QINGDAO, Aug. 19 (Zhang Xiaopeng, Wang Yu) Qingdao Cruise Home Port welcomed the simultaneous docking of two cruise ships, the “Zhao Shang Yi Dun” and the “Blue Dream Melody,” on the 19th. This marks the first “dual cruise ship docking” since the home port took the lead in resuming international cruise operations in Northern China in 2023. This year, the home port is expected to operate approximately 30 voyages, an increase of over 40% compared to last year.
On August 19, the “Zhao Shang Yi Dun” and the “Blue Dream Melody” berthed at Qingdao Cruise Home Port. (Drone photo) Provided by Qingdao International Cruise Port Area Service Administration Bureau.
The “Zhao Shang Yi Dun” has a gross tonnage of 47,800 tons and can accommodate 930 passengers. It will visit Qingdao eight times from August to November this year, with six of these voyages primarily carrying international tourists from countries like the United States and Canada, bringing Shandong’s largest annual North American inbound tourist group. The “Blue Dream Melody,” characterized by its localized operations, has a gross tonnage of 42,000 tons and a passenger capacity of 1,580. It has gained popularity through its precise development of characteristic routes to Japan and South Korea.
To ensure service support for the cruise ships and tourists, the Qingdao International Cruise Port Area Service Administration Bureau collaborated with local port, public security, and transportation departments to optimize service support plans, enhancing cruise clearance efficiency and the international travel experience for passengers. Shandong Port Cruise Industry Group made advance deployments and detailed arrangements to ensure smooth operations for passengers boarding early in the morning or disembarking late at night.
Qingdao Cruise Home Port is a crucial cruise hub in Northern China. Since the beginning of this year, the number of voyages received and the passenger boarding rate at the Qingdao cruise market have seen significant year-on-year growth. In March this year, the “Europa 2” brought nearly 500 international tourists to Qingdao, forming the largest European inbound tourist group in Shandong this year. In April, the first domestically built large cruise ship, “Adora Magic City,” commenced its China coastline cruise from Qingdao, setting a new single-day record for the number of inbound and outbound passengers at Qingdao Cruise Home Port. (End)
