To strengthen the visibility of Taiwan's ports in the Asian cruise market, Taiwan International Ports Corporation (TIPC) has been actively expanding international cruise partnerships, with a particular focus on Carnival Corporation's Princess Cruises. The distinguished executives invited to Taiwan, Carnival Japan President Satoru Horikawa and Princess Cruises Port Operations Director Hiromu Suzuki, are key decision-maker with direct oversight of itinerary planning, their visit carries significant implications for future itinerary deployment.

To promote Taiwan cruise tourism, TIPC partnered with the Taiwan Tourism Administration, MOTC, during this year's Seatrade Cruise Global in Miami to actively market Taiwan's cruise ports. Upon learning that Princess Cruises plans to deploy the Sapphire Princess in the Asian market in 2027, TIPC President Wang Chin-jung led delegations to Tokyo in May and August to meet the Princess Cruises Japan team and extend a formal invitation for a familiarization tour to Taiwan. As the fleet expands, demand for diversified ports of call is expected to grow. This itinerary enabled the Princess Cruises team to conduct on-site evaluations of the facilities and reception capacity of ports including Keelung, Kaohsiung, Taichung, Penghu, and Tainan, while deepening their understanding of local tourism resources, laying a strong foundation for future itinerary integration.

Princess Cruises has a long-standing presence in the Asian market. The Diamond Princess currently operates with Japan as its homeport, with plans for diverse Northeast Asia itineraries. With Sapphire Princess returning to the Asian fleet in 2027, future route options will expand even further. TIPC noted that Princess Cruises sailings from Japan have mainly called at the Port of Keelung in the past, yet other ports in Taiwan's port cluster are equally well-equipped and internationally competitive. It is hoped that this familiarization tour will provide the cruise lines with deeper insights into each strengths and its local tourism resources, paving the way for the inclusion of more Taiwanese ports in itinerary planning.

TIPC President Wang Chin-jung stated that the successful facilitation of this familiarization tour resulted from close cooperation between TIPC and the Taiwan Tourism Administration, MOTC, which jointly integrated port and tourism resources to achieve cross-agency marketing synergy. TIPC showcased port infrastructure capacity and professional reception services, while the Taiwan Tourism Administration promoted local culture and tourism highlights, forming a complete marketing package that further enhances Taiwan's attractiveness to international cruise lines. Going forward, aiming to "build Taiwan's cruise brand", TIPC will continue  deepening its international visibility and advancing Taiwan as a key hub on Northeast Asian cruise itineraries.