Kaohsiung Port in southern Taiwan has a very busy schedule in 2025, with a total of 107 cruise ships to either depart from or call on the port, nearly double the 59 in 2024, reflecting the port authority’s success in promoting Kaohsiung as a cruise destination.
According to the Ministry of Transportation and Communications’ Taiwan International Ports Corp. Ltd., during the second half of the year, 34 cruises will embark on tours from the port, while 37 will make berth as part of an itinerary, bringing in more than 100,000 tourists.
Among the cruise ships that will start voyages out from Kaohsiung are Costa Serena and Star Navigator bound for Japan’s Okinawa, Ishigaki and Miyako Islands, the TIPC said. The Star Navigator will launch several southbound routes heading for popular tourist destinations in Vietnam and the Philippines.
The TIPC said these new routes underscore the key position of Kaohsiung as southern Taiwan’s maritime gateway and its potential as a home port for a larger number of southbound cruise vessels.
Kaohsiung will also welcome visits by several premier cruises, including Star Voyager, Mitsui Ocean Fuji, Riviera, Norwegian Spirit, Seabourn Quest, Norwegian Sun and Asuka 2. Among these, Mitsui Ocean Fuji will make its maiden call on Sept. 25, while Asuka 2 will arrive on Dec. 30 for New Year Eve celebrations, and plans to offer more cruise travels with stops in Kaohsiung next year.
The TIPC attributes these positive developments to successful marketing campaigns and ongoing infrastructure development and service upgrades. These include participation in international cruise events such as the Seatrade Cruise Global 2025 held in Miami this April to discuss cooperation with global cruise lines, and investment in key facilities such as the Kaohsiung Port Cruise Terminal. (SFC-E)
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