Tianjin Launches China’s Second Cruise-to-Nowhere Service

Tianjin has launched a cruise-to-nowhere service, becoming the first city in northern China and the second in the country to offer this type of trip.

The 105,000-ton cruise ship VISIO left the Tianjin International Cruise Home Port on Saturday with more than 2,700 passengers.

It was on a three-day, two-night trip at sea and was due to return to Tianjin early Monday without stopping at any other port.

The number of passengers was the highest recorded at the Tianjin International Cruise Home Port on a single day this year, the Tianjin Dongjiang border inspection station said on Sunday.

A second trip was scheduled to leave Tianjin on Monday.

The ship does not make stops at other ports. It leaves Tianjin, sails at sea and returns to the same port.

The service gives passengers a new option for a short seaside holiday and is expected to support marine tourism in northern China, Xinhua News Agency reported.

Passengers stay on the ship for the whole trip and can use its rooms, restaurants, entertainment and other facilities.

Shanghai Started China’s First Cruise-to-Nowhere Service

Tianjin’s new service comes after Shanghai launched China’s first cruise-to-nowhere trip in June.

Shanghai issued China’s first entry-exit permit for this type of cruise on June 5. A day later, Adora Magic City, China’s first homegrown large cruise ship, left Shanghai Wusongkou International Cruise Terminal with more than 4,100 passengers.

That was China’s first cruise-to-nowhere trip.

Tong Danying, an official with the Shanghai Municipal Transportation Commission, said the service was not just a shorter version of a regular cruise.

Instead, passengers travel mainly to spend time and enjoy the facilities on the ship, according to Xinhua.

Xie Xie, a research fellow at the China Waterborne Transport Research Institute, said demand for Adora Magic City’s first trip in June was higher than expected.

He also said passengers had a good experience and spent more than expected on board.

Xie told the Global Times that more cities could start offering similar trips. He said the trips may appeal to younger Chinese people who do not have time for longer holidays but still want to take a short cruise over a weekend.

He said some passengers may later choose longer, traditional cruises after trying these short trips.

Cruise Tourism Is Growing in China

China’s total cruise passenger throughput rose 25.3% in 2025 from a year earlier, according to figures cited in the source material.

China’s cruise ship industry could contribute 500 billion yuan ($74.33 billion) to the country’s economy by 2035, the People’s Daily reported in August 2023.

Tianjin is now the second Chinese city to offer cruise-to-nowhere trips after Shanghai. The second voyage was scheduled to leave Tianjin on Monday.

References: Global Times, cruisemapper