BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN: The Norwegian Jewel on Monday (Dec 4) once again arrived at Muara Port’s Cruise Ship Centre, carrying 2,531 passengers and 1,022 crew members.
The ship originated its voyage from the Philippines and stopped at Kota Kinabalu, Sabah before anchoring at the Sultanate.
The tourists enjoyed immersive tour packages to discover the nation’s landmarks including the Royal Regalia Museum, Jame’ ‘Asr Hassanil Bolkiah, Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Mosque and Istana Nurul Iman.
Their brief stay also offered authentic local cuisines and beverages as well as the opportunity to acquire traditional Bruneian souvenirs.
Pete Manzo from Missouri, the United States, said he found his short trip with his wife to the Sultanate very enlightening.
He said that trying various traditional kueh, especially selurut, was a delightful experience.
He added that as a food enthusiast, he has a desire to return for an extended stay to explore a wider variety of local cuisines.
Meanwhile, Ernie, from Las Vegas, found his trip to the Royal Regalia Museum informative, where he learned the Sultanate’s history.
Manuel Sunga and his wife from the Philippines said they enjoyed discovering different landmarks and were surprised by the friendliness of the locals.
The Norwegian Jewel will embark today for Vietnam and will conclude its cruise in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Dec 11.
The Sultanate is expected to welcome seven more cruise ships next year, with the cruise scheduled to sail into Brunei waters on Jan 30.
The Sultanate has welcomed 12,462 international visitors and six cruise visits since the revival of cruise tourism and the re-opening of sea borders, reflecting a steady rise in tourist arrivals via sea travel. - Borneo Bulletin/ANN
