MSC Bellissima, the flagship of European cruise giant MSC Cruises, returned to Shanghai Wusongkou International Cruise Port on Jan 27, ushering a new season for the cruise line's port operations in Shanghai.

The vessel arrived with 4,000 tourists aboard, nearly 90 percent of whom were international travelers from countries such as South Korea, Japan and Russia, underscoring Shanghai's growing appeal as a global cruise hub.

MSC Cruises said that it will for the first time adopt a Shanghai-Busan dual home port operation model to attract travelers from South Korea, Russia, and other overseas markets.

At the same time, several other major cruise liners, including Adora Cruises' Adora Magic City and Royal Caribbean's Spectrum of the Seas, are set to launch Spring Festival sailings from their Shanghai home port.

The year 2026 marks the 20th anniversary of MSC Cruises' presence in China. Helen Huang, president of Greater China for MSC Cruises and Explora Journeys, revealed that MSC Magnifica will make its maiden call in China on March 29, docking in Baoshan district and bringing more than 2,000 international passengers to experience Shanghai's urban charm up close.

MSC Bellissima will continue operating during peak travel periods such as the Spring Festival and Mid-Autumn Festival, offering Chinese travelers a diverse range of cruise holidays, including visa-free visits to popular destinations such as Jeju Island, Busan, and Incheon.

Meanwhile, Adora Cruises and Royal Caribbean are also expanding their offerings with more flexible itineraries and richer destination combinations to meet increasingly diverse consumer demand.

Looking ahead, Shanghai is expected to draw more international cruise companies to deploy routes in China, further driving the coordinated growth and upgrading of the cruise industry chain.

Sources: ThePaper, Jiefang Daily