Tianjin Oriental Delays Vision’s Inaugural Cruise to March 2026
The refit underscores how Chinese operators are reshaping large legacy ships for first-time family cruisers, betting that Northern China homeports can challenge Shanghai’s dominance.
Tianjin Oriental International Cruise has delayed the inaugural sailing of its newly acquired ship, Vision, with the maiden voyage now scheduled for March 3, 2026. The company attributed the change from a previously planned mid-February start to additional refurbishment and technical work underway at the Qingdao Beihai Heavy Industry Shipyard.
The ship has been in upgrade mode since arriving in China late last year, as the operator prepares it for year-round service out of Tianjin aimed at a growing base of Chinese family travelers.
Shipyard delay and background on the vessel
Vision was originally built in 2004 as Costa Magica for Costa Cruises and is described as a 105,000-ton ship designed for large-scale mainstream cruising. The vessel changed hands during the pandemic-era reshuffling of cruise ship ownership: Carnival Corporation sold the ship during the pandemic, and it was later acquired by Seajets, which renamed it Vision and planned to operate it under its Neonyx brand before that startup was postponed indefinitely.
Tianjin Oriental International Cruise acquired the ship in November 2025. The company did not disclose a sales price.
China-focused refit: technical work and passenger-area changes
Tianjin Oriental said the Qingdao refit covers both passenger-facing upgrades and behind-the-scenes systems, including mechanical enhancements and improvements to public and passenger areas. The conversion also includes interior changes designed for Chinese vacationers, with the operator highlighting expanded family-friendly spaces and additional dining options.
The product strategy is aimed at groups traveling together across generations, with the company also promoting package-style, all-inclusive offerings and Chinese-language services to support first-time cruisers and retirees seeking affordability and convenience.
Itinerary, visa-free positioning, and pricing
Once in service, Vision is scheduled to operate six-day, five-night itineraries from Tianjin to South Korea. Planned port calls include Busan, Jeju, and Incheon.
The operator has positioned the sailings around visa-free travel for Chinese passengers and has opened bookings for March and April departures. Published entry-level fares for those sailings start at CNY 2,499 for interior cabins.
Northern China deployment and the role of Dream
Tianjin Oriental is building its cruise business around Northern China homeports rather than Shanghai, where much of the country’s cruise capacity is concentrated. The company is a privately owned Chinese cruise brand under Tangshan Oriental Shipping, a Northern China-based maritime freight operator that runs a mineral-transport fleet.
With Vision expected to be based in Tianjin full time, the operator has said its existing ship, Dream, would be able to shift to other Northern China departures, including homeports such as Dalian and Qingdao. Dream is described as a 1998-built ship with capacity cited at 1,950 guests, while Vision is described as a 2,720-guest ship, giving the company a higher-capacity option for its Tianjin base once the refit is completed.
Broader fleet expansion plans, including Ideal
In parallel with the Vision launch, Tianjin Oriental has also described plans to introduce a ship called Ideal in late February as part of a fleet expansion strategy. The company has said this vessel was acquired from Seajets after the planned Neonyx operations were postponed indefinitely, and that it underwent a conversion process after arriving at the Qingdao shipyard.
As of now, Vision remains at Qingdao Beihai Heavy Industry Shipyard while the operator completes remaining refurbishment and technical work, with the next milestone being the transition from yard completion into the Tianjin-based South Korea program and the reassignment of Dream to additional Northern China sailings.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
When is Vision scheduled to begin service for Tianjin Oriental International Cruise?
The company has set March 3, 2026 as the new date for the maiden voyage, after moving it from a previously planned mid-February start.
What upgrades are being made during the shipyard stay in Qingdao?
Tianjin Oriental has described a refit that includes mechanical system enhancements, improvements to passenger and public areas, and China-focused interior modifications such as expanded family-friendly spaces and additional dining options.
What itineraries will Vision operate from Tianjin?
Vision is scheduled to offer six-day, five-night cruises from Tianjin to South Korea, with ports on the planned rotations including Busan, Jeju, and Incheon. The sailings are designed around visa-free travel for Chinese passengers.
What is the starting price for the first bookable sailings?
For the March and April departures currently on sale, Tianjin Oriental’s published fares start at CNY 2,499 for interior cabins.
Why is Tianjin Oriental focusing on Northern China ports instead of Shanghai?
The company has said it is avoiding Shanghai, where a large share of China’s cruise capacity is concentrated, and is instead focusing on Northern China homeports such as Tianjin, with deployment plans that also include Dalian and Qingdao.
