US, July 6 -- The departure of the MV Viking Yi Dun from Port Victoria on June 27 marked more than the final cruise ship call of Seychelles' 2025-2026 season. It signaled the close of a year in which the island nation demonstrated that the future of cruise tourism may lie not in welcoming more ships, but in attracting the right ones.

With 41 cruise ship calls, up from 35 during the previous season, Seychelles recorded a strong performance despite global disruptions caused by geopolitical tensions that forced itinerary changes and cancellations across several cruise markets. Eight of those visits were maiden calls, while several cruise operators chose Seychelles for the first time, underscoring growing international confidence in the Ind...