KUCHING: The MS Insignia by Oceania Cruises arrived at Senari Port here at 8.00am yesterday with 617 passengers alighting for their Kuching tours.
The passengers disembarked and were garlanded in true Sarawakian tradition, courtesy of the Sarawak Tourism Board before continuing on their tours to the Sarawak Cultural Village, Bako National Park and a Tour of the city.
The MS Insignia is a much larger vessel than the first cruise ship to berth in Kuching this year, the ‘Star Legend’ of Windstar Cruise that arrived on January 8, which brought 194 passengers. Majority of passengers on yesterday’s cruise were Americans and Europeans.
Kuching is expected to receive at least two more cruise ships this year. Last year 1,964 passengers arrived in Sarawak, with the Silver Shadow, Insignia, L’Austral and Silver Shadow docking in Kuching and the Silver Shadow docking twice in Bintulu.
“The arrival of these cruise ships to Sarawak provides a good business boost to our industry partners as well as other industries like food and beverage and souvenir shops,” Director of Events and Corporate Relations, Angelina Bateman said.
15 buses with two departure times have been prepared by the travel agencies to ferry the passengers to and from their tour destinations whilst in the city.
