Chinese cruises skip Japan as Adora docks in Busan

A change in Chinese cruise itineraries is boosting South Korea’s port calls. On Feb 6, at least 2,500 passengers from the Shanghai-homeported Adora Magic City disembarked at Busan International Cruise Terminal. The ship had initially sold routes including Japanese ports such as Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Operators later replaced the stops with Jeju and Busan amid sharp China–Japan tensions. The vessel is slated to call at Busan 64 times in 2026, including the Feb 6 visit.

Why itineraries are shifting now

Beijing reiterated on Jan 26 that Chinese citizens should avoid trips to Japan over the upcoming Lunar New Year period. A travel advisory is an official notice warning citizens about safety or political risks tied to a destination. Chinese airlines extended fee-free changes and refunds on Japan-related tickets as the notice took effect.

The political backdrop: comments on Taiwan

Relations soured in November 2025 after Japan’s new prime minister Sanae Takaichi suggested a Chinese attack on Taiwan could constitute a “survival-threatening situation” for Japan, implying a potential military response. China condemned the remarks and later issued a Japan travel warning. The rift has since shaped travel and cruise decisions.

What cruise lines are doing

Chinese cruise operators have trimmed or removed Japan calls and lengthened South Korean stops since late 2025. Schedules show ships swapping Nagasaki and Hiroshima for Jeju and Busan, with South Korea emerging as a top beneficiary of rerouted demand.

On the ground in Busan

Busan authorities and local businesses are preparing for a surge in arrivals this year. The Adora Magic City’s Feb 6 call marked its first trip to Busan in 2026, with dozens more planned through the year. Tour coaches, guides and port staffing are scaling up to handle the wave.

What to watch next

Two variables could reshape routes again: the duration of Beijing’s advisory and any thaw in Japan–China ties after Tokyo’s snap election in February. For now, cruise demand is tilting toward South Korea and South-east Asia, while Japan faces a pause in Chinese leisure traffic during the festive peak.

In short, diplomacy is steering travel patterns. As Beijing’s advisory holds and cruise lines pivot, Busan and Jeju are absorbing traffic once earmarked for Japanese ports—starting with thousands of Adora Magic City passengers already stepping onto South Korean soil.