Foreign cruise lines are stepping up efforts to tap the Chinese market by increasing port calls and expanding local operations.

Meanwhile, foreign cruise operators in China are securing their place in the Chinese market through innovative measures tailored to Chinese travelers.

As visa-free policies continue to be optimized, the inbound tourism market is further unlocking its potential, attracting a growing number of international luxury cruise ships to China, particularly Shanghai, industry experts said.

The luxury cruise ship Seven Seas Explorer departed from Shanghai Port International Cruise Terminal on March 6 after a two-day stopover in the East China cosmopolis, according to the Shanghai Municipal Office for Port Services.

Sailing from the Philippines, Shanghai marked its fourth port of call. More than 680 foreign passengers on board enjoyed the two-day, one-night tour in the city, with 99 percent eligible for the 15-day visa-free policy for foreign cruise tour groups.

Following the Seven Seas Explorer, Shanghai is seeing a new wave of inbound international cruise arrivals in March.

On the evening of March 11, Luminara, the newest superyacht under The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, made its maiden call at the Shanghai Port International Cruise Terminal, marking its first visit to the Chinese mainland.

Boasting 226 suites with private terraces, the cruise ship can accommodate a maximum of 452 guests. The vessel carried nearly 500 passengers and crew in total, with 84 percent of passengers eligible for various visa-free policies.

The cruise ship Mein Schiff 6 called at Shanghai Wusongkou International Cruise Terminal between March 28 and March 29, as part of a 14-night "Far East in Bloom" round trip from Hong Kong. The vessel arrived on March 28 at 8:00 am and departed on March 29 at 7:00 pm.

"About 1,700 passengers disembarked on March 28 for shore excursions. Most passengers are Germanspeaking and were received by German-speaking guides across 16 tour routes," said Sun Peng, deputy general manager of China International Travel Service Ltd Head Office.

In addition to traditional Shanghai attractions such as the Jade Buddha Temple, Yuyuan Garden, Shanghai Jinmao Tower, Huangpu River cruises and the maglev train, the itineraries also feature newer destinations including Tian An 1,000 Trees and Wukang Road, Sun said.

On March 29, another cruise ship MSC Magnifica were scheduled for its first-ever call at a Chinese mainland cruise port, namely Shanghai Wusongkou International Cruise Terminal. "Around 2,300 passengers are expected to go ashore for sightseeing, divided into 62 tour groups covering 10 distinct itineraries," Sun said.

One major highlight of the cruise is the debut of a new intelligent robot dog on board, serving as a representative of China's smart manufacturing. It is the first robot dog to embark on a global cruise journey, showcasing China's innovation to international passengers.

Switzerland-headquartered MSC Cruises is bringing its extensive global operational experience to the Chinese market, celebrating 20 years in China by deepening internationalized operations, embracing cutting-edge technology, and enhancing localized passenger experiences.

A ceremony was held in Shanghai earlier in January to welcome a humanoid robot and a smart robotic dog on board, marking the first deployment of both on a cruise ship. The two robots serve as permanent crew members on MSC Bellissima during its homeport operations.

Yan Guodong, senior researcher at the Shanghai International Cruise Business Institute, said she believes China's cruise industry is on a clear upward trajectory.

"From the source market perspective, the Asia-Pacific region is expected to become the main engine of global growth, with an average annual growth rate of 19.6 percent, according to the Cruise Lines International Association. As the world's second-largest source market, China is projected to contribute more than 50 percent of incremental growth, highlighting significant potential for further market development," Yan said.

According to Yan, China has become the world's fifth country capable of constructing large cruise ships. With orders continuing to grow, a deeper expansion will be driven across the entire industry chain.

"On the consumption side, China has in recent years rolled out measures including visa-free policies, payment convenience and international service, alongside tax refund policies for departing travelers, improving the overall environment for international consumption. As a result, inbound spending has risen rapidly, with more international cruise ships, including high-end luxury vessels, calling at Shanghai, making it an increasingly popular choice for global travelers," she said.

Official data show that inbound tourism to Shanghai continued to grow in 2025. The city received a total of 9.36 million inbound passenger trips last year, up 39.6 percent year-on-year, according to the Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture and Tourism. Of these, overnight inbound visitors accounted for 8.79 million trips, an increase of 45.1 percent compared with 2024.