Residence permit‑based clearance, the Adora Magic City setting off on a three‑day voyage, simplified procedures and a new tourism trend

As reported by CCTV+, on Friday, Shanghai issued China’s first entry‑exit permit for destination‑free cruise travel, making it easier for residents to take short cruises beyond the port.

The permit was issued under a new facilitation measure introduced by Shanghai’s immigration authorities, supporting entry‑exit procedures for cruise travellers.

The new policy, approved by the National Immigration Administration, allows eligible applicants to obtain the permit using only their residence permit. This significantly cuts the administrative requirements for cruise travel.

Unlike traditional cruise routes, destination‑free cruises sail into the open sea and return without calling at any ports.

The permit was issued ahead of the departure of the Adora Magic City — China’s first large domestically built cruise ship. On Saturday, it set off on a three‑day, two‑night seaborne journey beyond the port. This allows residents to enjoy a short cruise holiday without needing a visa, offering a convenient new leisure option.

The Adora Magic City is the first large cruise liner built in China. Destination‑free cruises (nowhere cruises) are becoming a popular short‑break format in Asia.

The first step has been taken. China is opening a new kind of tourism — cruises to nowhere. Sailing into the open sea, minimal bureaucracy, maximum freedom. A residence permit instead of a passport. A simple permit instead of hours‑long checks. The Adora Magic City, a pride of Chinese shipbuilding, is leaving on its maiden voyage of this type. Now any resident can afford a romantic weekend at sea without visas or red tape. The question is not whether such cruises will become popular. They already are. The question is when other Chinese ports will offer the same. Until then — full speed ahead.