The port of Shanghai in China said it has processed 840,000 cruise passengers in the first half of 2024, according to the Shanghai Port Border Inspection Department.

The statistics, which were recently shared by the Shanghai International Cruise Economic Research Center, also show that over 90 international vessels were inspected at the port during the first half of the year.

The number represents more than 180 cruise ships entering and leaving the country, the research center highlighted.

On June 28, 2024, Shanghai also set a record for the highest number of people entering and leaving the port in a single day this year, with approximately 25,000 passengers checked.

In addition, the Shanghai Cruise Port registered roughly 45,000 foreign passengers transiting the country’s borders in the first half of 2024.

Of the total, 18,000 took advantage of China’s new visa-free policy for cruise travel, which was introduced in early June.

The milestones are credited to the return of international cruise operations to Shanghai, as well as the debut of newer and larger vessels in the Chinese market.

In January, the new Adora Magic City debuted in Shanghai as the first-ever large cruise ship built in China.

Now sailing from the port on a year-round basis, the vessel is operated by China-based Adora Cruises.

More recently, in June, the Blue Dream Melody also started operations for Blue Dream Cruises from Shanghai.

Acquired from AIDA Cruises earlier this year, the 1,218-guest ship replaces the 836-guest Blue Dream Star.

International brands have also returned to Shanghai in 2024, with MSC Cruises sending the 4,500-guest MSC Bellissima to the country, and Royal Caribbean International dedicating the 4,200-passenger Spectrum of the Seas to the local market.

As part of a joint venture between China Merchants and Viking, the former Viking Sun has also been sailing from Shanghai in 2024.

The homeporting operations alone accounted for over 600,000 inbound and outbound passengers in the first half of the year, the Shanghai International Cruise Economic Research Center added.