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The luxury cruise liner tourists season began with the arrival of the first cruise passenger ship MS NAUTICA at the Mormugao Port on 14th November 2017. The vessel was berthed at the cruise berth terminal on its arrival. The Officials of the GTDC, Govt of Goa, were present at the cruise berth terminal to receive the state guests. They gave the visiting high end guests a traditional Goan welcome and presented Goan folk dances, music and pageantry at the cruise terminal. The cruise liner began its voyage to India from Dubai UAE on 5/11/17. The first Port of call for the cruise liner in India was Mumbai. The vessel arrived with 553 pax and a crew of 393 on board.
The cruise liner brought in high end guests from USA (232), Canada(137), UK(46), Australia (28), New Zealand(19), Germany(18), Switzerland (9) Netherlands, Brazil, (11), Mexico, as well as from Argentina, Belgium, Taiwan, Bulgaria, Spain, etc. The visitors were taken for a sight- seeing tour of Goa’s famous tourists locations of churches, temples, beaches in the north and south Goa, spice gardens, Panjim city etc. The ground arrangement for sight-seeing tours was handled by M/s. ITB.
M/s. J. M. Baxi & Co., were the Shipping Agents for the cruise liner and handled all the ground logistics thereby making the short stay of the visiting guests a memorable experience. The Port Officials rendered all logistical support for smooth handling of the first cruise liner at the port. A tourist taxi counter was operated at the cruise berth terminal to facilitate the guests to utilize smooth travel facilities within the State during their short stay. Authorised Forex counter was also operated at the cruise berth terminal by Cox & Kings to facilitate exchange of currency.
Family members of the Goan crew serving on board the cruise liner were also facilitated entry to the cruise berth terminal to meet their loved ones. This year the Port is expecting 30 luxury cruise liners with 68,000 passengers likely to visit the port till the end of the season extending up to the month of May 2018, with a marginal increase in the passenger traffic as compared to last tourism season. The cruise liner, later in the evening sailed to Mangalore Port.
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