Cruise lines based in Shanghai have rolled out a new slate of travel packages for the year ahead as the Spring Festival holiday draws near, signaling renewed momentum in the city's cruise tourism market.

The 2026 itineraries feature diverse themes and a combination of short and extended voyages, designed to provide passengers with richer and more immersive cultural experiences.

China's first domestically built large cruise ship, Adora Magic City, will continue to operate from Shanghai as its home port in the first quarter of the year, offering five-day and six-day international routes to popular destinations such as Jeju Island, Busan, and Seoul in South Korea.

Adora Cruises is also expanding cultural programming access across its fleet. Starting Jan 5, the 5K micro-documentary series Shining Treasures of China has been screened onboard Adora Magic City and Adora Mediterranea, with each episode highlighting a representative cultural relic and offering passengers a closer look at China's historical heritage.

Adora Mediterranea, which is homeported in Guangzhou, will launch five-day and six-day voyages to Vietnam, with port calls including Da Nang, Ha Long Bay, and Hue.

The ship further plans to introduce medium-to-long routes covering Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Brunei.

Meanwhile, MSC Cruises will introduce several Spring Festival-themed itineraries aboard MSC Bellissima starting Feb 12. These routes will feature a variety of magic performances and Hanfu (traditional attire of the Han ethnic people) photo sessions, adding a celebratory dimension tailored to holiday travelers.

Source: Jiefang Daily