Cruise Lines, Sihanoukville tries not to miss the boat

The Seabourn Sojourn, a luxury liner operated by US-based Seabourn Cruise Line Ltd, arrives at Sihanoukville port this morning, delivering hundreds of well-heeled tourists to what industry experts say is a backwater market that is increasingly on cruise ship itineraries, yet still falls short of expectation.

The 200-metre long passenger vessel, which carries up to 450 tourists and a crew of 330, is on a 14-night journey from Hong Kong to Singapore. Five years ago, it might have skipped Cambodia altogether; but with Sihanoukville’s improving tourism infrastructure, it is one of 10 cruise ships to call at the port this month.

Sihanoukville port received 36 calls from cruise ships last year, 11 more than in 2014 and with a 75 per cent increase in passenger numbers, according to Chey Sokunthea, a marketing executive for Sihanoukville Autonomous Port (SAP).

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