Tianjin Oriental’s Dream Extends Qingdao, Dalian Port Staycations

A view across Qingdao, China including the harbor
Cruise Industry Asia
by Sam Hamilton

Tianjin Oriental’s *Dream *is offering a non-sailing staycation program in Dalian and Qingdao while its regular cruise operations remain suspended from Aug. 7 until early September.

The former Princess Cruises vessel is docked at Dalian Port from Aug. 7 to 17, marking the first staycation program of its kind at the port. It will then relocate to Qingdao, where it is scheduled to remain through Sept. 1.

The latest deployment follows a pilot program held in Qingdao from July 20 to 29 in connection with the Qingdao International Beer Festival. During that event, *Dream *remained alongside and operated as a floating hotel.

*Dream’s *stationary program at Dalian Port is scheduled to run for 11 days. Rates start at 699 RMB ($100) per guest per night for an oceanview stateroom, while a balcony suite costs 999 RMB ($150) per guest per night.

Passengers joining the Dalian staycation only need to present a national ID card when boarding. A similar arrangement was offered during the 10-day Qingdao beer festival pilot, allowing guests to board without a passport.

*Dream *departed Shanghai on July 17 before arriving at the Qingdao International Cruise Homeport on July 20 for the “Cruise Beer Festival” staycation. Guests could choose between daytrip passes and packages that included overnight accommodation onboard. This marked Tianjin Oriental’s first event-focused, port-based cruise offering and was aimed at both Shandong visitors and local residents.

After completing its Dalian stay, *Dream *will return to Qingdao, where Tianjin Oriental plans to reintroduce activities including deck parties, live entertainment, shopping events, family-focused attractions and premium-stateroom stays.

The company has not announced a separate pricing structure for the ship’s return to Qingdao.

*Dream *is a 77,499-GT cruise ship built by Fincantieri in 1998. The vessel features 1,007 cabins and can accommodate up to 2,417 passengers. Tianjin Oriental acquired the ship in 2023.

The vessel had originally been scheduled to operate 30 cruises from Shanghai Wusongkou International Cruise Terminal during the first half of 2026. Several additional sailings scheduled through Aug. 30 were canceled to make way for the port-based staycation program. *Dream *is currently scheduled to return to Shanghai on Sept. 3.