Five-star "Sun Princess" arrives in Taiwan, docks at Kaohsiung Port

▲The "Sun Princess," which launched its new Asian route this year, arrives in Taiwan and docks at Kaohsiung Port Up！Photo shows the Sun Princess underway. (Photo / Provided by Lion Travel)

Tourism Center / Taipei Report

Traditionally focused on the Australian market, the Sun Princess has begun a fresh sailing itinerary across Asia this year. By the end of April, it had traveled around Japan, South Korea, Xiamen, and Russia, and on May 23, it made its first stop at Kaohsiung Port in Taiwan, breaking the record for a global top-five cruise ship docking in an Asian nation.

Spending your days cruising under the sun on azure waters and your nights anchoring in cities with ever-changing sceneries—cruise tourism is a rising trend that has captured the attention of many travel enthusiasts in recent years. Among them, Princess Cruises, part of the world’s largest cruise group, rose to fame in 1977 thanks to the American TV series "The Love Boat," earning the title of “star cruise.”


▲%That? The "Sun Princess" (pictured) and its onboard facilities (illustration) (Image / Provided by Taiwan)



General Manager Xu Jingqi, Taiwan regional chief agent for Princess Cruises, said that the 77,000-ton, 261-meter-long Sun Princess, capable of carrying nearly 2,000 passengers, used to sail only Oceanian routes, primarily calling at cities such as Sydney, Melbourne, and the Gold Coast in Australia. However, due to the impact of the financial crisis and accelerated economic growth in Asia causing a shift in consumer demand, the cruise line has recently started focusing on Asian itineraries. In addition to famous Japanese ports such as Tokyo, Kochi, Nagasaki, and Hakodate, the itinerary also includes stops at South Korea’s Jeju Island and Busan, with Taiwan now included in the route. The decision to select Kaohsiung as a port of call not only serves as a test but also aims to offer more choices for travelers in southern Taiwan. It is hoped that the Kaohsiung-based cruise program will provide even more options for cruise enthusiasts while boosting local tourism in Kaohsiung, using the vibrant spirit of southern Taiwan to elevate its international profile.