VICTORIA, Seychelles — The 2025–2026 cruise ship season officially opened on Sunday, October 12, with the arrival of SH Diana, marking the start of what is expected to be one of Seychelles’ busiest cruise seasons in recent years.
Speaking at a joint press conference held by the Seychelles Ports Authority (SPA) and the Tourism department at Victoria port on Thursday morning, SPA chief executive Sony Payet said the country will welcome a total of 47 cruise port calls this season — an increase of more than 25 percent compared to the last. ‘This is definitely an increase compared to the last season, of over 25 percent, since we saw a decrease and 35 port calls due to the events of war in the region, whereby ships had to make a different route or call off the season,’ he said.
The boost in port calls is expected to bring significant economic benefits to the islands, with passengers spending on excursions, local crafts, food and services. SPA and the Tourism department have been working to strengthen the port experience, with improvements to the welcome area, better coordination with tour operators and continued investment in shore-side facilities.
Officials noted that the increased cruise activity is part of a broader effort to diversify tourism source markets and reduce dependency on traditional European routes, while ensuring that the growth remains sustainable and that the local environment and communities continue to benefit from the activity.
