New Mangalore Port welcomed its first cruise call, marking the beginning of the season.

A Bahamas-flagged cruise ship carrying 500 passengers and 350 crew members arrived at the port on Friday morning, marking the first foreign ship to visit the port in the current cruise season. According to a statement from the New Mangalore Port Authority (NMPA), a total of ten cruise ships are scheduled to dock at the port during the season. Upon arrival, the cruise passengers were greeted with traditional Chenda and Yakshagana performances, and NMPA Chairman AV Ramana welcomed the visitors and presented a memento to the captain of the cruise ship Abhijeet Singh. The NMPA had arranged for medical examinations, immigration, customs counters, and transportation via buses and taxis for the visitors to explore the city and its surrounding areas.

The Bahamas-flagged ship, owned by a Norwegian entrepreneur, is 173 meters long, 7.5 meters deep, and weighs 28,083 tons, as stated in the NMPA’s release. This marks the beginning of the current cruise season at the port, with more foreign ships expected to visit in the coming weeks. The NMPA’s warm welcome and necessary arrangements, including medical examinations and transportation, ensured a smooth and enjoyable experience for the passengers and crew members of the first foreign cruise ship to call at the port in the current season.

Source .