China opens ports for cruise ships for the first time since the pandemic
Efforts to rebuild China's cruise market continue as the country reopens its mainland ports to international cruise ships for the first time since the pandemic.
China's cruise market has been slower to recover from the pandemic and was the last major market to take its first steps in the industry in mid-2023, The Maritime Executive writes.
Chinese-flagged cruise ships were allowed to resume overnight cruises to international destinations in 2023, more than three years after the pandemic.
Swiss cruise line MSC Cruises has resumed international sailings home with the arrival of MSC Bellissima in Shanghai and her departure on her maiden China cruise on March 18. This also marked the first arrival of a cruise ship in China, although MSC was one of the cruise lines in the market before the pandemic.
As TravelWise previously reported, four amazing places in China this spring were named.
