Nine cruise liners scheduled to arrive this year with approximately 12,000 tourists

Statistics publicized by Maldives Association of Yacht Agency (MAYA) show that nine cruise liners are scheduled arrive in the Maldives this year, with approximately 12,000 tourists.

The cruise liners will port at Male’ City, Addu City and Haa Alif Atoll.

Commenting regarding the matter, Tourism Minister Dr. Abdulla Mausoom told Sun that the cruise liner business is a prominent target of the Maldivian tourism and economic sectors. He emphasized that the cruise liners porting near Male’ City will be especially beneficial for businesses based in the capital city and neighboring resorts.

“Post-pandemic, tourists were not visiting inhabited local islands as much as before. Thus, the arrival of passengers on cruise liners will restore this and further boost tourism in resorts,” he had said.

Mausoom also underscored the need for Maldives to prepare for the arrival of cruise liners. On this note, the Minister said that islands must prepare welcome events and other festivities.

“Cruise liner passengers would rarely spend the night at resorts and hotels as they would have made arrangements to spend from their wallets inside the cruise liner. Nevertheless, if we come up with attractive ways for them to spend here (in the Maldives), the revenue we stand to gain from them will increase,” he had said.

The largest cruise liner from the nine is scheduled to arrive in the Maldives next month. MS Costa Deliziosa has a capacity of 2,826 passengers.

Details of cruise liners scheduled to arrive in the Maldives this year;

•         23.01.23 - MS Artania (MALE), pax capacity 1280
•         02.02.23 - MS. Oceania Nautica (MALE) - pax capacity 684
•         17.03.23 - MS Silver Shadow (ADDU), pax capacity 388
•         04.02.23 - MS. Costa Deliziosa (MALE), pax capacity 2826
•         07.04.23 - MS Seven Seas Mariner (MALE), pax capacity 700
•         06.11.23 - MS AIDAbella (MALE), pax capacity 2050
•         01.12.23 - MS. Vasco da Gama Nicko (MALE), pax capacity 1512
•        16.12.23 - MS. Fred Olsen Bolette (HAA LAIF) pax capacity 1400
•        18.12.23 - MS. Fred Olsen Bolette (ADDU), pax capacity 1400

All the nine cruise liners are larger than any that came to the Maldives last year.

Cruise liners faced difficulties porting in the Maldives when Maldives Ports Limited (MPL) increased the pilotage fee as part of COVID-19 measures in 2020. The fee was deceased last December.

Prior to the pandemic, Maldives sees approximately 60 cruise liners per year, bringing in roughly tourists.