New Mangalore Port receives 13th cruise vessel in this fiscal year

Mangalore, 07 Feb 2013: MV Rotterdam, one of world’s most luxurious cruise vessels called at New Mangalore Port on Thursday with 1,288 cruise passengers and 598 crew on board. Rotterdam is sixth Holland America Line vessel to bear the name and is one of two Atlantic flagships of the fleet. Built in Italy in 1997, Rotterdam features fine art and antiques, an internet centre, and a spa and fitness centre and carries art collection onboard worth over US$2 million.

 

 

The vessel which came from Goa berthed at the Port in the morning and around 1,197 passengers and crew opted for ground tour arranged by local tour operator, M/s Lia Travels. Out of the passengers, 366 are from Netherlands, 331 from USA, 243 from UK, 198 from Canada and rest from different countries including 3 Indians. They visited various locations in and around Mangalore such as Mangaladevi and Sri Gokarnanatha temple.

 

The cruise passengers also had a look at the drawings at St Aloysius Chapel, cashew processing units, monolithic statue of lord Bahubali at Karkala, Soans farm and the 1,000 pillar Jain basadi at Moodbidri. They also indulged in city shopping at the various malls here. After enjoying the scenic beauty of the city, the passengers returned to the vessel that sailed out to Kochi in the evening. M/s J.M. Baxi and Company are the agents of the vessel.

 

P Tamilvanan, chairman, NMPT said the increase in handling of more cruise vessels to the additional facilities added at the Port such as modern cruise lounge, immigration facilities, neat and tidy berths and the greenery in and around the Port area. Tamilvanan added that this is the 13th cruise vessel to have called at the Port during the current fiscal year and two more vessels are expected to call by end of March 2013, that is March 27, and 30.