Pulau Penang Island (Georgetown, Malaysia)
Cruise Port schedule, live map, terminals, news
Pulau Penang Island is part of Malaysia (constitutional monarchy in Southeast Asia) as one of all 13 federal states. The state covers a total area of approx 1048 km2 (405 mi2) and has population around 1,67 million. It is also one of the 4 Malaysian states run by a Governor (together with Malacca, Sabah, and Sarawak). Malaysia also has another isle called "Pulau Pinang" - it is a diving site in South China Sea (part of Johor Marine Park) which consist of the islands Pinang, Dayang, Lang, and Aur.
Port Penang is a free port (free economic territory) serving the capital city George Town (also Georgetown). When the British East India Company occupied Penang (August 12, 1786), the isle was named "Prince of Wales Island" to honor the birthday of King George IV (at that time Prince of Wales, 1762-1830). The capital city George Town was named after the ruling King George III (1738-1820).
Penang Island has an area of 295 km2 (114 ml2). It is the 4th-largest island in Malaysia, after Banggi, Bruit and Langkawi islands. Pulau Penang Island is also the most populated in the country with a population of around 678,000. It is connected with mainland Malaysia by the Penang Bridge which begins at Gelugor on the isle and ends in Perai on the mainland. In 2016, the cruise port handled 150 ship calls and 230,000+ passengers. In 2017, RCCL had scheduled 38 ship calls in Penang (George Town).
In mid-March 2017, RCCL-Royal Caribbean entered into a joint venture (40% stake) with the Porth Authority "Penang Port Sdn Bhd" (PPSB). On September 6, 2018, RCCL and PPSB Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd (RCL) and Penang Port Sdn Bhd (PPSB) officially signed the joint venture terminal project (~USD 37 million).
RCCL will upgrade and redevelop port's existing facility "Swettenham Pier Cruise Terminal" in George Town. At the upgraded pier will be able to dock two larger cruise vessels simultaneously. Along with two large liners, the port will be also able to berth 2 more ships - 1 small and 1 medium-sized. The existing berth will be extended from 400 to 688 m (1312 to 2260 ft), by adding 220 m pier plus 118 m long marine dolphin (mooring structure extending above the water but not connected to shore). Terminal's areas will be redeveloped to include a dedicated tour bus parking area. In 2019, RCI scheduled a total of 36 ship calls at Penang.
In August 2019 was announced that Prasarana Malaysia Berhad (government-owned transport company) in 2020 will upgrade Penang Island's ferry service (daily crossings on the Butterworth-Georgetown route) by introducing catamarans to speed up the passenger shipping between the island and mainland Malaysia. For this Rapid Ferry project, the Government allocated MYR 90 million (~USD 21,5 million / ~EUR 19,3 million). Most of the existing ferries will be converted into cruise ships transporting tourists.
Pulau Penang Island cruise terminal
Cruise ships to Pulau Penang Island dock at George Town (Georgetown) - on island's east coast. Most ships dock at Swettenham Pier Cruise Terminal (SPCT), with capacity all 4 ships at the time (2 larger plus 1 small and 1 medium).
The cruise port (officially Penang Harbour) can handle world's largest passenger ships at its Swettenham Pier. The pier is located close to the popular tourist attractions Weld Quay, Beach Street, Clock Tower, Esplanade.
As Swettenham Pier has only 2 berths, if those are already occupied, other cruise vessels will be anchored in the harbor waterway and their passengers offloaded and transported to the town via the ship's tender boats. For 2018 was scheduled a port development project including widening of the cruise ship berths and expanding the passenger terminal.
The budgeted MYR 155 million (Malaysian Ringgit / ~USD 37 million) project was planned to start in September 2019. After its completion (scheduled for Sept 2020) terminal's length will be expanded northwards from 545 to 793 m (1790-2600 ft). The expanded terminal will have capacity to handle 2 mega-liners simultaneously (on its outer berths) plus 2 smaller-sized liners (1 small plus 1 medium) on its inner berths.
Port Pulau Penang Island cruise ship schedule shows timetable calendars of all arrival and departure dates by month. The port's schedule lists all ships (in links) with cruises going to or leaving from Pulau Penang Island, Georgetown, Malaysia. To see the full itineraries (ports of call dates and arrival / departure times) and their lowest rates – just follow the corresponding ship-link.
Day | Ship | Arrival | Departure |
---|---|---|---|
5 November, 2021 Friday | ![]() | 14:00 | 22:00 |
9 November, 2021 Tuesday | ![]() | 14:00 | 22:00 |
13 November, 2021 Saturday | ![]() | 14:00 | 22:00 |
16 November, 2021 Tuesday | ![]() | 14:00 | 22:00 |
20 November, 2021 Saturday | ![]() | 14:00 | 22:00 |
23 November, 2021 Tuesday | ![]() | 14:00 | 22:00 |
24 November, 2021 Wednesday | ![]() | ||
27 November, 2021 Saturday | ![]() | 14:00 | 22:00 |
28 November, 2021 Sunday | ![]() | 09:00 | 18:00 |
30 November, 2021 Tuesday | ![]() | 14:00 | 22:00 |
- Cruise Industry
Penang Port Commission offers RFP to turn ferries into tourism attraction
The PPC-Penang Port Commission will open an RFP-Request for Proposal application to the public who are interested in renovating the existing ferries...
January 3, 2021 - Cruise Industry
Efforts to restart Malaysia's cruise industry are stalled
Efforts to restart Malaysia's cruise shipping industry using a model similar to Singapore (cruises to nowhere) are still continuing but moving slowly...
December 27, 2020 - Accidents
Malaysia and Thailand Bar Costa Fortuna
Malaysia and Thailand didn't allow a Costa Cruises ship (carrying ~2000 people) from docking because of Coronavirus concerns, a company official...
March 8, 2020 - Accidents
Ocean Dream Postpones Journey Due to Medevac
Selangor MMEA (Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency) rescued a Japanese senior citizen having breathing difficulties while onboard a cruise ship in...
December 3, 2019 - Cruise Industry
Royal Caribbean Increases Cruise Shipping to Malaysia in 2020
Global cruise brand Royal Caribbean is set to boost the number of passenger arrivals during Visit Malaysia Year 2020. The company's Quantum of the...
November 21, 2019 - Cruise Industry
Penang to Boast Upgraded Ferry Service and Tourist Catamarans
The Transport Ministry of Malaysia has instructed Prasarana Malaysian Berhad to upgrade Penang ferries as well as introduce passenger catamarans for...
August 24, 2019 - Cruise Industry
Swettenham Pier Cruise Terminal Scheduled for Expansion
The RM 155 million expansion works at Swettenham Pier Cruise Terminal (SPCT) are scheduled to begin next month. Upon the planned completion in a year...
August 10, 2019 - Cruise Industry
Dream Cruises Introduce Southeast Asia Summer Itineraries for 2020
Dream Cruises (subsidiary of GHK) is showcasing the best of Southeast Asia via signature itineraries for summer 2020 that feature new port...
July 24, 2019 - Cruise Industry
Royal Caribbean Brings 300,000 Passengers to Malaysia
Royal Caribbean is expected to bring around 300,000 cruise passengers to Malaysian shores in 2019. The latest to make her maiden call at Swettenham...
May 25, 2019 - Cruise Industry
Penang to be Turned into Home Port for Cruise Ships
Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) proposed that Penang to be turned into homeport for cruise ships to cater to the region's...
October 1, 2018 - show more news