As she boarded a cruise ship taking her and fellow holidaymakers on a trip to Southeast Asia at Sanya Phoenix International Cruise Ship Terminal, Ms. Lu, a passenger from Guangdong Province, excitedly told our reporter that she never thought it would be possible to one day embark on a voyage to see the world from Hainan.

In recent years, Hainan has been expanding its cruise tourism industry, leveraging its policy advantages and unique geographical location to establish itself as a new cruise hub with itineraries radiating outward to surrounding countries and regions. Thanks to these efforts, the island province is increasingly finding favor among holidaymakers as a starting point for exploring the world.

Favorable policies attracting new itineraries and operators

According to Wu Ming, CEO of StarDream Cruises, Hainan's policies—including visa-free entry for ordinary passport holders of 59 countries and foreign cruise tour groups—have greatly increased the draw of the company's itineraries and have been a crucial factor for international cruise operators in choosing Hainan.

The MS Dream docks in Sanya to take on new passengers in November 2024. The ship and its itineraries are one of many now enticing holidaymakers to embark on international cruises departing from the city. (Source: Department of Tourism, Culture, Radio, Television and Sports of Hainan Province)

In addition to other guarantees, the Regulations on Cruise Ship Administration in the Hainan Free Trade Port, which came into effect on January 1, 2025, have provided a legal framework for Chinese cruise ships under flags of convenience to operate ocean cruises from Hainan and secured multi-port docking rights for foreign ships. These measures have created more room for innovation when it comes to creating new itineraries.

Thanks to this and other policies, Hainan's cruise network has continued to expand. In recent years, Hainan has become a port of call for various international cruise ships, including Resorts World One, Dream, Gulangyu, and Star Voyager. Eight international cruise itineraries have been established, with a total of 76 voyages and 166,000 passengers serviced to date, as Hainan's cruise tourism service industry grows increasingly international and professional.

Efficient services improving passenger experience

Faced with large passenger numbers and short turnaround times, the Sanya Exit-Entry Frontier Inspection Station has introduced an innovative immigration inspection model that enables the pre-processing of passengers and crew prior to docking, significantly reducing disembarkation times.

"We spent just 15 minutes in the queue after disembarking, much quicker than I expected," said Dutch tourist Nelson, praising the efficiency of immigration procedures as he came out of the arrivals hall.

Resorts World One, which departed from Hong Kong with nearly 2,000 passengers, arrives in Sanya in September 2024. (Source: Department of Tourism, Culture, Radio, Television and Sports of Hainan Province)

Hainan's optimal policy environment and professional cruise services have seen it emerge as a top domestic market entry point for international cruise operators. Over 30 cruise tourism industrial chain firms, including operators such as Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line, have investigated the island's potential, with more than 20 enterprises, including Blue Dream Cruises, taking the plunge and establishing themselves in the Sanya Central Business District.

Enriching experiences and extending the cruise tourism industrial chain

In September this year, the Star Voyager, operated by StarDream Cruises under the Bahamian flag, docked at Sanya Phoenix International Cruise Ship Terminal with 1,183 passengers aboard, marking the start of the ship's first voyage in Chinese waters.

The Star Voyager calls in at Sanya Phoenix International Cruise Ship Terminal in September 2025. (Source: Department of Tourism, Culture, Radio, Television and Sports of Hainan Province)

Star Voyager, the jewel of StarDream Cruises' fleet, measures 261 meters long, and its 972 guest cabins spread across 15 decks can accommodate nearly 2,000 passengers. Awaiting them on board are a water park, climbing walls, zip lines, various international restaurants, and a wide range of other diversions and dining options. These include local delicacies like Hainan Chicken Rice, allowing passengers to get a taste of China's only tropical island province before they even set foot there.

A spokesperson of the Department of Tourism, Culture, Radio, Television and Sports of Hainan Province stated that Hainan would capitalize on the "2026 Hainan Ocean Year" to further improve immigration clearance services, deepen cooperation with international cruise operators, and establish new cruise itineraries to create a diversified network covering Northeast and Southeast Asia by the end of 2026. As Hainan's cruise tourism industry continues to develop, it is expected that even more holidaymakers will choose Hainan as the starting point for their globe-trotting adventures, contributing to the island’s transformation into an international tourism consumption center.