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Carnival’s Magic City prepares to set sail, as China’s first self-built cruise ship rides tourism recovery wave
- The name refers to a nickname for Shanghai, where authorities are determined to revive the cruise industry after it suffered during the pandemic
- The 323-metre-long vessel is now being tested before its scheduled delivery at the end of 2023
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Daniel Renin Shanghai
China’s first self-built cruise ship is closer to setting sail after its operator christened it Magic City, a nickname for Shanghai, as the country pursues its ambition of becoming a global powerhouse in developing and operating such luxury vessels.
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The 323-metre-long ship is now being tested before it is delivered at the end of 2023, CSSC-Carnival, a joint venture between the China State Shipbuilding Corp (CSSC) and the US-based cruise company Carnival, the operator of the vessel, said in a statement on Friday.
The naming ceremony held in Shanghai on Friday exhibited the city’s confidence in tapping pent-up travel demand and reviving the tourism sector following three years of stringent zero-Covid measures, analysts said.
“Cruise was one of the key driving forces for Shanghai’s tourism industry [before the Covid-19 outbreak], and the role of a major hub for international cruise lines also reinforced the city’s goal of turning itself into an international shipping centre,” said Zheng Honggang, CEO of Shanghai-based Kate Travel Agency. “When Chinese people’s demand for cruise service fully recovers, a self-made ship will draw their attention because it may become a new source of national pride.”
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