The Norwegian Sky cruise ship made its inaugural trip to the Swettenham Pier Cruise Terminal (SPCT) recently.
Present to welcome the captain and crew was Penang Port Commission chairman Dato Yeoh Soon Hin who is also the Tourism Malaysia’s Deputy chairman and his team.
The maiden call marks the start of the ship’s 2025 cruise season. It is also Norwegian Sky’s inaugural arrival in Asia.
Yeoh expressed gratitude to Malaysia’s Minister of Transport, Anthony Loke, for his strong advocacy for the country’s cruise industry.
“Loke has played a pivotal role in attracting more global cruise ships to Malaysia’s major ports, thus becoming an important driver of the nation’s cruise tourism sector”, said Yeoh.
Norwegian Sky cruise ship
He highlighted that Malaysia has surpassed pre-pandemic 2019 levels in the number of cruise calls and passengers over the past two years. He attributed this success largely to Anthony Loke’s efforts.
“To boost the number of international cruise ships calling at Malaysian ports, Loke personally led an official delegation to Miami, Florida, USA to participate in the Seatrade Cruise Global 2024 conference.
During this event, he promoted Malaysia as a destination to global cruise operators. He also met with Matthew Wintraub, International Port Development Director of Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL), which resulted in positive feedback and plans for Norwegian Cruise Line to expand its operations in Malaysia.
“Furthermore, the Ministry of Transport, in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism, has established the Malaysian Cruise Council to actively develop Malaysia’s cruise industry.
“The council works with statutory authorities overseeing cruise terminals, travel agencies specializing in cruise tourism, port operators, and other stakeholders to formulate strategies and measures for promoting the cruise sector and developing future cruise tourism products,” said Yeoh.
In the meantime, Yeoh led the delegation from the Penang Port Commission and Penang Port Sdn Bhd to welcome nearly 2,000 passengers and approximately 900 crew members aboard the Norwegian Sky as they disembarked in George Town.
The cruise ship, which embarked on a 17-day journey from Mauritius, was greeted with traditional Malaysian performances arranged by Tourism Malaysia, showcasing Penang’s cultural charm.
During their stopover in George Town, passengers visited iconic landmarks such as Fort Cornwallis, Penang City Hall, the Street Art murals, Clan Jetties, and Penang Hill.
They also sampled local delicacies and traditional beverages, experiencing Penang’s rich cultural heritage and warm hospitality.
In his role as the deputy chairman of Tourism Malaysia, Yeoh shared that the Penang Port Commission fully supports the Ministry of Transport and Ministry of Tourism in their efforts to develop cruise tourism.
“The cruise industry holds immense potential, capable of bringing thousands of tourists in a single trip. International cruise operators choosing Malaysia as a homeport or destination not only boost the local tourism industry but also stimulate the domestic economy, benefiting hotels, travel services, dining, and other related sectors”, he added.
The Norwegian Sky has 12 decks and was last refurbished in 2022. It is 848 ft long and has a beam of 123 ft..