Former Costa Magica Begins Qingdao Refit Ahead of Tianjin Debut

The former Costa Magica has arrived in China for conversion work ahead of a planned return to passenger service for Tianjin Oriental International Cruise Line in mid-February 2026. The 2004-built, 103,000-ton cruise ship reached the Qingdao Beihai Heavy Industry Shipyard on Dec. 24, 2025, after a repositioning voyage from the Mediterranean region.

Conversion work in Qingdao ahead of a Tianjin debut

The ship is expected to spend roughly five to six weeks in Qingdao for technical maintenance and work tied to its transition into Tianjin Oriental’s brand. The vessel is currently sailing under the temporary name Ideal and is expected to adopt the name Vision when it enters service, with additional deployment details to be announced later.

Tianjin Oriental acquired the ship in November 2025 after it was owned by Greece-based Seajets; a sales price was not disclosed. Built in Italy for Costa Cruises, the ship has capacity for about 2,720 guests and is set to become Tianjin Oriental’s second cruise ship.

How the second ship reshapes Tianjin Oriental’s Northern China deployment

Once Ideal begins sailing, Tianjin Oriental is expected to expand from one ship to two in late February, with the newcomer based in Tianjin year-round. The company has said the ship will operate short cruises aimed at the domestic market, with a stated focus on first-time cruisers and retirees.

The addition is also expected to change deployment for the company’s other vessel, Dream, a 1998-built ship with capacity for about 1,950 guests. Dream was originally launched as Sea Princess and also operated for P&O, and it is expected to shift to other Northern China homeports including Dalian and Qingdao after Ideal enters service from Tianjin.

A private operator leaning on value pricing and a non-Shanghai strategy

Tianjin Oriental operates under parent company Tangshan Oriental Shipping, a Northern China-based maritime freight operator with a fleet focused on mineral transport. In cruising, the company has positioned itself around comparatively low ticket prices and has concentrated its capacity outside Shanghai, where much of China’s cruise capacity is clustered, instead building its presence around Northern China homeports led by Tianjin.

A ship that sat idle after Covid-19 and a broader secondhand trend

The ship’s move to China ends a multi-year period out of operation that began when it left revenue service during the Covid-19 disruption in early 2020 and remained laid up in Europe for several years. After Carnival Corporation sold the ship in early 2023, it later transferred to Seajets and remained out of service despite plans for a new venture in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Seajets had intended to use the ship for Neonyx Cruises, a project that envisioned short itineraries in the Greek Islands and Turkey, but the start was pushed back more than once before the concept was shelved. Tianjin Oriental’s purchase places the vessel within a broader pattern of secondhand ships being refurbished and repositioned for emerging markets, including China.

According to Cruise Industry News, other large secondhand transactions cited in recent fleet reshuffling include the transfer of Norwegian Sky to India-based Cordelia Cruises and the Costa Fortuna to Margaritaville at Sea.

Regional itinerary signals: Incheon’s rising cruise calls tied to China departures

As Tianjin Oriental prepares to introduce Ideal and later operate it as Vision, nearby ports in South Korea are also planning for increased cruise activity tied to China-based itineraries. The Incheon Port Authority counted 15 cruise ship arrivals in 2024 and 32 in 2025, and said 64 voyages have already been confirmed for 2026.

Of the 64 voyages completed or scheduled for 2026, 44 are tied to departures from Chinese ports, primarily Shanghai and Tianjin. Incheon is also expecting more overnight calls, rising to 12 voyages in 2026 from seven the prior year, based on the port’s arrival planning figures.

Incheon’s forward schedule includes regular visits by ships listed as Dream and Vision among the vessels tied to ongoing calls. An Incheon Port Authority official said, “Cruise bookings are typically finalized a year in advance,” while adding that urgent reservations “likely reflect political reasons” as itineraries are adjusted in the region.

Timeline: from Greece to Northern China

• Early 2020: The ship leaves revenue service during the Covid-19 disruption and remains laid up in Europe for several years.
• Early 2023: Carnival Corporation sells the ship; it later transfers to Seajets.
• Nov. 2025: Tianjin Oriental purchases the ship from Seajets.
• Nov. 19, 2025: The ship departs Astakos, Greece, beginning its voyage to Asia.
• Dec. 24, 2025: Arrival at Qingdao Beihai Heavy Industry Shipyard for conversion and maintenance work.
• Mid-Feb. 2026 (expected): Entry into service for Tianjin Oriental from Tianjin, with the ship expected to adopt the Vision name.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

When is the ship expected to start sailing for Tianjin Oriental?

The ship is expected to enter service in mid-February 2026 after roughly five to six weeks of conversion and maintenance work at the Qingdao Beihai Heavy Industry Shipyard.

What name will the ship use once it begins service in China?

The vessel is currently using the temporary name Ideal and is expected to be renamed Vision when it enters service for Tianjin Oriental.

What happens to Dream after Ideal enters service?

Once Ideal begins sailing from Tianjin, Dream is expected to shift to other Northern China homeports, including Dalian and Qingdao.

Why is Tianjin Oriental concentrating on Northern China rather than Shanghai?

The company has concentrated its capacity outside Shanghai, where much of China’s cruise capacity is clustered, and instead built its presence around Northern China homeports led by Tianjin.

How does this acquisition fit into the broader secondhand cruise ship market?

The move reflects a wider trend of secondhand cruise ships being purchased, refurbished, and redeployed into growth markets. Cruise Industry News has cited other recent transactions including Norwegian Sky transferring to Cordelia Cruises and Costa Fortuna transferring to Margaritaville at Sea.

With shipyard work underway in Qingdao, Tianjin Oriental is expected to introduce the ship into service from Tianjin in mid-February before adopting the Vision name, a step that would expand the operator to two ships and trigger deployment changes for Dream across Northern China homeports in the weeks that follow.