GERMAN company AIDA Cruise’s MS AIDAcara docked at the Muara Port carrying 1186 passengers and 360 crew.
The Ministry of Communications, which aims to make Muara Port into a cruise vessel hub, and the Department of Ports encourage increased cruise vessel calls towards developing the shipping industry and at the same time making the country a tourism destination.
The German cruise vessel’s maiden voyage to Muara Port yesterday marked a new addition to the increasing number of cruise ships calling at the port. The passengers on board were greeted with the beat of hadrah and traditional gulingtangan.
Arriving at Muara Port from Singapore, the cruise vessel under the leadership of Captain Detlef Harms, was built in June 1996 and refurbished in 2001. It weighs 38,531 tonnes and is 634.2 in length. Its 11 decks are capable of carrying 1,186 passengers and 360 crew.
TopNews Travel said that MS AIDAcara has been awarded a four-star vessel along with other vessels owned by AIDA Cruise. The vessel has also made port of call in Penang and Port Klang and will leave for Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
The Department of Ports lauded the service offered by AIDA Cruise as yet another milestone for the department in attracting cruise vessels to call at Muara Port and increasing connectivity with other major tourist destinations in the region.
Last year, 21 cruise vessels docked at the port carrying 15,801 passengers and 8,610 crew, while so far this year, 24 cruise vessels have docked at Muara Port.
The frequency of cruise vessels calling on the port is set to increase from 2-3 calls per month this year to 6-7 calls per month next year.
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