The Bahamas-based cruise ship Crystal Symphony docked in the Maldives on January 9, bringing 212 tourists to the islands. 

The vessel, which arrived from Seychelles, is scheduled to continue its journey to Sri Lanka.

According to the Maldives Association of Yacht Agents (MAYA), this marks the fourth cruise ship to visit the Maldives in 2025. It follows the arrival of two vessels from Seychelles on December 30, 2024, which collectively brought over 3,000 tourists.

MAYA has also reported that 12 more cruise ships are expected to visit the Maldives before the end of the tourism season, reflecting a growing interest among cruise operators in the destination.

Tourism ministry data further highlights this trend, with over 43,000 tourists recorded in the first seven days of 2025. This represents a 9.7 per cent increase compared to the same period in 2024, signaling steady growth in the Maldives’ tourism sector.