GEORGE TOWN, July 4 (Bernama) — The Swettenham Pier Cruise Terminal (SPCT) will receive the next cruise ship stopover tomorrow after the ‘Spectrum of the Seas’ ship docked here last Saturday following the reopening of domestic sailing activities as well as international ship calls.
Penang Port Commission (SPPP) chairman Datuk Tan Teik Cheng said the entry of more cruise ships to Penang tomorrow would boost the tourism industry and propel a quicker revival of the state and national economy.
The ‘Genting Dream’ cruise ship owned by Resort World Cruises will dock at SPCT tomorrow, as early as 8 am and then the ‘Spectrum of the Seas’ (which docks in Penang twice a week) tomorrow as well.
“Genting Dream will be carrying a total of 3,325 passengers while Spectrum of the Seas is carrying 3,327 passengers to Penang. The entry of 6,652 tourists will further make the tourism industry more vibrant and so too the economy of Penang and Malaysia,” he said in a statement today.
Last Saturday, SPCT received its first international cruise ship call after two years of international sailing activities being halted in Malaysia following the COVID-19 outbreak.
The Spectrum of The Seas is owned by Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (RCCL) with 1,577 ship crew members. It was carrying 3,239 passengers when it docked at SPCT on Saturday at about 8 am.
Tan said he was confident that SPCT’s readiness to receive the Genting Dream ship call was at a good level based on last Saturday’s experience of welcoming the arrival of the Spectrum of The Sea.
He also announced that Genting Dream would continue to call at Penang from Singapore on the Tuesday of every week in July.
“Spectrum of the Seas will make stops on Tuesdays and Saturdays every week this month,” he said.
He also hoped that more cruise ships would be calling at SPTC this year.
Source: BERNAMA News Agency