September 14, 2026 — The international cruise Odyssey “Odyssey” made its maiden voyage to Hualien Port on September 13, and after a one-night dock, departed on September 14. The operation model of this cruise ship is very different from traditional cruise ships, operating under the concept of “residential cruises”, the entire cruise ship is like a “mobile town at sea”, passengers can choose to “live” on a long-term round-the-world voyage (about three and a half years) or in sections (35 to 120 days of sailing segments).
“Odyssey” is a mid-size cruise ship, built in 1993 for Bahamian nationality, with a full tonnage of about 24,300 tons, can carry about 900 passengers, and sails around the world every three and a half years, passengers can explore more than 425 ports in 147 countries/regions on seven continents at once, enjoying the life of a global resident. Passengers can also plan their own unique journeys with short-term flight segments.
In recent years, Hualien Port Branch has continued to promote cruise marketing, not only encouraging international cruise ships to berth through preferential programs, but also actively participating in international cruise forums to introduce Hualien’s rich tourism resources and port conditions to global cruise operators. This year (114) it is expected that there will be 20 cruise ships berthing, 5,919 passengers will visit Hualien Port, and next year there will be 24 cruise ships berth, 15,400 people will visit, many cruise ships are visiting Hualien Port for the first time, this visit “Odyssey” is the first time to call at Hualien Port, I believe that more and more cruise ships will dock at Hualien Port in the future to explore Hualien’s unique humanities and beautiful scenery.
The Hualien Port Branch stated that this “overnight berthing” is a highlight of Hualien’s cruise tourism, which not only allows international tourists to have more time to experience Hualien’s natural beauty and cultural customs, but also demonstrates Hualien’s potential to become an important node in international cruise tourism. In the future, the port company will continue to cooperate with the county government to promote Hualien as a must-visit destination on international cruise routes.
