The first domestically-built large cruise ship "AIDA Modu" embarks on its maiden voyage from Shenzhen.

On August 13, AIDA Cruises' first domestically built large cruise ship, "AIDA Modu," set sail with nearly 4,600 guests from the Shenzhen Shekou International Cruise Home Port under China Merchants Shekou. The ship embarked on a 5-day, 4-night sea journey to Hue (Chan May), Vietnam. This marked the first time "AIDA Modu" operated an international cruise route in the Greater Bay Area, signifying the official launch of AIDA Cruises' coastal cruising in the region.

On the day of its maiden voyage, Shenzhen welcomed "AIDA Modu" with the highest honor in the international maritime community, the "Water Salute." Following this, a plaque exchange ceremony was held onboard the "AIDA Modu." The captain of "AIDA Modu" and a representative from Shenzhen Shekou International Cruise Home Port exchanged commemorative plaques symbolizing the maiden voyage and friendly cooperation, jointly witnessing this significant moment of the ship's first voyage from Shenzhen.

This Shenzhen cruise season will last until September 16. During the season, "AIDA Modu" will operate multiple international cruise routes, including regular 5-day, 4-night and 6-day, 5-night itineraries to popular destinations such as Hue (Chan May), Ha Long Bay, Nha Trang (Cam Ranh) in Vietnam, and Jeju in South Korea. Notably, on August 27, "AIDA Modu" will launch a special 9-day, 8-night "Maritime Silk Road Discovery Journey," visiting Kota Kinabalu in Malaysia, Muara in Brunei, and Nha Trang (Cam Ranh) in Vietnam, offering guests an in-depth exploration of the cultural heritage of the Maritime Silk Road.

AIDA Cruises stated: "We are very pleased to bring 'AIDA Modu' to Shenzhen, allowing more guests in the Greater Bay Area to enjoy high-quality sea vacations aboard a domestically built large cruise ship right at their doorstep. The Greater Bay Area is a key growth region for China's cruise industry and an important bridge for AIDA Cruises to connect internationally and expand globally. In the future, we will continue to enhance our market presence in the Greater Bay Area, deepen the 'cruise + culture' innovation model, promote multi-homeport collaborative operations and ecological co-construction, and contribute to the high-quality development of the cruise economy in the Greater Bay Area."

To enhance the cruise experience for tourists, this maiden voyage integrates Shenzhen's coastal-themed IP "Nanshan Eight Views," innovatively creating a "cruise + shore excursions + cultural tourism consumption" model. The recommended itinerary condenses Nanshan's thousand-year cultural heritage, Shekou's reform legacy, Qianhai's modern charm, and coastal ecological scenery. Additionally, tourists are offered exclusive discounts in the Prince Bay commercial district, further stimulating new momentum in cultural tourism consumption in the Greater Bay Area. Meanwhile, the home port has opened dedicated channels to provide services such as foreign card cash withdrawals, volunteer guidance, currency exchange, and is equipped with multilingual maps, translation software, and emergency medical kits. Exclusive discounts are also available for products like the Greater Bay Area cruise tour of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge and "ship viewing" exhibitions, showcasing the excellent image of the nation's first "sea-air integrated" comprehensive cruise hub port.

The second domestically built large cruise ship, "AIDA Huacheng," is scheduled for delivery on November 6, 2026, and will embark on its maiden voyage from Guangzhou Nansha International Cruise Home Port on November 22. "AIDA Huacheng" will feature the product characteristics of being "more elegant, more technological, and more Chinese," combining elements of the Maritime Silk Road and Lingnan culture to create a high-quality cruise product that integrates cultural exploration, leisure vacations, and intelligent experiences. During its inaugural season, "AIDA Huacheng" will offer a mix of short, medium, and long international cruise routes, providing a richer selection of sea vacation options for guests from the Greater Bay Area and beyond.