China to Debut Upgraded Ideal as Tianjin Oriental Expands Cruise Tourism with Ex-Costa Magica: All You Need to Know

Published on November 25, 2025

Tianjin, China is poised for a significant cruise tourism boost as the former Costa Magica, now named Ideal, arrives to join the fleet of Tianjin Oriental International Cruises following its recent sale and upcoming comprehensive upgrade. The 2004-built vessel, which sailed for years under Costa Cruises and was most recently known as Vision, is set to relaunch for summer 2026 deployments out of Tianjin, marking a major milestone in the ongoing expansion of China’s domestic cruise market.

Background: Long Journey from Italy to China

The cruise ship, originally a hallmark of Costa’s Destiny-class fleet, was laid up in Greece after the global cruise industry downturn during the pandemic. After its withdrawal from Costa in 2023, the vessel was acquired by Seajets, a Greek ferry operator that amassed a large laid-up fleet, including Magica, with plans of restarting short cruises under Neonyx Cruises. However, those efforts stalled, and following a stint as accommodation during the Italian G7 summit, the vessel returned to layup, awaiting new purpose.​

Acquisition and Refit: Preparing for the Chinese Tourism Market

Tianjin Oriental International Cruises, keenly focused on the burgeoning Chinese cruise sector, acquired the ship from Seajets late in 2025 and announced its transfer to Eastern China. Temporarily named Vision, the vessel is now en route to China, where it will be renamed Ideal upon arrival and undergo an extensive refurbishment to bring it up to the standards expected by domestic travelers and government tourism authorities.​

This multi-million-dollar upgrade will modernize guest amenities, entertainment venues, dining outlets, and stateroom designs, aligning the ship with the expectations of China’s rapidly evolving cruise passenger demographic. Plans focus on leveraging the ship’s size and versatility to support both traditional itineraries and newer themed voyages, a model gaining traction in Asia’s cruise market.

Tianjin Oriental’s Growing Fleet: Dream & Ideal

The Ideal will become the second active ship in Tianjin Oriental’s lineup, complementing the Dream, formerly the Sea Princess from Carnival Corporation. This dual-ship strategy boosts Tianjin’s allure as a northern Chinese cruise hub and supports rising demand for high-capacity leisure travel across Asia. By operating both Dream and Ideal, Tianjin Oriental positions itself to capture a larger share of an increasingly competitive market and attract more international tourism arrivals via cruise calls.​

Expanding Itineraries and Regional Tourism Impact

Ideal’s deployment from Tianjin is expected to include an array of summer and year-round routes targeting both domestic and international cruise tourists. Prospective itineraries could span key Chinese ports, popular destinations in Northeast Asia, and increasing connectivity with major nearby hubs. This expanded cruise offering is set to deepen the integration of Tianjin and the wider Beijing metropolitan area into China’s tourism growth agenda.

The region stands to benefit from increased shore excursion activity, hospitality demand, and multi-day tourism packages that start or end with a cruise, multiplying the economic impact across transport, culture, and retail sectors.

Tourism Infrastructure and Government Support

The Chinese government and Tianjin tourism agencies have actively promoted expansion initiatives at the Tianjin International Cruise Port. As part of a broader national effort to elevate cruise tourism’s contribution to GDP and position China as an Asia-Pacific leader in leisure cruising, investments have focused on improving passenger terminals, transport links, and shore-side attractions. The arrival of Ideal reinforces these structural advances and brings renewed international focus to the region as it recovers from recent global travel disruptions.​

Competitive Context and Market Outlook

The transfer of major cruise vessels like Ideal underlines the competitive nature of China’s cruise renaissance, with multiple lines expanding or refreshing fleets to win over new travelers and capitalize on pent-up post-pandemic demand. For Tianjin Oriental, modernizing and marketing Ideal represents not just fleet growth, but also a commitment to quality, variety, and innovative tourism experiences.

Conclusion

As Ideal prepares to debut in Tianjin, the city and China’s cruise tourism sector face a new wave of opportunity. The vessel’s transformation and redeployment demonstrate how asset repurposing, paired with targeted upgrades, can meet the needs of an expanding, increasingly sophisticated Asian travel market.

With improved infrastructure, government backing, and growing fleet capacity, Tianjin is set to strengthen its position as a key port for both Chinese and international cruise tourism, ushering in a new era of maritime leisure and travel for the region.