In October 2015, Carnival Corporation and China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) established the joint venture cruise company CSSC Carnival Cruise Shipping Ltd. The company officially launched operations in November 2018.
As part of the agreement, the joint venture planned to acquire two vessels from Costa Group, a subsidiary of Carnival Corporation. The 2200-passenger Costa Atlantica was scheduled to transfer to the new operator by the end of 2019, while the 2100-passenger Costa Mediterranea was expected to join the fleet at a later date.
CSSC Carnival Cruise Shipping Ltd also confirmed an order for two newbuild vessels to be constructed by Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding, in collaboration with Fincantieri, specifically for the Chinese market. The first vessel was expected to be delivered in 2023. The contract included options for four additional ships to support the anticipated expansion of cruise demand in China.
Carnival Corporation stated that the establishment of the joint venture represented an important milestone in the long-term development of a sustainable cruise industry in China. The company indicated that the combination of transferred Costa vessels and purpose-built ships constructed in Chinese shipyards would enable the new operator to develop a fleet tailored to the preferences of Chinese travellers.
The agreements were signed during a ceremony at the China International Import Expo in Shanghai by Michael Thamm, representing the Costa Group, and Yang Jincheng, President of CSSC, formally launching the partnership between the two companies.
As of 2026, CSSC Carnival Cruise Shipping Ltd is active, but now operates under the name Adora Cruises. The name was adopted in 2023, after Carnival sold its minority stake. The company is now Chinese-controlled, operating a 3-ship fleet: two newbuilds/sisterships (Adora Magic City and Adora Flora City) and Adora Mediterranea/Costa Mediterranea.