M/V Piano Land, the first Chinese cruise ship to be homeported in Malaysia, celebrated its inaugural sailing over the weekend on 29 November.
The debut of the 70,000 tonne cruise ship with a capacity of 1,760 passengers represents not only a major advancement for Malaysia’s cruise tourism ambitions, but also a milestone for China’s homegrown cruise line in its first “overseas homeport” voyage into Southeast Asia.
The event at Port Klang Cruise Terminal (PKCT) included a welcome reception and flag-raising ceremony attended by local leaders, including Lee Thai Hung, deputy director general (promotions II) of Tourism Malaysia; Chua Yee Ling, CEO of Tourism Selangor; Kenny Cheong Ken Lee, managing director of Hwajing Travel & Tours; Ean Yong Hian Wah, chairman of Port Klang Authority; Dato’ Azman Shah Mohd Yusof, chairman of Port Klang Cruise Terminal (PKCT); Alvin Geoffrey Alphonso, CEO of PKCT; Dato’ Eddie Lee, group managing director of Westports Holdings.
A key highlight was the plague exchange ceremony, a maritime tradition honouring a ship’s first homeport call.
Apart from being a reflection of “deep, long-term partnership,” this collaboration “further strengthens Malaysia’s ambition to become ASEAN’s leading gateway for cruise tourism, offering a diverse range of cruise segments and experiences,” said Dato’ Azman Shah Mohd Yusof, chairman of PKCT.
Kenny Cheong, managing director of Hwajing Travel & Tours added that the company’s full charter of Piano Land “reaffirms our commitment to making cruise holidays more accessible and enriching for travellers across Malaysia and Southeast Asia”, as the company celebrates its 36th anniversary.