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Piano Land Launches Muslim-Friendly Cruises in Malaysia

Piano Land at Port Klang with terminal prayer room signage, Malaysia's new Muslim-friendly cruise product ready for its November 29, 2025 debut
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4 min read

Key points

  • Piano Land launches Muslim-friendly cruises from Port Klang on November 29, 2025
  • Ship offers 100 percent halal dining, alcohol-free beverages, and dedicated prayer rooms
  • Initial itineraries are 2 and 3 nights to Penang and Langkawi aimed at families and first-time cruisers
  • Capacity is about 1,760 guests across 880 cabins with entertainment, wellness programming, and kids’ clubs
  • Launch supports Malaysia’s strategy to lead Muslim-friendly tourism amid a fast-growing halal travel market

A new Muslim-friendly cruise option will sail from Port Klang, Malaysia, starting November 29, 2025. The M/V Piano Land, operated by Astro Ocean Cruise in partnership with Malaysian agency Hwajing Travel & Tours, is marketing a program built around halal dining, alcohol-free bars, dedicated prayer rooms, and onboard guidance for daily prayer times. Short itineraries aim at families and first-time cruisers, with two and three-night loops to Penang and Langkawi and select regional calls. For travelers who have struggled to find strictly halal food or alcohol-free venues at sea, this product meaningfully expands choices.

Piano Land, partners, and product

Piano Land is a mid-size ship previously known as P&O's Oriana, now sailing for Astro Ocean Cruise. Marketing materials and trade reporting describe capacity at about 1,760 guests in 880 cabins, positioned across roughly ten decks for passengers, with nightly entertainment, wellness programming, and kids' clubs. The partners emphasize 100 percent halal menus, mocktails and other alcohol-free beverages, a halal afternoon tea service, and prayer spaces on board. The focus is explicitly multi-generational, with activities for children and older relatives, plus set-piece stage shows to anchor evenings.

Latest developments

Hwajing has opened sales for a set of short Malaysia sailings. The maiden Malaysia roundtrip from Port Klang is listed for November 29, followed by two-night Port Klang-Penang-Port Klang runs and three-night Port Klang-Penang-Langkawi-Port Klang departures into December. The company is also promoting occasional calls beyond Malaysia later in the season. Travelers can check published dates and lead-in fares on Hwajing's booking pages.

Analysis

For Muslim travelers, the differentiator is not a single venue, it is consistency across the ship. Piano Land's food and beverage program is being pitched as fully halal, with no alcohol served in public spaces, eliminating the usual need to hunt for compliant options or navigate bar-heavy layouts. Dedicated prayer rooms and time guidance reduce friction on port-intensive days, and a halal afternoon tea adds a recognizable hospitality touchpoint. If delivered as advertised, this model could set a new baseline for Muslim-friendly cruising in the region.

From a planning standpoint, the short two- and three-night loops appeal to families testing cruising for the first time, to residents of Kuala Lumpur who want a quick weekend at sea, and to regional guests pairing a Malaysia city break with a cruise. The ship's size also supports manageable boarding and disembarkation flows. If you need cabins near prayer facilities or adjoining rooms for a larger family, book early for late-November through mid-December departures, when maiden-season demand tends to be strongest.

Background

Muslim travel is a fast-growing segment, and Malaysia and Indonesia regularly rank near the top of annual Muslim-friendly destination indexes. The 2025 Mastercard-CrescentRating Global Muslim Travel Index estimates international Muslim arrivals at 176 million in 2024, with projections to reach roughly 245 million by 2030, and total travel spending crossing the $ 200 billion (USD) threshold by the end of the decade. That growth explains why Malaysia, long a leader in halal hospitality on land, is moving to extend that experience to sea through partnerships like Hwajing and Astro Ocean.

Final thoughts

For travelers seeking a cruise where halal dining, alcohol-free venues, and prayer spaces are embedded into the core experience, Piano Land's Malaysia program is a notable first. If the maiden runs meet expectations, the ship could broaden itineraries and set a template for other lines. The headline remains the same, Muslim-friendly cruising is no longer a compromise, it is the point of the product.

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