Cochin Port decks up to welcome cruise liners

KOCHI: The Cochin Port Trust may be struggling to attract cargo vessels. But, destination Kochi continues to be the most sought-after port of call for luxury cruise liners. Around 10,000 high-end tourists are expected to visit Kochi and nearby  shores with the arrival of four luxury cruise liners from Monday to March 20. Explorer, Costa Deliziosa, Discovery, Aida Diva and Seven Seas Voyager are the five vessels that will call at the Cochin Port during the next eight days. The busy week began with the arrival of cruise liner Explorer on Monday morning. Cruise vessel Costa Deliziosa will arrive on Wednesday while Discovery will call at the Port on Friday. Vessels Aida Diva and Seven Seas Voyager will reach on Saturday and March 20 respectively. Of these, passengers on the Explorer comprises students sailing as part of the course ‘Semester at Sea’.   “Besides, Kochi will also play ‘Turn Around Port’ for cruise vessel Aida  Diva. Nearly 2,000 passengers of Aida Diva will disembark in Kochi while  1,890 will start their cruise from here. They will come to Kochi by air and  start the cruise from here. From March 14 to 20, two cruise vessels can be seen berthed simultaneously at Cochin port,” said the Port authorities.    By the end of March, the Cochin Port will have hosted 50 cruise vessels in  the current financial year. The Chennai-based Amet Cruises has started its Kochi-based operations last  November. Other vessels calling at Kochi include large vessels such as Cunard’s ‘Queen Elizabeth’ and Royal Caribbean International’s ‘Brilliance of the Seas.’ All the vessels together will bring in around 38,000 high-spending passengers and 13,800 crew members to Kochi.Considering the arrival of the cruise vessels, the Port management has  developed a cruise vessel reception facility at the BTP berth. Presently,  the pavilion built for the Volvo Ocean Race held two years ago is being used as a cruise terminal. The 1,500 sq ft space of the available 3,600 sq ft is used for passenger  facilities in the first phase. The pavilion is being developed with an aid  of Rs 7 crore by the Union Government. The State Government has also allotted  funds for the project.