Three international cruise ships brought more than 8,000 inbound tourists to Shanghai over this past weekend, underscoring the growing momentum of the city's cruise and inbound tourism market.

On the morning of March 28, Mein Schiff 6, operated by Germany's TUI Cruises, arrived in Shanghai from Hong Kong with 2,500 tourists. Later that day, Spectrum of the Seas, operated by Royal Caribbean International, brought more than 3,400 additional passengers, bringing total daily inbound cruise arrivals to over 5,900 and setting a new single-day record since the port began operations.

The next morning, March 29, MSC Magnifica, a Musica-class cruise ship operated by MSC Cruises, docked in Shanghai and set sail for Hong Kong that evening. With a capacity of 3,000 passengers, the vessel departed Rome on Jan 4 and is scheduled to complete its 131-day world voyage on May 14.

The Adora Magic City, Mein Schiff 6, and MSC Magnifica were berthed at the Shanghai Wusongkou International Cruise Terminal on March 29. The Adora Magic City remained at its Shanghai home port, while the other two made port calls as visiting vessels.

To provide high-quality onshore experiences for inbound visitors, China International Travel Service and Shanghai Zhongjiu Xinxing Travel Service, both subsidiaries of China Tourism Group Travel, have partnered with the official collaborators of the two cruise lines to introduce 25 tailored tour products.

These offerings include one-day, half-day, and themed itineraries that combine Shanghai's contemporary urban appeal with Chinese cultural heritage, featuring classic routes linking the city's landmark attractions.

"The cruise company has organized the trip very well, choosing excellent places to visit", said French tourist Yan Vivien. "We visited Yuyuan Garden, Shanghai Jinmao Tower, and the Jade Buddha Temple".

Vivien first visited Shanghai several years ago while working in Singapore, but this marks his first visit as a leisure traveler, arriving aboard the MSC Magnifica.

"People in Shanghai are very open-minded and consistently polite," he said.

Italian tourist Stefano Germano shared a similar impression during his first visit to China.

"I am very impressed by Shanghai. It is a modern city with impressive skyscrapers and elegant, stylish people", he said. "At the same time, there is a rich cultural heritage to explore".

"China has an ancient civilization and a long history. Although it is hard to understand such a rich culture in only 13 days, I find it fascinating", Germano added.

Over the two days, the number of inbound tourists exceeded 5,500, with more than 3,700 arrivals recorded on March 29 alone.

To better meet the consumption preferences of international tourists, CTG Travel has incorporated major commercial districts such as Nanjing Road, Xintiandi, and Tian'an 1000 Trees into a series of curated routes. These itineraries span international brands, China-chic boutiques, time-honored specialty brands, and cultural and creative products.

Aligned with the "Shopping in China" initiative, these efforts are helping to further China's opening-up and stimulate inbound consumption.

Li Junfeng contributed to this story.