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Asia Cruise Yearbook : ASEAN Yearbook 2015
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58 ASEANCRUISING.COM Cruise arrivals bolster tourism numbers BRUNEI It may still be a lesser-known Southeast Asian destination, but Brunei is seeing a steady, slow growth in cruising. The destination’s overall tourist development has come to a halt in recent years, after hitting a big peak in 2003 of 944,000 tourist arrivals. After that and until 2012, the country welcomed an average of 250,000 visitors annually. This was followed by a drastic drop with only 179,000 arrivals in 2014. Despite the decline in tourist arrivals, cruise visitors have steadily increased as the number of ship visits rises. According to Brunei Tourism, in 2009 the country welcomed about 19,400 cruise passengers, an increase from 17,450 the previous year. In 2014, it had its busiest summer season, welcoming 15 ocean ships and a record of 30,000 cruise visitors. Lines that called at Bandar Seri Begawan (Muara Port) from December 2014 to April 2015 included Princess Cruises, Costa, Silversea, Crystal, Regent Seven Seas, Hapag-Lloyd, Celebrity, Cunard, Oceania, Azamara Cruises and Seabourn. THE NEXT 12 MONTHS Although Brunei’s tourism leaders aren’t focused on building new port infrastructure or attracting cruise ships to secondary ports for the moment, the country can expect another record cruise season in 2015/16. Thirteen cruise ships will visit Bandar Seri Begawan throughout the season, making a total of 21 calls. Royal Caribbean’s Legend of the Seas will kick off the season a week early when she makes her inaugural call at Bandar Seri Begawan on August 24, 2015. The ship’s visit will be part of a 10-night Brunei, Philippines and Taiwan cruise from Singapore. She will be followed by Oceania Cruises’ Insignia, which will visit on her 70-day New World Quest from Hong Kong to Miami. Sapphire P rincess will return several times during her second season sailing from Singapore, calling at Brunei’s port in December, January and February. She will be one of two Princess ships visiting this season. Pacific P rincess will also stop by in February 2016 during her 94-day World Cruise segment from Los Angeles to Fort Lauderdale. Other ships making an appearance this season include Silver Shadow, MS Volendam, MS Europa, Costa Victoria, Nautica, Seven Seas Voyager, Astor and Queen Victoria. Seabourn’s Sojourn will join Insignia to close the season in April 2016. THINGS TO SEE AND DO Take a mosque tour of Bandar Seri Begawan to see the Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque, which is within easy walking distance of the Royal Regalia Museum. The mosque is a spectacular sight with its mix of Mughal architecture and Italian styles. It was completed in 1958 and is named after Omar Ali Saiffudein III, the 30th Sultan of Brunei. CAPITAL Bandar Seri Begawan CURRENCY Brunei dollar SEASON October-April CRUISE TYPE Ocean FACT FILE MUARA BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN MALAYSIA MALAYSIA INDONESIA BRUNEI ACY_058_060_Brunei.indd 58 3/07/2015 11:11 am
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