NMPT Creates History by Handling 2 Luxury Cruise Vessels

NMPT Creates History by Handling 2 Luxury Cruise Vessels Alongside Berths

Mangaluru: With the onset of cruise season, two cruise vessels M.V. NORWEGINA STAR and M.V. NAUTICA has called at the Port. M.V. NORWEGINA STAR – a giant cruise vessel having a length of 294 meters with 2064 cruise passengers and 1048 crew members and M.V. NAUTICA with 590 passengers and 398 crew called at the port on 30 November 2016. In addition to the above, 109 passengers have rejoined the vessel – Nautica and 77 in Norwegina Star at the Port reaching Mangalore by air from Mumbai. The vessels are berthed at the alongside berths. 3 & 4. This is for the first time two big vessels are handled at the alongside berths. Both the vessels came from Goa and will be sailing out to Cochin in the evening. The majority of the passengers are from USA, UK, Canada and Brazil and have opted for a ground tour and enjoyed the scenic beauty and cultural heritage of Dakshina Kannada district like the 1000 Pillar Jain temple, monolithic statue of Gomateshwara, Gokarnanatha temple, St Aloysius chapel, Kadri temple, cashew processing units, city shopping etc. These tourists were taken around by local agents of the main tour operator.

Cruise traffic at the Port is steadily increasing during the last 3 years. During the last financial year 2015-16, the port has handled 23 cruise vessels with 19160 passengers. The Port has created all the infrastructure required for the cruise traffic, like state of the art Cruise Lounge, neat and tidy berth area, concretised roads, security arrangements, Immigration facility, greenery in and around the port, availability of local ground tour operators, proximity to tourist areas, etc. The next vessel is scheduled to call at the port on 1-12-2016. During the current year 2016-17, 30 cruise vessels are scheduled to call at the Port.