China has officially taken delivery of its second large domestically built cruise ship, Adora Flora City, marking a further step in the development of the country's cruise shipbuilding industry and its ambitions to enter the international market.
Built by Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding, a subsidiary of China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC), the vessel was handed over on November 6th, 2026. Its design is based on the first Chinese-built large cruise ship, Adora Magic City, but incorporates several modifications and technical improvements following five years of design and construction. The shipyard reported that construction efficiency increased by 20%, reducing the building period by 8 months and ~4 million man-hours compared with its predecessor. More than 80% of the interior outfitting materials were sourced domestically.
With a gross tonnage of 141,900 and an overall length of 341 metres, Adora Flora City is larger than Adora Magic City, which measures 136,201 gross tons. The vessel accommodates up to 5,232 passengers in 2,130 cabins and features 28 restaurants and bars, an 800-seat theatre and an extensive shopping complex. Its onboard facilities will be supported by ~1,300 crew members. The interior design incorporates stronger Chinese cultural elements, while the ship's name reflects Guangzhou, also known as the Flower City, where the vessel will be based.
Technical improvements include two additional exhaust gas desulfurization systems and five selective catalytic reduction (SCR) systems, intended to improve the ship's environmental performance.
Following delivery, Adora Flora City is scheduled to arrive at Guangzhou Nansha International Cruise Home Port on November 12th, ahead of its maiden voyage on November 22nd. The vessel will operate from Guangzhou and is also expected to undertake nearly 20 cruises from Hong Kong in three deployment periods beginning in late March 2027. The itineraries will include calls in South Korea and Vietnam, alongside shorter cruises without international port calls.
The delivery represents another milestone in China's efforts to establish an independent cruise shipbuilding capability. In March 2026, Adora Cruises and CSSC signed a memorandum of understanding covering the construction of two additional cruise ships, with an option for a third. The first vessel under the agreement is targeted for delivery by 2030 and is expected to feature a fully domestically developed design.