From Our Special Correspondent

Daijiworld Media Network

Goa, Dec 3: Mormugao Port played host to two luxury cruise liners on December 1. Cruise liner M V Costa Luminosa arrived with 1401 passengers and 843 crew in the morning and was berthed at the General Cargo berth. Whereas, cruise liner M V Island Sky arrived later in the day with 78 passengers and 69 crew and was accommodated at the Port’s Cruise Berth Terminal.

M V Costa Luminosa arrived with high end tourists from Switzerland, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Austria, Holland, US, Canada, Argentina, Brazil etc. The local tour operators Indian Travel Bureau who handled the ground arrangements escorted the tourists in luxury A/C Coaches around Goa. During their short stay here, the high end tourists visited Goa’s famous tourists spots such as Spice Gardens, Panjim city and market, heritage sites like churches and temples, beaches and Margao city.

M V Island Sky arrived at the port with 78 high end tourists from USA, Australia, Canada, Switzerland, France, New Zealand, Ireland Sweden, South Africa and UK. The local tour operators Leisure Venture conducted the sightseeing tours in and around Goa in luxury A/C coaches. Besides, luxury A/C coaches, several A/C tourist taxis were operated by the travel agents to carry the guests from the cruise liners in comfort around Goa, thereby generating business opportunities to the local taxi Operators conducting their trade at the port.

J M Baxi & Co, Vasco, were the ships agents for both the above luxury cruise liners, and handled the logistics. With the arrival of the above two cruise liners, the number of cruise liners visiting the Mormugao Port since September 2015 has gone up to 9. Three more luxury cruise liners namely, M V Aida Aura, M V Aida Aura and M V Azmara Quest are scheduled to visit the port on December 10, 24 and 27 respectively, bringing in another 4000 plus high-end tourists besides the crew members to the state.

The port authorities extended all ground support to the ships agents J M Baxi & Co, to handle visiting cruise liners and the logistical operations were carried out smoothly within the stipulated time frame without causing any delays. The port management also issued harbour entry permits to the family members of the Goan crew on board the vessel who applied for the same, to facilitate their meeting. The family members of the Goan crew employed on board the cruise liners are happy that the port has extended them facilities to visit the cruise berth terminal to meet their loved ones and spend time with them, till the time the vessel is docked at the port.