China’s Ministry of Transport has announced that “non-destination sea cruises,” will be expanded beyond the current pilot projects from Shanghai and Tianjin.
The ministry said it will continue refining the product so that non-destination cruising becomes a normalized cruise product, with Xiamen, Guangzhou and Shenzhen added as next-phase trial cities.
Transport vice minister and ministry spokesperson Li Yang said that during the holiday window, Shanghai, Tianjin and Shenzhen Have 14 sailings with just sea days across multiple ships.
According to Yang, the trials have so far comprised three rounds. In June, Shanghai ran the first round with the Adora Magic City from Wusongkou International Cruise Terminal. In August, Tianjin Oriental ran trials with the Visio.
The Ministry of Culture and Tourism said Shanghai subsequently issued dedicated entry-exit permits for the non-destination product, allowing eligible travelers to apply with identity documents instead of a standard passport procedure.
Yang said the response showed market demand and that the average age of non-destination cruise guests was about eight years younger than traditional passengers.
Yang attributed the product’s uptake to :
- Simpler documentation
- Short three-day scheduling with “near shore timing and pricing,” and
- Onboard leisure, duty-free shopping and entertainment options that are attractive to young people and families.
He added that the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the General Administration of Customs and the National Immigration Administration are jointly advancing policy innovation for the segment.
