First cruise ship of the season, Seven Seas Navigator arrives at New Mangaluru Port

The majestic "Seven Seas Navigator" gracefully docked at New Mangalore Port on Friday, marking the official commencement of the 2023-24 cruise season.

Published on: Dec 9, 2023, 10:58:50 IST

ANIPosted by Yamini C S

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The majestic "Seven Seas Navigator" gracefully docked at New Mangalore Port on Friday, marking the official commencement of the 2023-24 cruise season. The momentous occasion signifies a resurgence of maritime tourism in the region, much to the delight of local businesses and stakeholders.

The port expects to welcome a total of 10 cruise vessels during the current season, with arrivals continuing until the second week of May 2024. (ANI)

The arrival of the "Seven Seas Navigator," carrying a vibrant contingent of passengers and crew, is a testament to the growing popularity of New Mangalore as a compelling cruise destination. The port expects to welcome a total of 10 cruise vessels during the current season, with arrivals continuing until the second week of May 2024. This influx of visitors is anticipated to contribute significantly to the local economy, generating revenue for various sectors, including tourism, hospitality, and transportation.

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The Bahamas-flagged ship docked alongside berth no.04 carrying 500 passengers and 350 crew members to the Port at 0700 am. The vessel's last port of call were Fujairah and Mumbai and Mormugao Port. The overall length of the ship is 173 meters with a carrying capacity of 28,803 Gross Tonnage and a draft of 7.5 meters. It is owned and operated by Norwegian Cruise Lines.

Upon disembarking from the ship, the cruise passengers were given a traditional welcome with "chenda" and "Yakshagana" performance. Tourists enjoyed taking photos of this Karnataka art form. Various arrangements were made to ensure the comfortable and pleasant experience of the cruise passengers, including medical screenings, multiple immigration and customs counters for swift movement, and buses and special taxis for transportation around Mangalore city.

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The chairman of New Mangalore port felicitated the master and the GM of the vessel in the presence of the Deputy Chairman and other senior port officers. In a reciprocal gesture, the master presented the chairman with a memento. The port further entertained the passengers with a mesmerizing Bharatanatyam performance, delighting them and immersing them in India's rich cultural heritage. For the first time the passengers were welcomed by a dedicated VR (Virtual Reality) Experience Zone in the International Cruise Lounge allowing them to embark on a virtual journey showcasing the modern infrastructure & handling at New Mangalore Port. Selfie stand by the Ministry of Tourism depicting "Yakshagana" rich culture of Dakshina Kannada was a special attraction for the passengers to take selfies.

The passengers visited different tourist destinations, such as the Gomateshwara statue in Karkala, the 1000 Pillar Temple at Moodabidri, Soans farm, Achal Cashew Factory, Gokarnanatha Temple, St Alloysius Chapel & Local Market. The ship departed at 6pm for its next destination, the Cochin Port. The passengers were gifted with souvenirs as token of remembrance of their travel to Mangalore.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Yamini C S
Yamini CS is a Senior Content Producer at Hindustan Times with nearly six years of experience in digital journalism. She is part of the India News desk, where she works on a wide range of stories cutting across civic issues, city-based developments, politics, governance, public policy, breaking news, trending topics, and international affairs that have an impact on India. Her role involves tracking fast-moving developments, verifying information from official and on-ground sources, and presenting news in a clear, accessible format for a digital-first audience. A significant part of her work includes handling live blogs during major news events, such as elections, court verdicts, political developments, civic disruptions, protests, weather-related alerts, and unfolding national or international incidents. Through live coverage, she focuses on timely updates to help readers follow complex stories as they evolve. Before moving to the broader India News desk, Yamini was associated with the Bengaluru desk at Hindustan Times, where she extensively covered urban governance, infrastructure, traffic and transport issues, weather events, public grievances, and civic administration in the city. This experience strengthened her grounding in city reporting and sharpened her focus on citizen-centric journalism. She began her career as a correspondent with Reuters after completing a postgraduate diploma in journalism from the Indian Institute of Journalism and New Media. Her early training instilled a strong emphasis on accuracy, sourcing, and news ethics, which continue to shape her reporting style. Outside of work, Yamini enjoys reading across genres, listening to music, and spending time with her family, which help her maintain balance in a fast-paced newsroom environment.Read More

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