PENANG, 27 March 2025 – Cunard’s newest luxury ship, the majestic Queen Anne, from Southampton, United Kingdom, made its highly anticipated maiden call to Swettenham Pier Cruise Terminal (SPCT) at Penang Port today, marking a significant milestone for Malaysia’s cruise tourism industry.

Tourism Malaysia welcomes Queen Anne’s visit at SPCT as part of her 107-maiden grand voyage encompassing over 30 destinations across more than 20 countries, celebrating Malaysia’s growing prominence in the global cruise tourism market and its ability to attract world-class cruise liners.

A welcoming ceremony attended by YBhg. Dato’ Yeoh Soon Hin, Deputy Chairman of Tourism Malaysia, featured Malaysian cultural performances and presented passengers onboard with local treats, showcasing the nation’s rich heritage and hospitality.

Complementing Queen Anne’s arrival, the Norwegian Sun will also dock in Penang on 30 March 2025, further solidifying Malaysia’s status as a premier cruise destination. The Norwegian Sun is embarking on a 17-night transoceanic cruise from Singapore to Cape Town, featuring a captivating itinerary that includes strategic ports, including Penang, Port Louis, Mauritius and Port of Durban in South Africa.

YBhg. Dato’ Yeoh Soon Hin stated: “The maiden call represents a unique opportunity to showcase Malaysia to a global audience. This is a gateway to showcasing Malaysia’s rich cultural heritage, stunning landscapes, and warm hospitality, prompting them to return and explore further during our Visit Malaysia 2026 (VM2026) campaign.”

Penang Port has recently welcomed several international cruise ships, including Azamara Pursuit, MS Blue Dream Melody, AIDAStella, and Norwegian Sky. In 2024, SPCT handled a total of 1,046,165 passengers, including 650,518 international transit passengers and 4,840 home port passengers.

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About Tourism Malaysia

Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board, also known as Tourism Malaysia, is an agency under the Ministry of Tourism, Arts & Culture. It focuses on the specific task of promoting Malaysia as a preferred tourism destination. Since its inception, it has emerged as a major player in the international tourism scene.

The next Visit Malaysia, set to take place in 2026, will commemorate the sustainability of the nation's tourism industry, which is also in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDG).

Furthermore, Tourism Malaysia actively endorses the Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle (IMT-GT), working towards the realisation of the IMT-GT Visiting Year 2023-2025, with the shared aim of promoting the region as a unified tourism destination. For more information, visit Tourism Malaysia’s social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube, and TikTok.

For enquiries, please contact:

Mohd Ashrul Ashraf Mohd Noor
Deputy Director
Package Development Division
Sports Tourism, Marine & Motoring
Unit sportsunit@tourism.gov.my

Norshariza Mohd Saad
Deputy Director
Corporate Communications Division
norshariza@tourism.gov.my
Tel : +603 8891 8775