Mangalore : One  of the world’s most luxurious cruise vessels M V Rotterdam, called at New Mangalore Port here on Thursday February 7 with 1,288 cruise passengers and 598 crew on board the vessel. Out of the total passengers, 366 were from the Netherlands, 331 from the USA, 243 from the UK, 198 from Canada and the remaining from different countries including three Indians. M/s J M Baxi & Co are the agents of the vessel. This is the 13th cruise vessel which called at the Port during the current year 2012-13 and 2 more vessels are expected to call by end of March this year.

The vessel which came from Goa berthed at the   and around 1197 passengers and crew opted for ground tour arranged by the local tour operator, M/s Lia Travels. They visited various locations in and around Mangalore like Mangaladevi Temple, Gokarnanatha Temple, St Aloysius Chapel, cashew processing units, Monolithic statue of lord Bahubali at Karkala, Soans Farm and 1000 Pillar Jain Basadi at Moodbidri, city shopping, etc. The vessel later sailed out to Cochin in the evening.

This luxurious cruise vessel is the sixth Holland America Line vessel to bear the name, and is one of the two Atlantic flagships of the fleet. Built in Italy in 1997, Rotterdam features fine art and antiques, an internet center, and a spa and fitness center. She carries an art collection onboard worth over US$2 million.

NMPT Chairman Dr P Tamilvanan has said that  the increase in the handling of more cruise vessels was due  to the additional facilities added at the Port like modern cruise lounge, immigration facilities, neat and tidy berths and the greenery in and around the Port area