Adora Mediterranea Launches Lingnan Heritage Sailings from Guangzhou

Adora Cruises is expanding culture-focused programming aboard Adora Mediterranea with a new series of themed sailings from Guangzhou built around Lingnan intangible cultural heritage. Branded “Intangible Cultural Heritage on the Waves,” the initiative runs across nine voyages scheduled between Dec. 25, 2025, and March 6, 2026, adding performances and hands-on activities to the ship’s regular entertainment lineup.

The themed program sits within Adora Mediterranea’s broader winter season from Guangzhou Nansha, which began on Dec. 7, 2025, and includes a total deployment of 20 international cruises. Adora has linked the Guangzhou season to its Greater Bay Area expansion plans and to a local milestone, saying: “On the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the development of the cruise tourism industry in Guangzhou, we are delighted to bring richer travel choices and deeper cultural experiences to guests in the Greater Bay Area.”

Lingnan heritage programming onboard Adora Mediterranea

Adora Cruises said the “Intangible Cultural Heritage on the Waves” sailings are designed to immerse guests in Cantonese cultural traditions from the Lingnan region through stage presentations and interactive craft activities. In outlining the approach, the company said: “We continue to explore the innovative model of Cruise + Culture for cultural tourism integration.”

Across the themed period, the company said the lineup will include a mix of music, opera, and traditional crafts tied to Guangdong and nearby cities, including:

• Opera and performance: Cantonese opera presentations and related cultural activities, alongside other live showcases tied to Lingnan heritage.
• Music: Guangdong music performances, included as part of the onboard heritage programming.
• Traditional crafts: Hands-on and craft-focused elements such as Guangcai (Cantonese porcelain) culture, Foshan woodblock New Year paintings, and Foshan lantern craftsmanship.

Heritage inheritors, performers, and partners joining select voyages

Adora Cruises said it will invite artists, musicians, and other performers for live presentations and interactive sessions across the Guangzhou season. Among the cultural figures named by the company are Wing Chun inheritor Don Chonghua (from the Ip Man lineage), Wing Chun master Zhang Baozong, and Cantonese opera artist Huang Cuifang.

The ship is also set to host younger performers from the Zunling Zhi Xiu Orchestra. Adora said it is working with China International Cultural Group to roll out the intangible cultural heritage-themed activities during the Guangzhou sailing season, stating: “This time, Adora Cruises, in collaboration with China International Cultural Group, is launching intangible cultural heritage-themed activities during the Guangzhou sailing season,” adding that the goal is to deepen the cultural dimension of onboard travel.

Guangzhou itineraries: Vietnam short cruises and longer Southeast Asia routes

Adora Mediterranea’s Guangzhou deployment is built primarily around four- and five-night itineraries to Vietnam, with calls including Da Nang, Ha Long Bay, and Hue. Adora has also scheduled two eight-night voyages departing Guangzhou on Jan. 7 and March 11, 2026, visiting destinations in Vietnam, Malaysia, and Brunei.

Adora said the longer itineraries are designed as a “warm winter journey” aimed at travelers from China’s Greater Bay Area. On the eight-night routes, ports highlighted by the company include Nha Trang (Vietnam), Kota Kinabalu (Malaysia), and Maura (Brunei), with Adora noting that Nha Trang marks the cruise line’s maiden call to the port. One of the longer sailings recently departed Guangzhou with more than 2,000 guests onboard for an eight-night itinerary calling in Southeast Asia.

Lunar New Year 2026 sailings across Adora’s fleet

Within the winter schedule, Adora Cruises is also building programming around major holiday periods including Christmas, New Year’s Eve, and the Spring Festival. For Lunar New Year 2026, the company announced two special themed cruises across its fleet and said bookings for the sailings opened on Jan. 13, 2026.

Adora Mediterranea is scheduled to depart Guangzhou on Feb. 17, 2026, for a five-night Lunar New Year-themed itinerary to Vietnam, calling at Chan May and Cam Ranh. Adora said the onboard plan will combine traditional New Year customs with intangible cultural heritage experiences, supported by shipwide holiday decorations, and will incorporate Cantonese cuisine and morning tea during the festive sailing.

For the Feb. 17 voyage, Adora said Foshan lantern heritage inheritor Huang Minyan and Foshan woodblock New Year prints inheritor Liu Zhongping will join the sailing. The company said guests will be able to watch demonstrations and take part in related activities, including making mini lanterns and viewing the hand-printing process for New Year pictures.

Adora’s second Lunar New Year-themed cruise is set for Adora Magic City, departing Shanghai on Feb. 16, 2026, on a five-night itinerary to South Korea that includes Incheon and Jeju. Adora said that sailing will include New Year’s Eve countdown events and, on the first morning of the Lunar New Year, a deck gathering to watch the year’s first sunrise and take part in a flag-raising ceremony. “Through the deep integration of cruise and culture, we are bringing traditional New Year customs and intangible cultural heritage experiences onto our ships,” the company said.

“National Treasure Moments” screenings added onboard

Separately, Adora Cruises is adding the National Treasure Moments documentary series to onboard programming across both Adora Magic City and Adora Mediterranea. The company said the series, a set of 50 ultra-high-definition short videos, will be available in the ships’ theaters and in staterooms.

Adora said the project was planned by the National Radio and Television Administration and the National Cultural Heritage Administration, with each five-minute episode centered on a single artifact across categories such as bronze, jade, and calligraphy. Artifacts referenced by the company include the Neolithic seven-holed bone flute, the Qin Dynasty Bronze Chariot and Horses, the Han Dynasty Changxin Palace Lantern, and the Tang Dynasty eight-lobed mother-of-pearl inlay bronze mirror.

“We are very honored to host the public service broadcast” of the documentary series, Adora Cruises said, adding that it wants guests to pair a sea holiday with exposure to Chinese civilization through the onboard screenings.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

When does Adora Mediterranea’s “Intangible Cultural Heritage on the Waves” season run?

The themed sailings cover nine voyages scheduled from Dec. 25, 2025, through March 6, 2026, within the ship’s wider Guangzhou Nansha winter deployment that began on Dec. 7, 2025.

What is included in the “Intangible Cultural Heritage on the Waves” programming?

Adora Cruises said the onboard lineup includes heritage content tied to the Lingnan region, including Cantonese opera, Guangdong music, and traditional crafts such as Guangcai (Cantonese porcelain) culture elements, Foshan woodblock New Year paintings, and Foshan lantern craftsmanship.

Which ports are included on Adora Mediterranea’s longer Southeast Asia cruises from Guangzhou?

Adora has scheduled two eight-night voyages departing Guangzhou on Jan. 7 and March 11, 2026, visiting destinations in Vietnam, Malaysia, and Brunei. Ports highlighted by the company include Nha Trang, Kota Kinabalu, and Maura.

When is Adora Mediterranea’s Lunar New Year 2026 cruise from Guangzhou?

The ship is scheduled to depart Guangzhou on Feb. 17, 2026, for a five-night itinerary to Vietnam calling at Chan May and Cam Ranh.

What is the National Treasure Moments documentary series?

Adora Cruises said National Treasure Moments is a set of 50 ultra-high-definition short videos planned by the National Radio and Television Administration and the National Cultural Heritage Administration. Each episode runs about five minutes and focuses on a single artifact, with screenings available onboard Adora Magic City and Adora Mediterranea in theaters and staterooms.

Adora said the Guangzhou season continues into early 2026, with the nine Lingnan heritage-themed voyages running from late December into early March and key dates including the longer eight-night itineraries and the Feb. 17 Lunar New Year departure from Guangzhou.