German cruiser brings 2,500 passengers to MoBay
Published:Tuesday | November 9, 2010 | 12:00 AM
Barrington Flemming, Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
THE MONTEGO Bay cruise-ship industry received a well-needed boost on Monday when it welcomed the 2,500-passenger AIDAluna cruise vessel on its inaugural stop.
Captain of the vessel from Germany, Thomas Mey, said he was pleased to be docking at the Montego Bay Port, which had excellent facilities for his vessel.
He said while the vessel had made its inaugural stop in Jamaica at the Ocho Rios Port last Wednesday, The AIDAluna would be docking in Montego Bay every fortnight on a Monday.
"We hope for a good season. We would really like to have good weather conditions when we arrive here. Plus, your tourist terminal is perfect for the embarkation and disembarkation of our passengers" he said.
Responding to a question from Jason Hall, deputy director of tourism attractions, cruises and events, on how to get more passengers off the vessel to give them a real Jamaican experience, Mey said: "They want good weather and they want Jamaican music and Usain Bolt. When he came to Berlin, he was excellent."
He also indicated that another vessel would be deployed next year, indicating that it should also be making stops in Jamaica.
In a brief reception held aboard the vessel, Mey was presented with plaques and mementos from the Jamaica Tourist Board, Lannaman & Morris - the ship's agent - JUTA Tours, Chukka Caribbean, and the Port Authority
The AIDAluna, which is a Sphinx series cruise ship, has a crew of 600 and also docks at ports in the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Antigua, Tortola, St Maarten, and Dominica.
It is owned and operated by the German cruise line AIDA Cruises.