Kaohsiung Port Cruise Terminal today (January 21st) welcomed a Historic Dual Maiden Call . For the first time, the terminal hosted two maiden calls on the same day, welcoming the Seabourn Encore and Norwegian Sky. Port of Kaohsiung welcomed both ships with a ceremonial water salute and presented their captains with plaques commemorating their ships’ maiden calls to the port and the port’s warm welcome.

To ensure its ability to effectively handle two cruise ships concurrently, Kaohsiung Port Cruise Terminal officially opened its new extended corridor just in time to welcome Seabourn Encore and Norwegian Sky’s passengers. With the new corridor, the terminal can serve one large and one medium-sized cruise ship at a time, providing passengers in a comfortable and convenient indoor environment.

The Seabourn Encore was built in 2016 by the Italian-based global top-four shipbuilder Fincantieri S.p.A. Weighing in at somewhat over 40,000 GT and measuring around 210m in length, the Seabourn Encore has a maximum capacity of 600 passengers, with all cabins designed as suites that afford spectacular sea views. Top-of-class passenger amenities include Michelin-star dining, exceptional wines, stage musicals, a fitness center, spa services, and more. Encore’s current 14-day itineraries depart from Hong Kong and are scheduled to call at Taiwan, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Singapore, providing passengers a well-rounded “taste” of Asian culture and hospitality. The ship stays in Kaohsiung Port for 2 days and 1 night, allowing passengers to deeply experience the charm of the city.

Norwegian Cruise Line ranks among the world’s top-3 largest cruise ship operators, and Norwegian Sky, weighing in at just over 77,000 GT and measuring around 258m in length, has a maximum capacity of 2,004 passengers. The ship underwent a massive US$100 million refit in 2024. The diverse array of onboard amenities available, including gourmet dining, a luxurious bar, a Starbucks café, stage musical performances, a fitness center, swimming pool and spa, help make every Norwegian Sky cruise an exceptional experience. Norwegian Sky’s current 10-day itineraries depart from Philippines, and are scheduled to call at Taiwan and Japan. On this maiden voyage, passengers are being treated to a spotlight tour of southern Taiwan’s cultural diversity.

Upon arrival, Port of Kaohsiung and Kaohsiung City’s Marine Bureau jointly sponsored a spirited indigenous dance performance to welcome the two ships’ passengers to Taiwan. Also, a pop-up couplet-calligraphy classroom led by an experienced ink-and-brush artist was set up in the terminal to teach the art of Chinese calligraphy to interested passengers and to convey the warmth and charm of Taiwanese culture. The fun and festive atmosphere in the terminal gave passengers a truly special experience to cherish and remember.

Port of Kaohsiung has maintained close coordination and communications with CIQS agencies to handle the needs of passengers overnighting at the port, ensuring the provision of all-hour services and streamlined, efficient customs clearance. Port of Kaohsiung is committed to giving all visiting cruise ships and passengers a world-class service experience. The port looks forward to welcoming growing numbers of international cruise ship visits in the future and to injecting new vitality into Taiwan’s inbound tourism sector.