Melaka fanfare greets inaugural Resorts World cruise

Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh welcomed Resorts World Cruises' maiden arrival at Melaka amid fanfare on Monday.

This followed Genting Dream's send-off from Singapore on Sunday by officials and Visit Melaka 2024 Ambassador Fan Bingbing, the celebrated Chinese actress, who met embarking passengers and spoke with media.

The 4,500-passenger Genting Dream will depart Sundays from Singapore on the new two-night Melaka cruise.

Passengers on the first Melaka call today were greeted by colorful traditional performance, and the government held a special ceremony at the Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security Complex (ICQS Complex) where the ship's tenders land. The Melaka chief minister and Resorts World Cruises President Michael Goh exchanged mementos.

Shore excursions

Melaka Tourism and owners of various attractions, including the Melaka River Cruise, Taming Sari Tower, the History and Ethnography Museum and Encore Melaka showcased these places of interest with special shore excursion packages.

'Melaka has so much to offer as a tourist destination and we are committed to developing the growth of inbound cruise passengers, which will ultimately contribute further to the success of the Visit Melaka 2024 campaign,' Goh said. With a total of 52 calls a year, Genting Dream is expected to carry up to 200,000 passengers to Melaka annually

Related:Genting Dream's two-night cruises will switch to Melaka

For his part, the chief minister said the Melaka state government 'remains highly committed to offering a variety of exciting shore excursion packages for the guests of the Genting Dream,' adding his confidence that Genting Dream 'will not only boost the local state tourism economy, but also strengthen Melaka’s position as a key cruising destination for more international cruise lines.'

Rich history, many attractions

From Melaka ICQS, it is a 15-minute walk to the heart of Melaka, a UNESCO World Heritage Site featuring the red colonial buildings of Dutch Square and Jonker Street, known for its shopping, dining and entertainment. Cruisers can also take the Melaka River boats next to the ICQS Complex to see the historic port city with buildings influenced by the Portuguese, Dutch and English era, mural artworks, parks and colorful shops on both sides of the riverbank.

Further attractions include the History and Ethnography Museum located inside the Stadthuys building, built during the Dutch Malacca administration period in 1650. This chronicles the history of Malacca since the1400s with the ethnography section portraying the lifestyle and culture of local communities and traditional collections.

The Taming Sari Tower affords sweeping city views, and the Encore Melaka Theatre, with its 360-degree rotating auditorium and 240-meter-long stage, offers an immersive and innovative art production.