The "Blue Dream Melody" cruise held its inaugural ceremony in North Bund of Hongkou District on June 5.
Hongkou Party Secretary Li Qian emphasized Hongkou's historical significance as a hub for water and port activities. He highlighted the district's focus on high-quality development and its commitment to enhancing its core competitiveness.
Hongkou aims to advance the high-end shipping service industry centered around cruise economy, exploring innovations in maritime arbitration, shipping insurance, and cruise economy.
The district is also dedicated to integrating commerce, trade, culture, and tourism to create a vibrant international tourist resort area in North Bund.
Li expressed his support for the cruise to become a bridge for cultural exchange between East and West and a significant platform for global trade integration.
The cruise then embarked on its maiden voyage, setting sail from the North Bund International Passenger Center Cruise Terminal.
The cruise will regularly operate from this home port, offering meticulously planned medium and long-haul routes such as a 14-night Hokkaido autumn foliage tour and a 33-night Asia-Pacific long-haul voyage.
The terminal plans to leverage the inaugural voyage to continue developing high-quality medium and long-haul cruise routes, enriching Shanghai's water tourism offerings and establishing the city as a premier tourist destination.
Since the beginning of China's international cruise industry in 2003, North Bund has utilized its unique maritime cultural heritage, robust port services, and prime riverside resources to enhance its cruise headquarters economy.
The area has become a birthplace for China's first homeport cruise line and has attracted various international travel agencies and cruise companies.
Last year, Hongkou District released the "Three-Year Action Plan for High-Quality Cruise Economy Development (2023-2025)" and supporting policies, focusing on creating a connected operation of "boutique cruises, inland river cruises, and leisure yachts." This initiative aims to make North Bund a showcase for Chinese modernization.
With the cruise market rebounding this year, North Bund has seen an influx of cruise ships. The Europa docked on February 21, followed by the Seven Seas Explorer on February 27.
On March 21, three ships—the visiting port cruise Artania, homeport cruise Adora Magic City, and Yangtze River inland cruise Century Legend—gathered at North Bund.
Hongkou will continue to support the Shanghai International Cruise Festival, collaborating with the city to plan events that enhance consumption and promote Shanghai's cruise culture brand, contributing to the growth of China's cruise economy.