VASCO: Mormugao Port witnessed a flurry of activity to receive and extend traditional warm Goan hospitality to around 2046 high-end guests and 1083 crew members arrived by two luxury cruise liners at the port on November 17 and 19.
The two luxury cruise liners that visited the port were M V Voyager and M V Costa Luminosa respectively. Three luxury cruise liners have visited the port ever since cruise liner traffic commenced at the port from November 8. Another three cruise liners are expected to visit Mormugao Port this month. Cruise Liner M V Aida Bella, which will arrive from Mumbai port on November 24, will be docked at the Mormugao port overnight and will sail for Cochin on November 25. The cruise liner season will be at its peak in December wherein 9 cruise liners are expected to visit the Port.
The travel arrangements and ground handling for excursions and sight-seeing within Goa were undertaken appointed agencies. The high-end guests were taken around Goa in luxury A/C coaches and visited places of tourist interests viz, spice farms, Old Goa, Panjim, major temples and churches, beaches along the North and South Goa coast etc. The two cruise liners brought in the guests from UK, USA, Australia, Belgium, Greece, France, Holland, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, Spain and Italy. Some guests also visited the local market and places of religious interests engaging the private tourist’s cabs.
“Port has been extending all assistance to the family members of the Goan crew members on boards the cruise vessels to facilitate their meeting inside the cruise terminal. Several hundred family members of the Goan crew availed the opportunity and were seen happily spending quality time with their loved ones during the vessel’s stay in Port” said MPT Chairman I Jeyakumar
The Department of Tourism welcomed the guests on arrival by presenting flowers and presenting cultural performances depicting rich Goan folklore at the cruise terminal which has become the signature of Goa and well appreciated by the visiting international tourists.
