Photo: Adora Cruises
The beginning of 2024 will mark an important moment for both China's emerging cruising industry and global cruising. As Adora Magic City departs on its maiden voyage, it will pave the way for luxury cruising based in China and potentially for a new cruise shipbuilding market.
Adora Magic City is a name that will make history. It's the first-ever luxury cruise ship built entirely in China at international standards. Over the past few days, the Chinese vessel has kicked off its final trials before it sets off on its maiden voyage starting on January 1, 2024.
This trailblazing ship is the result of a relatively old project that suffered considerable delays due to the recent global pandemic. It all started as a joint venture between Carnival Corporation and China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC), which is why Adora Magic City is based on a standard Carnival platform. The vessel was adapted for the Chinese market, and CSSC benefitted from Fincantieri's consulting expertise in order to build its first large cruise ship that's classed by Lloyd's Register.
The Adora Magic City is still quite mysterious. When it comes to numbers, we know that it's 1,060-foot-long (323 meters) and that it can accommodate more than 5,200 passengers across 2,125 cabins. It boasts the traditional configuration of Western-built cruise ships, including multiple restaurants and bars, a huge theater, and several entertainment options. It also claims to flaunt some unique features that set it apart from the original platform. The most intriguing one is an enormous shopping arcade – the brand says it's the largest one in the world.
It may not be out of the norm for Westerners, but for Chinese customers, this will be an unprecedented experience. According to the builder, the Adora Magic City is much more spacious than any other domestically-built cruise ship, boasting luxurious Fincantieri-designed cabins, sophisticated amenities in general, and high-tech gear.
Most of the components for this pioneering Chinese cruise ship came from international, mostly European suppliers. The well-known Wartsila provided the navigation system and control systems, among others, while ABB equipped the vessel with a diesel-electric setup based on its diesel generators and Azipod units.
Adora Magic City can be considered a transitioning vessel that still links the Chinse brand to the Western cruise industry. In the future, however, it's expected that similar cruise ships will switch to domestic suppliers for the most part. In fact, even the cruising industry's giants might start looking at Chinese shipyards as attractive options for building cruise ships, an alternative to the famous European shipyards that have been the automatic choice for decades.
The Chinese-built ship is ready to begin its maiden trip on January 1, 2024. In the meantime, an even bigger version of the vessel is under construction and set to enter commercial service as soon as 2025.
This trailblazing ship is the result of a relatively old project that suffered considerable delays due to the recent global pandemic. It all started as a joint venture between Carnival Corporation and China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC), which is why Adora Magic City is based on a standard Carnival platform. The vessel was adapted for the Chinese market, and CSSC benefitted from Fincantieri's consulting expertise in order to build its first large cruise ship that's classed by Lloyd's Register.
The Adora Magic City is still quite mysterious. When it comes to numbers, we know that it's 1,060-foot-long (323 meters) and that it can accommodate more than 5,200 passengers across 2,125 cabins. It boasts the traditional configuration of Western-built cruise ships, including multiple restaurants and bars, a huge theater, and several entertainment options. It also claims to flaunt some unique features that set it apart from the original platform. The most intriguing one is an enormous shopping arcade – the brand says it's the largest one in the world.
It may not be out of the norm for Westerners, but for Chinese customers, this will be an unprecedented experience. According to the builder, the Adora Magic City is much more spacious than any other domestically-built cruise ship, boasting luxurious Fincantieri-designed cabins, sophisticated amenities in general, and high-tech gear.
Most of the components for this pioneering Chinese cruise ship came from international, mostly European suppliers. The well-known Wartsila provided the navigation system and control systems, among others, while ABB equipped the vessel with a diesel-electric setup based on its diesel generators and Azipod units.
Adora Magic City can be considered a transitioning vessel that still links the Chinse brand to the Western cruise industry. In the future, however, it's expected that similar cruise ships will switch to domestic suppliers for the most part. In fact, even the cruising industry's giants might start looking at Chinese shipyards as attractive options for building cruise ships, an alternative to the famous European shipyards that have been the automatic choice for decades.
The Chinese-built ship is ready to begin its maiden trip on January 1, 2024. In the meantime, an even bigger version of the vessel is under construction and set to enter commercial service as soon as 2025.
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