Penang Cruise Terminal Passenger Traffic Rises 52% in First Nine Months
Five international cruise ships with combined passenger capacity exceeding 10,000 are scheduled for maiden Penang visits from October to December, beginning with Navigator of the Seas.
Passenger traffic at Penang’s Swettenham Pier Cruise Terminal rose 52.12% in the first nine months of 2026, reaching 569,173 passengers. That compares with 374,171 during the same period in 2025, according to the Penang Port Commission.
Vessel activity increased more sharply: the George Town terminal handled 538 calls between January and September, compared with 134 a year earlier.
International passenger arrivals accounted for most of the traffic, rising to 431,793 from 342,771. Domestic day-trip traffic more than quadrupled, reaching 137,362 passengers against 31,400 in the corresponding period last year.
Penang Port Commission chairman Yeoh Soon Hin said the figures showed Penang’s growing appeal to international cruise operators and passengers. He also stressed the terminal’s importance to maritime tourism development in Penang and the wider northern region of Malaysia.
The increase in visitor spending is benefiting hotels, restaurants, transport providers and other local businesses beyond the port. The terminal is within walking distance of George Town’s UNESCO World Heritage attractions.
Yeoh called for continued cooperation among port authorities, the state government, tourism agencies and industry stakeholders to sustain the growth.
Five maiden calls scheduled before year-end
Five international cruise ships with a combined passenger capacity exceeding 10,000 are scheduled to make their first visits to Penang between October and December. The programme includes Villa Vie Odyssey, Star Seeker and Celebrity Solstice.
Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing credited the calls to the government’s outreach. “Tourism Malaysia has been intensifying its efforts to promote cruise tourism,” Tiong said in a Facebook post. He said the agency was engaging cruise lines and travel partners to secure more Malaysian calls on regional and international itineraries.
Adora Mediterranea is also among the first-time visitors. Adora Cruises has announced eight international voyages from Port Klang between November 24 and December 19, with itineraries covering Penang, Langkawi, Phuket and Nha Trang.
Tiong linked that development to discussions with Adora Cruises management during his visit to Shanghai in May. Those talks covered Southeast Asian cruise routes, port facilities, shore excursions and regional cultural tourism cooperation. He said the sailings would create opportunities for local tourism businesses to develop cruise packages, excursions and related services.
For each maiden call, the Penang Port Commission and Penang Port Sdn Bhd plan welcoming activities that include cultural performances, Penang-themed souvenirs and tourism promotions.
Royal Caribbean International’s Navigator of the Seas is scheduled to make the first of the five inaugural visits. The ship is due to berth at 2:30 p.m. on October 30, 2026.
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