Penang, 27 March 2025 – Cunard’s latest luxury cruise liner, the elite Queen Anne of Southampton, United Kingdom, docked its long-awaited maiden call at Swettenham Pier Cruise Terminal (SPCT) in Penang Port today. This milestone achievement significantly boosts Malaysia’s expanding cruise tourism industry.
Tourism Malaysia officially received Queen Anne as part of its 107-day grand maiden voyage, which included ports of call in more than 30 ports in over 20 countries. The visit highlights Malaysia’s emerging role in the global cruise tourism sector, at which it can receive world-renowned luxury liners.
A grand ceremonial welcome with YBhg. Dato’ Yeoh Soon Hin, Deputy Chairman of Tourism Malaysia as the leader featured stunning Malaysian cultural performances and offered local delicacies to approximately 5,094 passengers onboard Queen Anne. The welcoming ceremony showcasing Malaysia’s culture and tradition left a mark on overseas tourists.
The buzz is also complemented by Norwegian Sun, which similarly will dock in Penang Port on 30 March 2025. The vessel is a 17-night transoceanic cruise having an estimated 3,950 passengers from Singapore to Cape Town. Strategic anchor ports such as Port Louis, Mauritius and Port of Durban, South Africa are among its destinations that solidify the position of Malaysia as a world-class cruise hub.
YBhg. Dato’ Yeoh Soon Hin also welcomed the event, stating, “The maiden call is a unique opportunity to introduce Malaysia to the world. This is an opening to share Malaysia’s rich heritage, stunning landscapes, and warm people, encouraging visitors to come back and explore more under our Visit Malaysia 2026 (VM2026) campaign.”
Penang Port has seen a rising number of global cruise ships, including the Azamara Pursuit, MS Blue Dream Melody, AIDA Stella, and Norwegian Sky. In 2024, SPCT carried a total of 1,046,165 passengers, 650,518 of whom were international transit passengers and 5,094 home port passengers. This rise testifies to the growing popularity of Malaysia as a global cruise destination.
