The first cruise ship has docked at Preah Sihanouk Port in more than two years due to the global Covid-19 pandemic.
The last cruise ship to dock in the province was the ill-fated MS Westerdam, which was refused docking by several nations until Cambodia allowed the ship to dock and unload its passengers as a humanitarian gesture as well as simply offering a much-needed practical solution to their dilemma.
The cruise ship Seabourn Encore left Thailand and then docked for one day at the deep water port at Sihanoukville on December 29 before setting off again for Vietnam. The ship is 210.5 metres long and 28 metres wide with a 6.7 metre draft and carries a crew of 432 in addition to its nearly 500 passengers.
Hor Sarun, secretary of state at the Ministry of Tourism, and Preah Sihanouk provincial governor Kuoch Chamroeun were both on hand to welcome the first cruise ship visitors on their return to the province in the post-pandemic resumption of travel and holiday cruises.
The Preah Sihanouk provincial administration noted on December 28 that eight cruise ships would dock in Sihanoukville, including the Seabourn Encore, bringing along 4,600 passengers who will all have an opportunity to visit the Kingdom in the process.
