival Cruise Shipping Limited and was founded as a joint venture company between the China Shipbuilding Corp. and Carnival Corp.
The debut of the ship comes as cruise lines have turned their sights back to Asia following the pandemic and prolonged lockdowns. Cruise lines are now planning to increase their presence there, including Royal Caribbean International, which will return to China for the first time in four years. The line will sail four- and five-day voyages on the Spectrum of the Seas out of Shanghai.