Cruise ship makes inaugural visit to Brunei

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The Seven Seas Explorer made its inaugural visit to Brunei yesterday, arriving from Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia with 666 passengers and 545 crew members on board. This marks the seventh international cruise ship to visit the Sultanate in 2024.

The vessel’s stopover provided passengers with the opportunity to explore some of Brunei’s attractions before continuing their journey to Indonesia.

They were warmly welcomed with a hadrah performance before embarking on their tour. Passengers enjoyed a guided city tour featuring key attractions, including the Royal Regalia Museum, Jame’ ‘Asr Hassanil Bolkiah, Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Mosque, Istana Nurul Iman and Kampong Ayer. During their brief visit, they enjoyed a range of local delicacies and drinks and had the opportunity to buy traditional Bruneian souvenirs.

Billy, a cruise passenger, sharing his experience in the town centre, said he had the opportunity to see proboscis monkeys and crocodiles, walk around the city centre and visit several attractions and a local school, which piqued his interest.

Meanwhile, Anne from Toronto, commented on the attractions she visited, describing them as impressive.

The continued arrival of international cruise ships highlights Brunei’s growing appeal as a premier cruise destination. In 2024, seven cruise vessels have docked in Brunei waters. The Tourism Development Department anticipates five additional calls before the year ends.

Tourists disembark from the Seven Seas Explorer. PHOTO: TOURISM DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT