Adora Cruises receives the Adora Flora City, with a gross tonnage of 141,900 and a capacity for 5,232 passengers, which has been delivered in Shanghai almost two months ahead of schedule and will begin operating this month.
The Chinese shipbuilding industry has reached a new milestone with the delivery of the Adora Flora City, the second large cruise ship built entirely in the country. The ship was delivered on November 6th in Shanghai to Adora Cruises, its operating company, after its construction was completed at the Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding shipyard.
Measuring 341 meters in length and boasting 2,130 cabins, the new ship can accommodate up to 5,232 passengers. Its dimensions surpass those of its predecessor, the Adora Magic City, by 17.4 meters in length. The latter was the first large cruise ship built in China and entered service in January 2024.
On board, the Adora Flora City boasts 28 restaurants and bars, as well as a 200-meter circular running track on deck. The vessel reaches a gross tonnage of 141,900 and also reflects the progress of the local shipbuilding industry: 80% of the materials used in its interior fittings are domestically manufactured, according to data published by the Global Times.
The experience gained during the construction of the first ship has allowed for improvements in production processes. According to the shipyard, efficiency has increased by 20% and construction time has been reduced by eight months compared to the initial project. Before its delivery, the new cruise ship successfully completed a 12-day sea trial in the East China Sea last May.
The company is already preparing its entry into commercial operations. The Adora Flora City will arrive in Guangzhou on November 12, where it will be based at the Nansha cruise terminal. Its maiden voyage is scheduled for the 22nd and will feature Olympic diving champion Guo Jingjing as its ambassador. The six-day itinerary will include Hong Kong and Hue, Vietnam.
Hong Kong will also play a prominent role in the ship's 2027 schedule, when it will become its home port. Adora Cruises plans to offer approximately 20 sailings from the city during the season, including a special New Year's Eve cruise departing on December 30 and spending one night in Hong Kong.
The delivery of the Adora Flora City marks another step in China's strategy for developing domestically built cruise ships. In fact, the shipyard has already begun conceptual design work on a third large vessel, with the intention of moving towards a series production program.
Adora Cruises is a joint venture between the Chinese group CSSC and Carnival Corporation. Its first ship, the Adora Magic City, began commercial operations on January 1, 2024, and reached 200 commercial voyages in May 2026.
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