Luxury U.S. Cruise Ship Skips Shanghai Over China’s New Port Charges
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The Riviera cruise ship operated by Oceania Cruises under Miami-based Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd.
Update: Royal Caribbean's Spectrum of the Seas docked in Shanghai on Friday morning after receiving a waiver for the special port fee, Caixin has learned. The ship, carrying several thousand Chinese tourists, had departed from Shanghai on Oct. 13 for a voyage to Okinawa, Japan. Its’ future sailings from the city are expected to proceed as scheduled. The exemption, however, is not a blanket waiver for all U.S.-owned cruise ships. A Shanghai port official told Caixin it appears to apply specifically to vessels home-ported in China. Other cruise lines planning stops in Chinese ports have yet to announce changes to their itineraries after the cancellation of a planned visit by Oceania Cruises’ Riviera to Shanghai.
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- China imposed a new special port fee on U.S.-flagged ships, prompting the Oceania Cruises’ Riviera to reroute from Shanghai to South Korea to avoid a $1.64 million charge.
- The fee, starting at 400 yuan/ton and rising to 1,120 yuan/ton by 2028, heavily impacts U.S. cruise lines, which control over 75% of global capacity.
- As U.S. operators reconsider China routes, domestic Chinese cruise companies are rapidly expanding, potentially gaining market share.
AI generated, for reference only
Who’s Who
- Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd.
- Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. is a Miami-based company that operates Oceania Cruises. One of their ships, the Riviera, was rerouted from Shanghai to Busan, South Korea, to avoid a new Chinese port fee targeting U.S.-flagged vessels. This fee would have cost them approximately $1.64 million for docking in China. The company is one of the American operators that collectively control over 75% of global cruise capacity.
- Oceania Cruises
- Oceania Cruises, specifically its ship the Riviera, has rerouted from Shanghai to Busan, South Korea. This decision was made to avoid a new Chinese "special port fee" imposed on U.S.-flagged vessels. The Riviera is operated under Miami-based Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd.
- Royal Caribbean Group
- Royal Caribbean Group faces significant charges due to China's new port fee, as its vessel, Spectrum of the Seas, would incur approximately 67.36 million yuan for a single voyage this year. The company is currently assessing whether to pay these fees and has not confirmed any schedule changes. Royal Caribbean, along with Carnival Corp. and Norwegian Cruise Line, collectively controls over 75% of global cruise capacity.
- Carnival Corp.
- Carnival Corp. is mentioned as one of the three major American cruise operators that collectively control over 75% of the global cruise capacity. It is noted that U.S. cruise lines, including Carnival Corp., will face the greatest pressure from the new Chinese port fee.
- Disney Cruise Line
- Disney Cruise Line, a U.S. operator, had planned future Shanghai routes after its initial Asia deployment. However, the new Chinese port fee, effective October 14, 2024, makes these plans unlikely to proceed. The fees disproportionately affect large cruise ships, and American operators face significant pressure due to their market dominance.
- Adora Cruises Ltd.
- Adora Cruises Ltd., a state-backed joint venture, is expanding rapidly in China's cruise sector. It operates China's first domestically built large cruise ship, the Adora Magic City, and the Adora Mediterranea. These two vessels have collectively carried over 1.1 million passengers since early 2024.
- Cosco Shipping Group
- Cosco Shipping Group is a Chinese state-owned enterprise involved in the cruise industry. They are part of a joint venture with China Tourism Group, forming Astro Ocean International Cruise Co. Ltd., which operates the vessel "Piano Land." This indicates their participation in the growing domestic cruise sector in China.
- China Tourism Group
- China Tourism Group is a partner in the joint venture Astro Ocean International Cruise Co. Ltd., which operates the cruise ship "Piano Land." This state-backed enterprise is noted as one of the expanding Chinese operators in the cruise market.
- Astro Ocean International Cruise Co. Ltd.
- Astro Ocean International Cruise Co. Ltd. is a Chinese cruise operator that is a joint venture between Cosco Shipping Group and China Tourism Group. They operate a cruise ship called the Piano Land. The company is one of several Chinese domestic players that are expanding rapidly in the cruise sector.
- China Merchants Shekou Industrial Zone Holdings Co. Ltd.
- China Merchants Shekou Industrial Zone Holdings Co. Ltd. is a Chinese company that operates a joint venture with Viking Cruises. This joint venture runs a cruise ship called the CN-Yidun. The company is one of several Chinese operators expanding in the cruise sector, potentially gaining market share if American operators withdraw from China.
- Viking Cruises
- Viking Cruises, in a joint venture with China Merchants Shekou Industrial Zone Holdings Co. Ltd., operates the CN-Yidun. This collaboration is mentioned within the context of Chinese operators expanding in the cruise market.
- Shanghai Blue Dream International Cruises Co. Ltd.
- Shanghai Blue Dream International Cruises Co. Ltd. is a privately-owned Chinese cruise operator. The company operates multiple mid-sized vessels within the Chinese cruise market. They are one of the domestic players that stand to potentially gain market share if American cruise operators withdraw due to new port fees.
- Tianjin Oriental International Cruise Co. Ltd.
- Tianjin Oriental International Cruise Co. Ltd. is a privately-owned Chinese cruise company. It operates multiple mid-sized vessels. The company is poised to potentially gain market share if American cruise operators withdraw from China due to new port fees.
AI generated, for reference only
What Happened When
- Early 2024 - By mid 2025：
- Adora Magic City and Adora Mediterranea carry over 1.1 million passengers.
- First half of 2025：
- China’s cruise sector homeport passenger traffic reaches 1.28 million, a 50% year-on-year increase.
- Sept. 18, 2025：
- The Riviera, operated by Oceania Cruises, departs from Seattle.
- Oct. 14, 2025：
- China’s Ministry of Transport announces a special port fee targeting U.S.-flagged vessels, effective immediately.
- Oct. 15, 2025：
- The Riviera was scheduled to arrive in Shanghai but is instead diverted to Busan, South Korea.
- Oct. 17, 2025：
- Royal Caribbean's Spectrum of the Seas is due to return to Shanghai.
AI generated, for reference only
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