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Malaysia Travel Guide

First Cruise Ship Of The Year Arrives In Kuching

First Cruise Ship Of The Year Arrives In Kuching

KUCHING, Friday: The Cruise Ship ‘Star Legend’ of Windstar Cruise docked at Sim Kheng Hong Port on January 8 at 8.45am, making it the first cruise ship to berth in Kuching this year.

194 passengers, mostly from Europe and the United States, were greeted with a traditional garlanding as they disembarked to visit Bako National Park, Sarawak Cultural Village and experience a tour around the Cat City.

This was the maiden voyage by Windstar Cruises and is the first of nine cruises scheduled to berth at Sarawak’s harbours.

Kuching is expected to receive three additional ships this year as compared to the six cruise ships from last year.

Last year 1,964 passengers arrived in Sarawak, with the Silver Shadow, Insignia, L’Austral and Silver Shadow docking in Kuching and the Silver Shadow docking twice in Bintulu.

In 2016, nine ships carrying 3,782 passengers with the Nautica, Astor, Hamburg, Silver Shadow, Seven Seas Voyager, Seabourn Sojourn and Insignia docking in Kuching and Silver Shadow docking twice in Bintulu.

Ten ships with 3,646 passengers arrived in 2015 with the Seabourne docking in Kuching once, Insignia twice and Nat Geo Orion thrice in Kuching while the Silver Wind, Statendam, Silver Shadow and Europa 2 docked in Bintulu.

Arriving cruise ships positively affect local industries such as attraction caretakers, food, and beverage and service providers, receiving an injection of a few hundred additional customers in one day.

“The gradual increase in cruise ships arriving to Sarawak is encouraging, as passengers from these cruise ships are a boon to the Sarawak economy in the port cities, creating a spinoff in the service industry from their patronage,” stated Director of Events and Corporate Relations, Angelina Bateman.

Cruise Ship Garlanding

Passengers disembarking and being garlanded by cultural troupe.

Cruise Ship memento

STB Director of Events and Corporate Relations, Angelina Bateman presenting memento to Captain Neil Broomhall, with General Manager of Kuching Port Authority Robert Lau on the left.

 

Issued by:

Communications Unit
SARAWAK TOURISM BOARD
T: +6 082-423600  F: +6 082-416700
E: [email protected]

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