Adora Cruises

Adora Cruises Limited[1] (formerly CSSC Carnival Cruise Shipping) is a Chinese-American cruise line that was scheduled to begin operation in 2020, but was delayed due to COVID-19 pandemic.

History

CSSC Carnival was founded in October 2015 as a joint venture, worth about $4 billion over ten years, between United Kingdom and United States' Carnival Corporation & plc, Chinese sovereign wealth fund China Investment Corporation, and Chinese shipbuilder China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC).[2] CSSC Carnival is headquartered in Hong Kong and is majority owned by the Chinese shareholders, which collectively own 60% of the company, with Carnival holding the remainder.[2][3] In September 2016, the company announced plans to order two new ships, with options for two more, with deliveries planned to begin in 2022.[4]

In February 2017, two more options were added to the order, and it was announced that the vessels would be built at Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding Company through a joint venture between CSSC, owner of the shipyard, and Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri, with the first ship to be delivered in 2023.[4]

In November 2018, the contract for the first two Chinese-built ships was formally signed at a cost of about $1.5 billion, and CSSC Carnival announced that it planned to purchase two ships already in service, to enter its fleet beginning in late 2019.[5]

Fleet

Adora Cruises will begin operations with two ships purchased from Costa Cruises, Costa Atlantica in 2020 and Costa Mediterranea in 2021.[6]

The first Chinese-built vessel, to be constructed off of the Vista-class design, is expected to be delivered in 2023, with the sister ship following in 2024.[7] If all four options are exercised, a new ship will be delivered annually through 2028.[3]

As of October 2023, Mediterranea has entered service for the brand, which will be followed with Adora Magic City in January 2024. Costa Atlantica however was resold in October 2023 and will not enter service with the brand.

Ship Flag Build
Year		 Entering the Fleet Gross Tonnage Home Port Notes Image
Mediterranea The Bahamas 2003 2021[8] 85,619 GT Tianjin, China, Guangzhou, China, Xiamen, China Joined the fleet in 2021.[9] Sails a range of itineraries from ports in China.
Adora Magic City Panama 2023 2023[10] 135,500 GT Shanghai, China Based off the Vista class. Sails from Shanghai, its namesake.[11]
Future Fleet
Adora Flora City TBC 2026 2026 142,000 GT Guangzhou, China Delivery scheduled for 2026.[11] Operations due to start early 2027, sailing from Guangzhou, a city north of Hong Kong.
Former Fleet
Costa Atlantica The Bahamas 2000 2020 85,619 GT Never Operated Joined Carnival China (now Adora Cruises) in January 2020.

References

  1. ^ "CSSC Carnival Cruise Shipping Changes Name to Adora Cruises". Cruise Industry News. Retrieved 15 June 2023.
  2. ^ a b "China firms, Carnival Corp form JV to launch Chinese cruise line". Reuters. 21 October 2015. Retrieved 8 November 2018.
  3. ^ a b "First locally built cruise liner due for delivery in 2023". China Daily. 1 June 2017. Retrieved 8 November 2018.
  4. ^ a b "Carnival Corp. to order two China-built cruise ships with options for four more". Orlando Sun-Sentinel. 23 February 2017. Retrieved 8 November 2018.
  5. ^ "Fincantieri Seals USD 1.5 Bn Deal with CSSC-Carnival JV". World Maritime News. 6 November 2018. Retrieved 8 November 2018.
  6. ^ "Costa Atlantica and Mediterranea Sold to New Chinese Brand". Cruise Industry News. 6 November 2018. Retrieved 8 November 2018.
  7. ^ "CSSC to Buy Two Cruise Ships Ahead of Major Newbuilding Plans". Cruise Industry News. 1 November 2018. Retrieved 8 November 2018.
  8. ^ "M/S Costa Mediterranea (2003)".
  9. ^ "CSSC Carnival to Deploy Mediterranea to Tianjin Later This Year - Cruise Industry News | Cruise News". Cruise Industry News. Retrieved 2023-05-23.
  10. ^ "China Celebrates Delivery of First Large, Domestically-Built Cruise Ship". 2023-11-06. Retrieved 2023-11-20.
  11. ^ a b ""AMEM Cruise ships on Order"" (PDF).