Seychelles has been officially voted the Indian Ocean’s Best Cruise Destination 2025 at the World Cruise Awards Gala Ceremony 2025 held on 6 December in Bahrain.
This prestigious accolade, presented as part of the World Cruise Awards, a globally recognised honours programme under the World Travel Awards, celebrates Seychelles’ continued growth as a favourite destination for cruise travellers.
The award was revealed during the red-carpet ceremony at Exhibition World Bahrain, which brought together leading travel and cruise industry professionals from across the globe.
This marks the fifth consecutive year that Seychelles has earned this recognition, further solidifying its reputation as a premier cruise destination in the Indian Ocean at the 32nd edition of the awards.
This recognition supports Seychelles’ ongoing work to grow and improve its tourism sector, especially by strengthening its cruise facilities and offering memorable on-shore cultural experiences. With its many offerings, such as clear waters, marine life, and beautiful islands, Seychelles continues to attract cruise travellers looking for both adventure and calm.
Speaking on the achievement, the Minister for Tourism and Culture warmly commended the dedication and collaborative spirit of Seychelles’ tourism and cruise partners, noting that their continuous efforts to deliver high standards of service, and improve experiences offering authentic Creole hospitality are central to the nation’s success in the cruise sector.
“We are honoured to receive this recognition from the World Cruise Awards. The cruise sector is an important part of our tourism industry, and this award reflects our ongoing efforts to offer visitors a genuine and memorable experience while protecting the heritage that makes Seychelles unique. It also shows that travellers value the authenticity and beauty of our islands, and we remain committed to sharing this with the world,” explained the Minister for Tourism and Culture, Mrs. Amanda Bernstein.
She further highlighted the significant role of local tour operators, port authorities, hotel and resort partners, and cultural artisans who together create unique experiences that leave lasting impressions on international cruise travellers.
This recognition comes at a time when Seychelles is actively developing its Cruise Ship Strategy following a cruise cost-benefit analysis that was completed earlier this year with the assistance of United Nation Economic Commission For Africa (UNECA). The new strategy will focus on enhancing infrastructure, streamlining port operations, diversifying itineraries, and strengthening partnerships with cruise operators and other stakeholders to ensure the cruise sector remains equitable, competitive and appealing.
In 2024, Seychelles welcomed 40,185 cruise passengers across 41 port calls, with vessels ranging in capacity from 184 to 2,700 passengers, further demonstrating the destination’s growing popularity and capacity to cater to a diverse range of cruise travellers.
