THE Solomon Islands’ 2023 cruise season is well underway, with seven ships already confirmed to sail over the next four months. First off the rank is Paul Gauguin Cruises’ Paul Gauguin, which arrived in the Solomons’ waters on Wed with a full complement of 330 passengers, with local ports of...
THE Solomon Islands’ 2023 cruise season is well underway, with seven ships already confirmed to sail over the next four months.
First off the rank is Paul Gauguin Cruises’ Paul Gauguin, which arrived in the Solomons’ waters on Wed with a full complement of 330 passengers, with local ports of call including the capital Honiara.
Paul Gauguin will be followed by Seabourn Cruise Line’s Seabourn Sojourn which arrives on 24 Feb at Tavanipupu Island Resort in Marau Sound before heading to Honiara.
Expedition line Heritage Expeditions’ Heritage Adventurer is listed to arrive in Mar along with Lindblad Expedition’s National Geographic Orion.
The following month will see three Hapag-Lloyd Cruises vessels, Hanseatic Inspiration, Hanseatic Nature, and Hanseatic Spirit, ply Solomon waters, visiting some of the remotest villages and settlements across the country, including Owaraha, Tinakula, Nendo Island, and Tulagi.
Tourism Solomons Head of Sales and Marketing Fiona Teama said the country’s geography, coupled with its unique culture offered huge potential for the international cruise market, particularly shallow draft expedition-style vessels.
The destination is very well prepared for the international cruising market, with a multi-million dollar, state-of-the-art cruise terminal in Honiara ready to receive ships.
“We are fully reopen to international tourism, the time is right to rekindle the relationships we made with major cruise lines in the pre-COVID environment, and we are eager to get on with things,” she said.
“Many of our neighbours benefit from international cruise traffic and the positive impact they have on the local economy, from hotels, transportation providers and food and beverage suppliers to local cultural groups.”
Local tourism authorities and cruise lines are also identifying “destinations within a destination” which have the ability to manage ships.
