13 giant cruise vessels to call in at NMPT
Mangalore Today News Network
Mangalore, Sept. 21, 2011: S. Gopalakrishna, the traffic manager of the New Mangalore Port Trust, issued a press release on September 20 stating that 13 giant cruise vessels are planning to call in at NMPT during the next one year.
More cruise liners are choosing the New Mangalore Port for operating their cruise vessels during the next season, which will start in October. A team from Royal Caribbean International, one of the leading cruise operators in the world, visited the port for the second time on September 20 to hold discussions with the chairman, the traffic manager, the deputy conservator, and the representatives of M/s J. B. Baxi, the agent of the cruise liner.
Royal Caribbean Manager Adam Sharp was impressed with the facilities at the port and its ability to handle cruise vessels. He was especially happy with the world class facilities at the cruise lounge, the neatly maintained berth area, the concretized roads, the security arrangements, the immigration facilities, the greenery around, the availability of local ground tour operators, proximity to tourist areas, and much more.
Dr. P. Tamilvanan has informed the team about the facilities at the port and has assured that these cruise vessels will be handled as smoothly as possible.
During the next one year, 13 cruise vessels will visit the port with the first one M. V. AIDAdiva scheduled to call on Nov 12, 2011 with over 1300 passengers.
The biggest vessel of them all, M. V. Brilliance of the Seas, which has a length of 293.5m, and has 2000 passengers and 500 crew members on board, will call on April 1, 2012. This will be the biggest cruise vessel ever handled in the history of the port.
In 2010 – 11, 14 cruise vessels carrying a total of 5854 passengers called at the port. Around 4119 passengers chose to go on ground tours and visit tourist hotspots of DK such as the Thousand Pillar Temple, Soans Farm, Gokarnanatha Temple, St. Aloysius Chapel, Kadri Temple, Cashew Factory, and so on.