A Fresh Start For Former Costa Magica: Vision Cruise Ship Embarks On Exciting New Chapter In China

Published on November 22, 2025

The Costa Magica, which has been glory cruising since 2004, has been embarking on new adventures in Eastern China, sailing under Vision Plus, as of December 19, 2025. Having transformed for years, Vision Plus, Magica’s new name pending summer, will become incorporated into the Tianjin Oriental International Cruise fleet alongside the Dream. Having been operational through the pandemic, she was scheduled for a much-deserved layup. This has been a period of domination for all her vessels, culminating in copious additions to Eastern China. Magica has ‘dominated the sailings’ for a record-breaking period.

For Costa Magica, a New Beginning

The Costa Magica has been in Costa Cruises’ fleet since it was built in 2004. The ship has been in service for almost 20 years until it was put under contract until the summer of 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The ship was eventually sold in 2023 to the Greek ferry operator Seajets, which, like the company that built the ship, had been in the business of acquiring several cruise ships in the middle of the pandemic. Seajets bought Costa Magica to put back into service.

Seajets and the Vision in Greece for a Brief Period

Seajets acquired the ship, but before she could put the ship to the service she desired, she was a bareboat charter to an operator in Italy, which used the ship for accommodation for a government summit. Seajets acquired the ship to operate it with the newly created yacht cruising company Neonyx Cruises. After rebranding the ship as Mykonos Magic, Neonyx planned to offer a series of short Greek island cruises in the summer of 2024. The ship, however, remained without permanent employment as Neonyx could not materialize her vision of cruise ships in Greece.

An Extensive Refurbishment

Before heading to China, the newly-renamed Vision will undergo extensive refurbishments to prepare for service within the growing Chinese cruise market. Tianjin Oriental International Cruises has big plans for Vision, soon to be renamed Ideal. This August, Vision will enter service in Tianjin alongside the Dream, providing the first cruises to the Chinese market.

What will do Next

Seajets, the Greek operator who during covid was the first to purchase the now-Costa Magica, has made the news recently for acquiring previously-laid-up vessels from the likes of Royal Caribbean and P&O Cruises. This includes, but is certainly not limited to, the former Majesty of the Seas and Oceana. While these ships remain with Seajets, they remain passive and dormant within the fleet, and Seajets has not yet announced plans to take an active deployment of all these vessels. No-the sale of the Costa Magica to Tianjin Oriental International Cruises means Seajets is fully ready to prioritize its long-ongoing core business of ferrying within the Greek islands.

The Vision’s Contribution to the Seaborne Travel Market in China

The Vision is a most welcomed addition to the fleet of Tianjin Oriental International Cruises as it meets the increasing demand for seaborne travel to, from, and within China. With the rapid expansion of the cruise industry in China, there is a growing rivalry for the provision of premium and luxurious cruising escapades. With the addition of the Vision, Tianjin Oriental International Cruises is most competitively positioned in the region to attract cruise enthusiasts who are always on the lookout for new voyages.

The rate of growth of the global cruise industry is unparalleled, and China is the most recent to open up as a potential market. The provision of cruise facilities in Tianjin, and the most recent addition of Vision to the fleet is most welcomed and supported by the China government under the People’s Republic of China. As more international cruise lines expand their fleets in China, the refitted Vision will augment the already rich cruise offerings within the Promised Land, China.

Conclusion: A Bright Future for the Vision

With the Vision heading for the China market, the former Costa Magica begins yet another career chapter, this time of great promise. Vision will be able to deliver great travel experiences to a new set of clienteles after the ship has undergone refurbishments. For the ship, this is a restart after a long period of stagnation. For Tianjin Oriental International Cruises, a player in the industry, the new acquisition will help consolidate its position in the fiercely competitive segment. While the Vision is being transformed, her new home in Tianjin will be preparing to start her new adventure. She will carry with her, once again, a rich legacy of sea travel.