SHANGHAI: China's second domestically built large cruise ship, Adora Flora City, was delivered in Shanghai on Friday.
The cruise ship, which features distinctive Chinese-style characteristics, is scheduled to begin its inaugural season at the Nansha International Cruise Home Port in Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong Province in southern China.
Adora Flora City was built by Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding Co Ltd, a subsidiary of China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC). Construction began in August 2022.
Compared with China's first domestically built large cruise ship, Adora Magic City, the overall construction efficiency improved by 20 per cent, according to project figures. The new vessel is larger and equipped with more advanced onboard facilities.
Its gross tonnage has increased by 6,400 tonnes to 141,900 tonnes, while its total length has grown by 17.4 metres to 341 metres. It has 2,130 guest cabins and can accommodate 5,232 passengers at full capacity.
Large cruise ships are among the most complex giant system engineering projects in the global industrial system, said Chen Gang, on-site chief commander and chief designer of China's domestically built large cruise ship project.
Adora Flora City has as many as 25 million parts and supports the development of about 1,500 upstream and downstream suppliers, reflecting the country's comprehensive industrial strength and advanced manufacturing capabilities, he added.
With Adora Magic City having operated smoothly for about 250 voyages and Adora Flora City now delivered, China's domestically built large cruise ships have made a significant leap from a single-vessel breakthrough to series construction.
"The consecutive delivery of two domestically built large cruise ships is not simply project replication, but a deep and systematic forging of capabilities in the cruise equipment industry," said Li Jianing, assistant general manager of Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding Co Ltd.
"For example, in the construction of Adora Flora City, we introduced augmented reality technology to overlay 3D design models onto the construction site with high precision. Construction workers can directly compare virtual and real models through mobile terminals, reshaping on-site production with digital tools," Li said.
Technological innovation is also evident in passenger-facing areas.
"Technology services aren't for show but for a better passenger experience. With mobile check-in and AI, we've achieved contactless, rapid boarding and disembarkation, making the process more efficient and convenient. The ship is equipped with humanoid robots capable of human-like interaction, serving in dining reception, entertainment and shopping," said Guo Jia, assistant vice-president of product and guest experience at Adora Cruises.
The ship also features upgraded facilities. Compared with Adora Magic City, its public areas are more spacious, and new cabin types for families with children have been added to better meet the needs of Chinese consumers.
"We integrate the essence of Chinese culture into the entire chain of dining, accommodation, travel, shopping and entertainment," Guo said.
He noted that passengers can enjoy Cantonese dim sum, hot pot and other Chinese dishes on board, as well as special performances.
The localisation rate of Adora Flora City's supporting facilities is five percentage points higher than that of Adora Magic City. This reflects improvements in technology, management, supply chains and talent, with China's large cruise ship development moving towards greater systematisation and serial production, according to CSSC.
Following its delivery, Adora Flora City will conduct trial voyages and complete various preparations ahead of its scheduled maiden voyage.
It is expected to arrive at the Nansha International Cruise Home Port on Nov 12, with its inaugural season scheduled to begin on Nov 22.
