The first Chinese luxury cruise ship "China Merchants Yidun" is listed for transfer, with a starting price of 2.9 billion yuan

According to publicly available information from the Beijing Property Exchange, China Merchants Viking Cruises Co., Ltd. has officially listed for transfer the “China Merchants Eden” cruise ship and its onboard assets.

On February 28, a reporter from Jiemian News logged onto the Beijing Property Exchange website. The announcement shows that the asset transfer involves the “China Merchants Eden” vessel and its onboard accessories owned by China Merchants Viking Cruises Co., Ltd., with a starting price of 2.905967938 billion yuan. The disclosure period is from February 10 to March 16. This ship, which holds a landmark significance for China’s cruise industry, has officially entered the asset disposal process.

The listed price is roughly equivalent to the purchase cost in 2021, which was about $400 million at the time. The project sets a relatively high transaction threshold, with a deposit requirement of approximately 870 million yuan, targeting capable shipping, cultural tourism, or investment institutions for sale.

It is noteworthy that the announcement states: “Other conditions related to the transfer” specify that some intellectual property rights currently used in the operation of the asset are licensed from Viking River Cruises (Bermuda) Ltd. These rights do not belong to the transferor and are not included in this transaction. The licensed intellectual properties include the “Viking” brand, the names of all onboard restaurants and venues, and all property management systems.

Previously, there was news that the “China Merchants Eden” would operate a Mediterranean route in Europe starting in 2026, with its maiden voyage scheduled for August. The cruise would feature a new Chinese-language service, offering a European sea cruise experience. Industry speculation suggests that this asset sale is likely to result in Viking repurchasing and operating the ship themselves.

The “China Merchants Eden” was formerly known as the “Viking Sun,” built in 2017, with a gross tonnage of approximately 47,000 tons. It is a high-end boutique luxury cruise ship capable of carrying 930 guests, all cabins equipped with balconies, and primarily serving medium- to long-distance deep routes. In 2021, China Merchants Group and Viking Cruises acquired the ship through a joint venture, renamed it “China Merchants Eden,” and registered it under the Chinese flag, naming it in honor of the first modern commercial vessel of the China Merchants Steam Navigation Company in 1872.

Since beginning operations, the “China Merchants Eden” has used Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Tianjin as homeports, opening domestic coastal routes. In 2023, it operated China’s first international cruise route. With Chinese-language services, refined experiences, and an all-inclusive pricing model, it has become a benchmark in the high-end cruise market. However, due to market conditions, operational costs, route structure, and consumer habits, the ship has faced long-term profitability pressures, and its operational performance has not met expectations.

This transfer is also seen as a signal of state-owned enterprise cruise asset optimization and industry restructuring, with several other cruise ships recently undergoing adjustments.

It is reported that in January this year, the “Gulangyu” operated by Huaxia International Cruises was transferred to a newly established Spanish cruise brand, Corazul Cruceros. The “Gulangyu” was formerly the Oriana, built in 1995, acquired by a joint venture between China Tourism Group and China Ocean Shipping Group in 2019 from Carnival Corporation.

The Ministry of Transport and the National Development and Reform Commission have clear regulations that ships over 30 years old are no longer permitted to operate in mainland China.

Additionally, Blue Dream Cruises announced that its “Blue Dream” ship will suspend passenger sales and operations starting January 4, 2026. Built in 2002, the ship was purchased second-hand from AIDA Cruises under Carnival Group. There are reports that in March this year, the ship may be transferred to a Russian operator to run routes in the Russian Far East.