China’s First Domestically Made Large Cruise Ship Undertakes Trial Runs Before Launch

China’s first large-scale domestically constructed cruise ship, the “ADORA MAGIC CITY,” recently completed its maiden trial journey and made its first international port call. Scheduled commercial service for this vessel is set to commence next week on January 1st.

Departing from Shanghai on Sunday, the ship embarked on a test cruise, hosting invited passengers. A second test cruise took place on December 25th, with the vessel arriving at Kagoshima, Japan, marking its first international port call on December 27th. The ship is expected to return to Shanghai on Monday.

Currently, the ship is undergoing test runs with its 1,292 crew members hailing from 30 different countries. The test cruises are in preparation for its first revenue cruise on January 1st. These trial voyages aim to replicate actual operating conditions, stress-testing the ship’s operational capabilities.

Nicknamed “Ada Modu,” the ship weighs 135,500 gross tons and is 323 meters long. It has 2,125 passenger cabins and can accommodate up to 5,246 passengers. The ship was constructed based on designs used by Carnival Cruise Line and Costa Cruises.

With 16 floors, the ship offers an array of amenities, including the world’s largest shopping arcade, a variety of specialty restaurants, a spacious theater, numerous bars, and entertainment options.

The CSSC shipyard emphasizes that while the vessel integrates influences from both Eastern and Western cultures, it’s purposefully tailored to cater exclusively to the Chinese market.