Astro Ocean Cruises’ Piano Land has recently completed a drydock ahead of the company’s anticipated service restart in China.

After more than four years laid up, the 1995-built vessel is set to welcome guests back in Shanghai on July 25, 2024.

According to local sources in Asia, the Piano Land arrived at COSCO SHIPPING Heavy Industry drydock in Zhoushan in late June.

Before leaving the facility on July 10, the ship underwent regular maintenance, in addition to overall equipment and other updates.

The project also included significant updates to the vessel’s security and Wi-Fi systems, with the installation of 150 new cameras and 50 new wireless internet connection points.

Additional work included maintenance for 14 lifeboats and davits, the replacement of a large number of indoor panels, repairs to outdoor teak and plastic decks, replacement and overhaul of pipes and laying of over 8,000 meters of cables.

After the completion of the drydock, the Piano Land sailed back to Shanghai, where it’s currently docked.

Starting on July 25, the 1,822-guest ship is set to offer a series of four- and five-night cruises to Japan and South Korea.

Sailing roundtrip from Shanghai, the itineraries feature visits to destinations like Naha, Sasebo, Kagoshima, Nagasaki and Fukuoka.

The ship is also scheduled to offer longer cruises to Japan that sail to more ports of call, such as Osaka and Kochi.

Built at the Meyer Werft shipyard for P&O Cruises, the Piano Land originally entered service in 1996 as the Oriana.

The 70,000-ton ship was sold to Astro Ocean Cruises in mid-2018, debuting in the Chinese market in September 2019.

In early 2020, after a few months sailing from Xiamen and Shanghai, the vessel entered an operational pause due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

While other ships resumed revenue service in China over the past few years, the Piano Land remained laid up in different locations.