Adora Cruises and Astro Ocean International Cruise, two of China’s principal domestically based cruise operators, have agreed to merge their operations, creating a consolidated structure under the China Cruises banner. The decision comes amid wider market adjustments and coincides with the emergence of a Spanish start-up promoting a vessel closely resembling one currently associated with Astro Ocean.
Astro Ocean confirmed that the integration was driven by changing market conditions and a desire to combine operational and commercial strengths. Under the new arrangement, Adora Cruises will take full responsibility for the management and operation of both brands within the unified structure. The companies indicated that detailed planning for the long-term development of the integrated cruise business is ongoing.
Adora Cruises traces its origins to 2017, when it was established as CSSC Carnival Cruise, a joint venture between China State Shipbuilding Corporation and Carnival Corporation. One of the venture’s first strategic steps was the order of two 136,000-gt cruise ships at Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding, marking the first construction of large cruise vessels within China. To support market entry while these ships were under construction, Costa Cruises transferred the 85,600-gt Costa Mediterranea, built in 2003, into the joint venture’s fleet.
Following the disruption caused by the pandemic, the vessel entered service in 2023 as Adora Mediterranea, formally launching the Adora Cruises brand. That same year, Carnival Corporation withdrew from the joint venture, leaving the company fully under Chinese ownership and operating solely as Adora Cruises. The first domestically built newbuilding, Adora Magic City, commenced service in December 2023, while the second vessel, Adora Flora City, is scheduled to follow in December this year.
Astro Ocean International Cruise was formed in 2019 as a joint venture between China Tourism Group and China Cosco Shipping. Its entry into cruise operations was marked by the acquisition of the 69,800-gt Oriana, built in 1995 and previously operated by P&O Cruises. Renamed Piano Land, the ship was transferred to China and placed into service under the Astro Ocean banner. During the industry shutdown, ownership of the vessel was transferred to Cosco Shipping Finance, with the ship subsequently bareboat chartered back to Astro Ocean, a move widely interpreted as a refinancing exercise.
Recent developments suggest that Piano Land may soon exit Chinese ownership. A new Spanish operator, Corazul Cruceros, has announced plans to launch Mediterranean cruises from July using a vessel named Buenavista, aimed at Spanish and Latin American markets before repositioning to South America for the European winter. While the company has not disclosed the ship’s background, published imagery and deck layouts correspond closely with those of Piano Land, indicating a likely transfer or reflagging as part of the ongoing realignment within the global cruise sector.