Luxury cruise liner MS Crystal Symphony arrived in Malé on Wednesday from Mahé, Seychelles, bringing hundreds of tourists to the Maldives.

According to Maldives Immigration, Seaport Division officers provided en-route clearance services for 548 passengers and 489 crew members on board the vessel upon its arrival on 18 February 2026. The ship is registered in the Bahamas and is scheduled to depart for Colombo, Sri Lanka following its stop in Malé.

Immigration said clearance was facilitated through advance processing, allowing passengers and crew to disembark without delays upon arrival in Maldivian waters.

This marks the sixth cruise liner to call at the Maldives so far this year, reflecting sustained interest in the country as a cruise destination. Cruise vessels have continued to include the Maldives in their regional itineraries during the peak tourism season.

Statistics from the Ministry of Tourism and Environment show that over 349,000 tourists have visited the Maldives so far this year, as visitor arrivals continue to trend upward during the peak season. Tourism authorities expect the upward trend to continue, building on last year’s milestone when the Maldives recorded 2.2 million tourist arrivals for the first time in its history.

Cruise tourism has recorded steady activity during the peak season, with several large vessels calling at the Maldives in recent weeks. Earlier this month, the luxury liner MS Queen Anne made its maiden call to the country as the largest cruise ship ever to arrive in Maldivian waters. Authorities have noted that February typically records the highest cruise and visitor traffic, with cruise arrivals contributing to overall tourism growth.