The Hindu : Kerala / Kochi News : Kochi all set to receive cruise liners

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Aug 04, 2005

Kerala

Kerala - Kochi

Kochi all set to receive cruise liners

Queen Mary 2 and Queen Elizabeth 2 will be here in March 2007 giving a certain royal colour to Kochi's growing reputation as one of the world's leading cruise destinations.

Queen Mary 2 or QM2 as she is better known to cruise enthusiasts around the globe has been described as a floating wonder. It is reputed to be the world's largest, tallest and grandest ocean cruiser since it was launched in 2004.

It will bring about 3,000 passengers to Kochi cementing the city's prestige in more than one way. First the fact that the port city has been chosen for a stopover and at the same time, Kochi is the only destination in India, as of now, it will call at during the voyage.

If QM2 was not enough, Kochi will have an older but equally prestigious Queen Elizabeth 2 (QE2) in the same month in 2007.

Queen Mary 2 is smaller but its standing in the cruise circuit is unquestionable.

According to the present schedule, Kochi will be the only port of call for QE2 in India, according to Cochin Port Trust.

Added to these two royal visitors will be cruise liners Amsterdam and Prinsendam that will be calling at Kochi in 2007. The schedules of these great liners are yet to be finalised but as of now Kochi will have great company two years hence.

While these cruise vessels will reinforce Kochi's status as a cruise destination of considerable importance, it supplements the work being done by Cochin Port Trust to augment the facilities at the port for handling the cruise vessels.

During the last year, Kochi had visits from 19 cruise vessels and the number is certain to go up this year, said a Port official. Among the cruise vessels that called at Kochi during the last year included

The World, an apartment vessel that arrived on April

Oriana, Minerva II and the Seven Seas Voyager were the other great cruise vessels that called at Kochi during the course of 2004.

Cochin Port informs that the schedule for 2007 will be finalised only in October by most cruise operators.

They are confident that Kochi will be in good company.

K.A. Martin

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