Pulau Penang Island (Georgetown, Malaysia Penang) is primed for a cruising rebound with the arrival of a 2nd cruise ship at the SPCT-Swettenham Pier Cruise Terminal on Tuesday, July 5, a sight not seen for 2+ years.
According to Penang Port Commission chairman Datuk Tan Teik Cheng, Resorts World Cruises’ Genting Dream, carrying 3,325 travellers and 1,700 crew, would call at 8:00 a.m.
Last Saturday, RCI-Royal Caribbean’s liner Spectrum of the Seas docked at SPCT after 2 years of COVID restrictions that prevented the arrival of liners to Malaysia.
Tan said that with the efforts of the Penang Port Commission and Penang Port Sdn Bhd, Genting Dream Cruise, would bring 5000+ visitors to Penang. The cruise ship would sail from Singapore to Penang every Tuesday, which was another great news for Penangites and the response from locals was encouraging.
“I firmly believe that there will be more international cruise ships arriving in Penang in the future.
“Tourism can play an important role in the economic restructuring of Penang after the pandemic. The cruise industry will have a significant contribution.”
Since the expansion of SPCT, the berthing area is now bigger by ~30%.
Besides the solid deck wharf being extended 220 m towards the north of the terminal from 400 to 620 m, the breasting and mooring dolphin had also increased by 50 m and 68 m, respectively.