VESSEL REVIEW | Adora Magic City – Chinese cruise operator places locally-built large luxury ship into service

Adora Cruises, a joint venture formed by China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) and US-based cruise company Carnival Corporation, recently commenced operational sailings of the first large cruise ship to be built in China.

Built by the China Shipbuilding Group subsidiary Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding, Adora Magic City (known colloquially as Aida Modu) utilises a design developed jointly by Carnival Corporation and Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri as a variant of the Vista-class ships in operation with Carnival Corporation's other cruise lines. The ship is classed by both Lloyd's Register and China Classification Society.

The Panamanian-flagged vessel has an LOA of 323.6 metres, a beam of 37.2 metres, a maximum draught of 8.55 metres, a gross tonnage of 135,500, a summer deadweight of 13,820, a crew complement of over 1,200, and 2,125 cabins to house a total of 5,246 guests. Facilities include 26 restaurants and bars, cafes, a water park, a science and exploration centre, duty free shops, and a theatre with 1,000 seats. These facilities cover a total area of 40,000 square metres distributed across 16 decks.

The interior spaces are kept comfortable with the aid of over 100 centralised AC units. A number of energy-saving features are also fitted such as low location lighting, a valve control system, a power management system, and a smart motor control unit.

Adora Magic City's propulsion arrangement includes two 2.16MW engines, three 8.3MW diesel generators, and two podded thrusters. This configuration allows the ship to reach speeds of up to 22.6 knots. Two stabilising fins help compensate for wave motion while underway.

Should evacuation become necessary, the ship has a complement of 20 lifeboats that are each capable of seating 314 people. CSSC said the lifeboats can accommodate more than 90 per cent of the ship's maximum lifesaving capacity. A high-pressure water mist system consisting of more than 11,000 sprinklers provides fixed firefighting coverage for the guest and crew cabins, the public spaces, and the engine compartments.

Adora Cruises intends to operate Adora Magic City on six to seven cruises each month out of its homeport of Shanghai. The ship departed on its maiden voyage on January 1 this year, eventually completing a seven-day cruise that included stops at Jeju Island in South Korea as well as the Japanese cities of Fukuoka and Nagasaki.