Sihanoukville: A foreign cruise ship named Azamara Onward brought over 600 international tourists of 22 different nationalities to Cambodia for a one-day visit via the Sihanoukville Autonomous Port. This visit coincides with local authorities’ preparations for the upcoming Khmer New Year celebrations, which will take place on April 14-16, 2025.

According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, police immigration officials at the Sihanoukville Autonomous Port reported that Azamara Onward, a Malta-flagged cruise ship measuring 180.45 metres in length and 28.30 metres in width, arrived at 8:00 AM on April 1. The ship carried 616 passengers, including 313 women, representing 22 nationalities. Additionally, the vessel had a crew of 388 members, including 62 women, from 37 different countries.

The ship departed from Vietnam before docking in Sihanoukville and is scheduled to leave for Thailand at 5:00 PM the same day. The majority of tourists on board were from the United States (214 passengers), the United Kingdom (129 passengers), and Australia (146 passengers), along with travellers of other nationalities. Notably, 13 tourists, including eight women, boarded the ship from Siem Reap.

During their visit to Sihanoukville, tourists explored key attractions in Sihanoukville, including local fishing villages, the Independence Beach area, the Golden Lions Roundabout, and cultural landmarks such as Wat IntNhean and Wat ChotNhean. Many also visited the Bay of Light development area, the Preah Thong Neang Neak statue, and the Vipassana Meditation Centre at Samadhi Pagoda in Prey Nup district. In Sangkat Ream, as well as Bet Trang pagoda, where they received blessings from Buddhist monks and interacted with local students.

The Sihanoukville provincial administration warmly welcomed the tourists at the international port, with security measures in place, coordinated by local authorities and law enforcement agencies to ensure the safety and smoothness of their visit.