The Port of Shanghai has welcomed 130 cruise ship calls in the first two months of 2025, as well as over 350,000 guests.

According to a report by Shangguan News, the numbers represent a growth of over 2.5 percent compared to the same timeframe a year ago.

Over 70 percent of all passengers that sailed on a cruise ship in China this year visited Shanghai, the report added.

The port served as a homeport for five vessels between January and February, including the MSC Bellissima, the Blue Dream Melody and Astro Ocean’s Piano Land.

Shanghai also hosted the Adora Magic City, which entered service in early 2024 as the first large cruise ship built in China, as well as Royal Caribbean International’s Spectrum of the Seas.

The port is also hosting more simultaneous ship visits during the first months of 2025, with up to three vessels arriving at the same time.

“To ensure smooth and orderly customs clearance for cruise passengers during the peak entry period, we have comprehensively optimized the customs clearance process through the digital transformation of travel inspection,” the Chief of the Passenger Inspection Section 2 of Baoshan Customs under Shanghai Customs Liu Maohua, told Shangguan News.

The new procedure ensures that cruise passengers pass through customs in a matter of seconds, Maohua added.

In addition to homeporting operations, the Chinese port has also been a transit port for a number of luxury ships this year.

Three luxury vessels, including Hapag-Lloyd’s Europa 2, the Seven Seas Explorer and the Crystal Symphony, have docked in Shanghai, bringing over 1,500 foreign guests.