Malaysia’s cruise tourism industry reached a new milestone today as Cunard’s latest luxury cruise liner, the Queen Anne, made her highly anticipated maiden call at the Swettenham Pier Cruise Terminal (SPCT) in Penang. Arriving from Southampton, United Kingdom, the grand vessel marks a proud moment in the nation’s growing presence on the global cruise map.

Tourism Malaysia warmly welcomed the arrival of Queen Anne, which is part of her 107-day maiden grand voyage, covering over 30 destinations across more than 20 countries. The stopover highlights Malaysia’s increasing appeal to world-class cruise liners and affirms its strategic role in the international cruise tourism sector.

A vibrant welcoming ceremony, graced by YBhg. Dato’ Yeoh Soon Hin, Deputy Chairman of Tourism Malaysia, treated the 5,094 passengers onboard to traditional Malaysian cultural performances and local delights, reflecting the country’s rich heritage and warm hospitality.

Adding to Penang’s momentum as a key cruise port, the Norwegian Sun is also scheduled to dock at SPCT on 30 March 2025. The ship is on a 17-night transoceanic cruise from Singapore to Cape Town, carrying approximately 3,950 passengers and making strategic calls at Penang, Port Louis (Mauritius), and the Port of Durban (South Africa).

“This maiden call is more than a port visit—it’s a powerful platform to introduce Malaysia to the world,” said Dato’ Yeoh Soon Hin. “It presents an opportunity to showcase our cultural treasures, scenic beauty, and hospitality, encouraging travellers to return and discover more during the upcoming Visit Malaysia 2026 (VM2026) campaign.”

Penang Port has seen a surge in cruise activity, welcoming prominent ships such as the Azamara Pursuit, MS Blue Dream Melody, AIDAStella, and Norwegian Sky. In 2024 alone, SPCT recorded 1,046,165 passengers, including 650,518 international transit passengers and 4,840 home port passengers.

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