Qingdao, China Advances Plans for New Coastal Cruise Ship

The coastal city of Qingdao in China has moved closer to developing its first domestically designed coastal cruise ship after launching a major tender for design review services.

Qingdao Marine Tourism Development Co., Ltd. has officially invited bids for a company to oversee the design review process for its “near-sea comprehensive luxury sightseeing large cruise ship (small cruise ship)” project.

According to tender documents, the planned vessel will have a gross tonnage of 30,000 tons and accommodate up to 880 passengers.

The project is expected to require an investment of approximately 3.74 billion yuan, equivalent to around $515 million, based on a sourcing announcement released in January 2026.

No official shipbuilder has yet been confirmed for the project. However, industry sources suggest Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. (SWS) is the leading candidate because of its experience constructing cruise vessels such as Adora Magic City and Adora Flora City.

At this stage, detailed information regarding the ship’s design remains limited, as the current tender focuses specifically on reviewing technical plans for safety, compliance, and overall feasibility. The deadline for bid submissions is scheduled for late May 2026.

The project is being led by Qingdao Marine Tourism Development Co., Ltd., a state-owned company operating under Qingdao Tourism Group, a large tourism organization established by the Qingdao municipal government.