Mangalore : A mammoth Cruise vessel M V Aida Diva which has 1,975 passengers and 598 crew members has been anchored at NMPT here on Saturday November 12.

M V Aida Diva had started its journey from Muscat and called at Goa and from there to NMP. The vessel has been sailed out to Cochin the same evening. This is the biggest cruise vessel ever arrived at the New Mangalore Port.

Around 1,200 German passengers out of 1,975 opted for ground tour and enjoyed the scenic beauty and cultural heritage of Dakshina Kannada district. They visited the Thousand Pillar Jain temple, monolithic statue of Gomateshwara, Gokarnanatha temple, St Aloysius Chapel, Kadri temple, cashew factory, and also went shopping.

Tour operators M/s Royal Caribbean International, one of the leading cruise operators in the world, has visited the Port twice during the current year and had discussions with the Port chairman, traffic manager and deputy conservator, and visited the port area and expressed happiness over the facilities available at NMPT for handling cruise vessels. They were impressed with the world class facilities available at the Cruise Lounge, neat and tidy berth area, concreted roads, security arrangements, emigration facility, greenery in and around the port, availability of local ground tour operators, proximity to tourist areas, etc.

Further the Liner has plans to bring 12 more cruise vessels during the next 1 year period. The biggest vessel M V Brilliance of the Seas with a length of 293.5 metres and 3000 passengers is expected to call at the Port during April 2012 which will be the biggest cruise vessel ever handled at the Port.

Dr P Tamilvanan said that captain of the vessel M V Aida Diva has expressed happiness over the facilities available at NMPT including the security and also over the cleanliness and greenery of the city.