The visitors at the Mendaram Besar Longhouse. - TOURISM DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN: The Coral Geographer made its inaugural visit to Brunei on Nov 15, arriving from Kota Kinabalu with 125 passengers on board.
The visit marks the sixth international cruise ship to call at the Sultanate in 2024, with the Coral Geographer having stayed for two days until Nov 16, allowing passengers to explore some of Brunei’s prominent tourist attractions before continuing to Miri, Sarawak.
During their visit, passengers engaged in a range of cultural activities at Mendaram Longhouse, including traditional performances, blowpiping demonstrations, and fan weaving.
Their itinerary also included a guided city tour, featuring iconic landmarks such as the Royal Regalia Museum, Brunei Arts and Handicraft Training Centre, Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Mosque, Istana Nurul Iman and Kampong Ayer.
They also visited Mendaram Besar Longhouse, where they had the opportunity to sample bamboo chicken, a local delicacy, enhancing their cultural experience.
The steady arrival of international cruise ships underscores Brunei’s growing reputation as a desirable cruise destination.
The Sultanate hosted 7,309 international visitors across the six cruise ships in 2024. Brunei is also slated to see six more cruise calls expected before the end of the year, with the number of cruise passengers set to surpass last year’s figures.
The Tourism Development Department is expecting the arrival of the Seven Seas Explorer on Nov 28. – Borneo Bulletin/ANN
