Columbia Cruise Services Opens Shanghai Office for Adora Fleet

Columbia Cruise Services has opened a Shanghai office adjacent to Adora Cruises, giving the Hamburg-based ship manager a local base for technical management, marine management and crew-service work across Adora’s fleet. The move, announced May 14, puts CCS personnel beside the Chinese cruise line’s teams as Adora prepares Adora Flora City for commercial entry later this year.

With Flora City, Adora is set to have three ships in service and a new round of international sailings from Guangzhou Nansha International Cruise Home Port.

“China is a vital strategic market for Columbia, and our cooperation with Adora Cruises is a key part of our global business,” said Norman Schmiedl, CEO of Columbia blue. “Being closer to our customer allows us to provide more responsive and joined-up support across operations.”

Office places operating teams side by side

A ribbon-cutting ceremony brought together Schmiedl, Hendrik Stellamanns, managing director of Columbia Cruise Services, and Adora’s leadership team. Roger Chen, CEO of Adora Cruises, welcomed the arrangement.

“Having our teams working side by side in Shanghai will enhance operational coordination, support the smooth delivery of Adora Flora City,” Chen said. He added that closer collaboration would help maintain safety standards across Adora’s maritime operations.

For CCS, founded in 2015 and headquartered in Hamburg as a standalone COLUMBIA Group company, the Shanghai site extends its cruise-management service lines into daily work with a specific fleet customer.

Flora City advances toward Guangzhou service

Adora Flora City, built at Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding, is a 341-meter, 141,900-gross-ton ship with 2,130 passenger cabins and capacity for 5,232 passengers. The vessel began a 12-day sea-trial program May 16 and returned to Shanghai after 937 professionals from 12 countries completed 149 tests and verifications covering maneuverability, automation, safety, comfort and emissions performance.

The ship completed all required trial items in a single voyage, compared with two sea trials for Adora Magic City. Chen Gang, chief commander of the sea trial, said the program proceeded smoothly and “laid a solid foundation” for delivery on schedule.

Flora City follows Adora Magic City, China’s first domestically built large cruise ship, which entered service in early 2024 and has carried more than 1 million passengers. China State Shipbuilding Corp. has said the second ship is longer than Magic City and adds passenger amenities, including a larger atrium/plaza; both ships are based on a design originally developed by Carnival Corporation and Fincantieri.

Adora and Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding have set Nov. 6, 2026, for delivery, earlier than originally planned. Tickets for Flora City’s inaugural season opened May 20, with the global debut scheduled for Nov. 22 from Guangzhou Nansha on a five-night cruise to Hong Kong and Hue (Chan May), Vietnam.

The first season is scheduled to run through Jan. 2, 2027, and includes a three-night Hong Kong New Year cruise, an eight-night Nanyang Heritage Route and a 16-night Maritime Silk Road Discovery Journey visiting Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei, the Philippines, Indonesia and Vietnam.