Singapore has struck a major blow against rival Asian cruise markets, overnight revealing a deal with Disney Cruise Line (DCL) to have the line homeport one of its ships year-round for five years, starting from 2025.
The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) said the new Memorandum of Understanding with Disney affirmed its position as Asia’s “premier cruise hub and major player in cruise tourism”, suggesting its strategic location, world-class air connectivity and port infrastructure puts it ahead of other countries when it comes to attracting fly-cruise passengers.
“It speaks volumes for our region’s significant potential for cruise tourism and to become, as some have described it, ‘the Caribbean of the East’,” Singapore’s Minister for Transport S. Iswaran said.
Figures released by the STB show that cruise passengers in Singapore have doubled from 900,000 in 2012 to more than 1.8 million in 2019, just before the pandemic attracting 400 cruise ships across 30 cruise brands.
DCL estimates the passenger capacity of the vessel will be 6,000, and is expected to be among the first in the cruise industry to be fuelled by green methanol, one of the lowest emission fuels available.
The cruise line also confirmed the ship stationed in Singapore will feature “innovative Disney experiences”, including world- class dining options, dedicated spaces and activities for families, as well as the usual cast of colourful Disney characters.
Iswaran concluded the announcement by stating that Singapore’s cruise sector is excited by the prospect of growing its cruise hub & showing off its array of cruise offerings.’
