Adora Mediterranea Launches Xiamen 2026 Homeport Cruise Season

Adora Cruises’ Adora Mediterranea launched Xiamen’s 2026 cruise homeport season on April 1, departing the Xiamen International Cruise Homeport on a six-day Maritime Silk Road-themed itinerary to Manila and Boracay in the Philippines.

Xiamen’s new round of Southeast Asia sailings

The April 1 departure was billed as Xiamen’s first Maritime Silk Road cruise route of the year, and Adora said Adora Mediterranea’s April program includes multiple themed sailings to Southeast Asian destinations. The company also said it introduced Southeast Asian specialty ingredients to its onboard menus for the first time on these voyages, including pandan leaves.

Adora Mediterranea is now sailing from Xiamen for a third consecutive year as the ship continues operations along China’s southeastern coast. In a statement, Adora described Xiamen as “a key strategic hub” in its southern market and said it is committed to building a wider range of cruise vacation options for the region.

Schedule descriptions released around the season launch pointed to a heavy early-month program and a longer runway for the year: Adora said its schedule includes more than 10 international voyages from Xiamen through April 30, with additional departures planned for the second half of the year, while Xiamen authorities also highlighted a broader set of more than 10 international voyages from April through October.

Longer itineraries join five- and six-day cruises

Alongside five-day and six-day itineraries, Adora Mediterranea is scheduled to operate longer cruises in April that expand beyond single-country stops.

• April 10: a nine-day, eight-night sailing to Manila and Coron in the Philippines, plus Hue and Da Nang in Vietnam.
• April 18: a 13-day, 12-night Maritime Silk Road “Discovery Journey” visiting Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei.

Boracay maiden call brings full-day visit and local ceremony

During one of its Philippines itineraries, Adora Mediterranea made its maiden call in Boracay, bringing about 1,500 Chinese tourists and nearly 800 crew members to the island, according to the Malay-Boracay Tourism Office. The office said the ship arrived from Xiamen at around 8 a.m. and departed at 8 p.m., giving guests a full day ashore.

Local officials and tourism stakeholders welcomed passengers with a ceremonial plaque exchange held onboard. The Municipality of Malay was represented by Tourism Operations Officer II Nelia A. Gumboc on behalf of Mayor Frolibar S. Bautista, alongside representatives from the Aklan provincial government and the Department of Tourism in Western Visayas.

Visitors were also greeted with cultural performances on the island highlighting Western Visayas heritage. The Malay-Boracay Tourism Office said the call was the first cruise ship visit to Boracay in April and coincided with the province’s post-Holy Week period.

Guangzhou Nansha closes a 111-day season as a newbuild is planned

While Xiamen began its April program, Guangzhou’s Nansha International Cruise Terminal concluded its 2026 winter/spring season, which ran from Dec. 7, 2025, through March 28, 2026, with Adora Mediterranea operating from the terminal.

Across the 111-day season, Nansha hosted 23 sailings and recorded 71,885 passengers. Itineraries during the period included calls to destinations such as Hong Kong, as well as ports in Japan, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei.

Looking ahead, the Nansha International Cruise Terminal said Adora Flora City is slated to use Guangzhou Nansha as its primary homeport following its expected delivery at the end of 2026.

Ports emphasize faster processing and shore-side experiences

In Xiamen, port and tourism officials have also promoted measures aimed at improving the passenger experience in port, including customs clearance changes that improved efficiency by more than 50 percent. The city has tied those process updates to curated visitor concepts designed for guests on tight port timelines.

Among the initiatives promoted for cruise visitors are the “One-Hour Tourism Circle,” designed to connect passengers with major scenic sites such as Gulangyu Island, and “Meet Minnan Time Fantasy,” described as China’s first Minnan-themed immersive marine cultural tourism project.

Wang Guodi, Deputy Director of the Xiamen Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism, said the city is “rapidly emerging as one of the most culturally distinctive international cruise ports in China,” citing a mix of port facilities, cultural offerings and homeport itineraries.

Shanghai has also highlighted efforts to improve the cruise experience through port operations. In Baoshan District, local officials said clearance systems have been optimized to reduce processing times to seconds while continuing to develop cruise-related infrastructure to attract international lines.

Regional growth push spans destinations from Hong Kong to Korea and the Philippines

Updates from Xiamen and other cruise hubs were shared during a luncheon hosted by the Hong Kong Tourism Board in Miami Beach, which featured briefings from five cruise destinations: Hong Kong, Korea, the Philippines, Xiamen and Shanghai. Speakers emphasized collaboration and new experiences as the Asia cruise market develops new itineraries and services.

Hong Kong reported that passenger arrivals rose by more than 20 percent in 2025 alongside an increase in cruise calls, according to Marilyn Tham, general manager of mega events, MICE, and cruise at the Hong Kong Tourism Board. Tham said the destination is looking to further growth in 2026 with increased ship arrivals and new offerings such as VIP shore excursions featuring helicopter rides. The tourism board also highlighted the city’s broader visitor economy, including 15 million tourists last year and attractions such as its 77 Michelin-starred restaurants.

Korea, meanwhile, anticipates welcoming more than 1.8 million cruise passengers in 2026, according to Lee Jong-Geun, Deputy Director of the Marine Leisure Tourism Division at Korea’s Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries. Lee said Korea is introducing two new ports, Masan and Saemangeum, alongside existing options such as Jeju, Busan and Incheon, pointing to interest in K-Culture and improved diplomatic relations between China and Japan as demand drivers.

The Philippines reported a 26 percent year-on-year increase in cruise passengers in 2025, supported by 136 ship calls, according to Dr. Paulo Benito S. Tugbang, director for product development at the Department of Tourism. Tugbang said new arrivals included luxury lines such as Swan Hellenic and The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, while expedition lines like Noble Caledonia debuted operations in the country.

Separately, StarCruises announced enhanced summer itineraries aboard the Star Voyager departing from Hong Kong’s Ocean Terminal between July and August 2026, including extended port stays of up to 10 hours in Okinawa and Vietnam. Michael Goh, president of StarDream Cruises, said the lineup ranges from short three-night Kaohsiung cruises to five-night voyages exploring Okinawa, Vietnam and Penghu.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

When did Xiamen’s 2026 homeport season begin for Adora Mediterranea?

The season started on April 1, when Adora Mediterranea departed the Xiamen International Cruise Homeport on a six-day itinerary to Manila and Boracay.

What longer cruises are scheduled from Xiamen in April?

Adora Mediterranea is scheduled to operate a nine-day, eight-night sailing on April 10 to Manila and Coron in the Philippines plus Hue and Da Nang in Vietnam, and a 13-day, 12-night Maritime Silk Road “Discovery Journey” on April 18 visiting Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei.

How many passengers sailed during Guangzhou Nansha’s winter/spring season?

Guangzhou’s Nansha International Cruise Terminal recorded 71,885 passengers across 23 sailings during the 111-day season running from Dec. 7, 2025, to March 28, 2026.

What new ports has Korea added to its cruise network?

Korea is introducing two new ports, Masan and Saemangeum, alongside existing destinations such as Jeju, Busan and Incheon, as it targets more than 1.8 million cruise passengers in 2026.

Which luxury cruise lines are expanding operations in the Philippines?

Officials said new arrivals in the Philippines included luxury lines such as Swan Hellenic and The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, and materials shared at the event also cited Ponant among luxury operators increasing their presence. Expedition line Noble Caledonia also debuted operations in the country.