Getting ashore
Shanghai is usually a dock stop.
Most ships dock at Shanghai, which usually makes the day simpler: walk off the ship, meet your tour, and get back on board without tender queues.
China
Shanghai Cruise Port
Shanghai is a long port day with regular dockside arrivals and lighter cruise traffic mostly from August through September.
Usually docks
Usually quiet
~13h typical visit
Mid-size ships
What to expect in Shanghai
How much time will you have?
About 13h is typical
Most cruises spend 10h to 17h in Shanghai, which makes it a relatively long port day compared with many stops.
How busy does Shanghai get?
This is usually a quieter cruise stop.
Multiple ships overlap on roughly 4% of days, so most dates should feel manageable.
- Typical day: ~2,100 passengers
- Busy day: 17,950+ passengers
- Multiple ships on 4% of days
Check your date
October 2026
Jump
Quieter
Busier
Ships
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Where Shanghai fits into a cruise
Shanghai is most commonly visited on Japan itineraries, often alongside Busan and Fukuoka .
Commonly arrives from
Shanghai
Commonly continues to
When to cruise to Shanghai
Cruise ships visit during 10 months of the year, with the heaviest traffic from August through September.
Most cruise traffic clusters from August through September, so month choice can change both ship choice and crowd levels.
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Visits
13
44
41
33
16
24
0
49
64
23
31
0
Who sails here?
Ships visiting Shanghai typically carry around 1,970 guests, with MSC Bellissima, Azamara Pursuit, and Silver Muse calling most often.
Most frequently visiting ships
- 1 MSC Bellissima 56 calls
- 2 Azamara Pursuit 12 calls
- 3 Silver Muse 9 calls
- 4 Oceania Vista 6 calls
- 5 Vista 6 calls
- 6 Westerdam 6 calls
Next port calls
Cruises that visit Shanghai
Silver Muse
Tokyo → Shimizu → Shanghai → Seoul
Apr 26, 2027 · 14 nights
Visits Shanghai on day 11
$8,700 suite · $621/night
68% below typical · 3-month low
Silver Muse
Tokyo → Toba → Shanghai → Seoul
May 24, 2027 · 14 nights
Visits Shanghai on day 11
$8,300 suite · $593/night
61% below typical · 3-month low
Silver Muse
Seoul → Shanghai → Kochi → Tokyo
Aug 20, 2027 · 12 nights
Visits Shanghai on day 3
$5,700 suite · $475/night
71% below typical · 3-month low
Seven Seas Explorer
Tokyo → Nagoya, Aichi → Shimizu → Tokyo
Mar 18, 2027 · 12 nights
Visits Shanghai on day 8
$13,499 suite · $1,125/night
22% below typical
Seven Seas Explorer
Seoul → Tianjin → Nagoya, Aichi → Tokyo
Apr 25, 2027 · 12 nights
Visits Shanghai on day 5
$14,749 suite · $1,229/night
22% below typical · Price trending down
MSC Bellissima
Keelung → Miyakojima → Tokyo → Shanghai
Jan 13, 2027 · 7 nights
Visits Shanghai on day 8
$528 interior · $75/night
9% below typical · 3-month lowCruise routes that include Shanghai
These route families show how cruise lines usually package Shanghai, so you can compare the whole trip instead of judging this stop by itself.
Japan · East Asia
Shimizu → Kobe → Kochi + 4 more
From Tokyo · 14 nights · Next Apr 26
From $8,700 suite · $621/night
Best departure: 68% below typical
1 upcoming departure · 1 ship
Japan · East Asia
Toba → Kobe → Kochi + 4 more
From Tokyo · 14 nights · Next May 24
From $8,300 suite · $593/night
Best departure: 61% below typical
1 upcoming departure · 1 ship
Japan · East Asia
Shanghai → Busan → Hiroshima + 2 more
From Incheon · 12 nights · Next Aug 20
From $5,700 suite · $475/night
Best departure: 71% below typical
1 upcoming departure · 1 ship
Japan · East Asia
Nagoya, Aichi → Kobe → Kochi + 3 more
From Tokyo · 12 nights · Next Mar 18
From $13,499 suite · $1,125/night
Best departure: 22% below typical
1 upcoming departure · 1 ship
Japan · East Asia
Tianjin → Shanghai → Kagoshima + 4 more
From Seoul · 12 nights · Next Apr 25
From $14,749 suite · $1,229/night
Best departure: 22% below typical
1 upcoming departure · 1 ship
Japan · East Asia
Miyakojima → Tokyo
From Keelung · Next Jan 13
From $528 interior · $75/night
Best departure: 9% below typical
1 upcoming departure · 1 ship
Related ports near Shanghai
Tap to view port guide, ship schedules, and best time to visit.
FAQ about cruises visiting Shanghai
Which cruise itineraries usually include Shanghai?
Cruises that call at Shanghai often follow itineraries such as Japan One-Way via Shimizu, Kobe & Busan, Japan One-Way via Toba, Kobe & Busan, and Japan One-Way via Busan & Hiroshima.
Plan your route
Explore cruises that visit Shanghai
See itineraries, compare routes, and find the best way to include Shanghai in your trip.