Mangalore: Cruise Season Begins with Arrival of Two Vessels at NMP

Media Release
 
Mangalore, Nov 26: Two cruise vessels MV Aida Diva with 1,810 cruise passengers and 617 crew and MV Clipper Odyssey with 60 passengers and 70 crew called at NMPT here on Saturday November 24, marking the beginning of the cruise season.

MV Aida Diva, one of the biggest luxury cruise vessels is on her third voyage to NMP.

Out of 1,810 passengers from Germany, around 1,439 passengers opted for ground tour and enjoyed the scenic beauty and cultural heritage of DK district at places like 1000 Pillar Jain Temple, monolithic statue of Gomateshwara, Soans Farm, St Aloysius Chapel, Kadri Temple, Gokarnanatha temple ,cashew factory, city shopping etc. The tourists were taken around by the local ground tour operators, M/s Globe Travels.

MV Clipper Odyssey is also in her third voyage to the Port and 60 tourists were taken around by M/s Lia Travels. M/s JM Baxi & Co are the agents of Aida Diva and M/s PLI the agents of Clipper Odyssey.

The tour operators M/s Royal Caribbean International, one of the leading cruise operators in the world, visited the Port twice during last year and held discussion with the Port chairman. They visited the port area and were very much impressed upon the world class facilities available at the cruise lounge, neat and tidy berth area, concretised roads, security arrangements, emigration facility, greenery in and around the port, availability of local ground tour operators, proximity to tourist areas, etc.

The above liner has already prepared plans for bringing nine more cruise vessels during the current financial year.

Dr P Tamilvanan, NMPT chairman said that that the captain of the vessel MV Aida Diva expressed immense happiness over the facilities available at NMPT especially the neatness and greenery in and around the Port, and the excellent security arrangement and the world class cruise lounge.

The next call is on December 3 wherein two big cruise vessels are expected to call.