Cruise season begins as first luxury vessel arrives in Kochi

The arrival of first cruise liner AIDAvita marked the beginning of the cruise season in Kerala on November 5. The ship with 1,181 tourists and 406 crew members on board was docked at BTP berth, Kochi Port, around 8 am. The luxury liner began its journey from Dubai to Singapore on October 30. Before reaching Kochi, it was docked at Muscat, Goa and Mangaluru.

It left for Male in the evening before sailing to Colombo, Langkawi and Kuala Lumpur to reach Singapore on November 16. The District Tourism Promotion Council had arranged cultural events and facilities to welcome the tourists at Samudrika convention centre near the jetty.

A team of cruise tourists have visited Kumbalangi and Alappuzha and others toured in and around Kochi.

“This year NMPT has improved the existing facilities and augmented services. However, the attraction was the introduction of Helicopter services from the Port to nearby tourist destinations in Tulunadu and neighbouring state of Kerala,” said NMPT Chairman-A V Ramana.

With a length of 202.85 meters, the ship can accommodate up to 1266 passengers plus a few hundred crew members. The AIDAvita has something to offer for everyone. In addition to numerous entertainment options, such as a theater with varied shows, guests can enjoy sporting highlights, such as a golf simulator and a volleyball court. For relaxation, there are plenty of oases, such as various saunas or massages.

Besides the ship’s staff and crew, AIDA cruise passengers are also served by Peper robots – the latest cyborg technology implemented fleetwide in 2016. These humanoid robots greet and guide passengers upon embarkation. They also assist them throughout the cruise by providing information and tips on, onboard dining, entertainment, enrichment program (workshops, pre-scheduled events), casino and shopping promotions, shore excursions and tours. Pepper robots are mobile and communicate in three languages (English, German, Italian). They can also interpret human emotions by analyzing voice tones and face expressions.