China Launches Adora Flora City, Its Second Domestically Built Cruise Ship

China has achieved another milestone by floating out its second domestically built large cruise ship, the Adora Flora City after just one year of construction. The float out took place early Monday at Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding yard, as the massive vessel was carefully moved from dry dock to water.

The entire process was completed by 7:30 am, marking a significant phase in ship construction, where the hull is largely complete and interior work begins. Over 70% of the ship’s construction is already completed. The Adora Flora City reached this stage far quicker than its predecessor, Adora Magic City, which was around 40% finished at the time of its own float out. This shows the country’s growing expertise in cruise shipbuilding.

Adora Flora City is larger and more advanced than Adora Magic City. It weighs 141,900 gross tons which is 6,400 tons more than its sister ship, and it measures 341 meters in length, about 17.4 meters longer.

Key Features of Adora Flora City:

• 2,130 guest rooms, up from the previous ship’s 2,111
• Room for 5,232 passengers
• 16 decks dedicated to living, recreation, and luxury
• An extended atrium and larger public areas for smoother passenger movement
• Additional indoor and outdoor leisure space totaling over 2,600 square meters

The boarding area has been improved as well, giving passengers a more open and welcoming entry experience. The heavy use of digital construction technology contributed to the vessel’s rapid progress. Engineers used simulation software to plan every step of the project in advance, enabling faster and more accurate execution.

Unlike the first cruise ship, which required foreign supervision, Adora Flora City is being built entirely by a Chinese team. The country is also focusing on building its own cruise ship systems, aiming to raise the localisation rate to 80% within ten years.

The ship will now enter the outfitting stage, where its interiors, safety systems, and entertainment zones will be completed. It is expected to undergo sea trials in 2026 and be delivered by the end of that year. Once ready, Adora Flora City will be based in Guangzhou.

International experts, including the classification society RINA, have praised the launch for its speed and quality. Meanwhile, the country’s first domestically built large cruise ship, Adora Magic City, has already carried over 3,50,000 passengers in more than 100 voyages since its launch in January 2024.

References: CGTN, globaltimes