Huaxia International Cruise is now set to operate the largest cruise fleet in Asia, according to a report by the South China Morning Post.

As previously reported by Cruise Industry News, the Chinese cruise holding was formed by at least six companies in December 2023.

China is now planning to consolidate the operations into a single, state-owned enterprise as part of a broader efficiency drive.

State broadcaster CCTV said that the China Tourism Group was designated as the operator of the venture during a recent signing ceremony in Beijing.

The company, which holds a 65 percent stake in Adora Cruises, is also the largest shareholder of the joint venture.

Other brands that are part of Huaxia include China Cosco Shipping, China Merchants Group and China State Shipbuilding Corporation.

The brands are expected to continue to operate independently, the South China Morning Post report noted.

The four companies are said to operate five cruise ships under the Adora, Astro Ocean and Nanhai brands, including the Adora Magic City and the Adora Flora City.

As the first large cruise ships to be built in China, the 140,000-ton sister ships were built at a China State Shipbuilding Company (CSSC) shipyard in Shanghai.

While the Magic City entered service in early 2024, the Flora City is expected to be delivered to Adora in late 2026.

The South China Morning Post added that Huaxia’s recent signing ceremony was hosted by China’s State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission and featured consolidation deals involving 17 state-owned enterprises.

The companies are said to operate across a range of sectors, including advanced materials, artificial intelligence and logistics.