COLOMBO (NewsRadio); The luxury passenger vessel “Mein Schiff 5” has arrived at the Port of Colombo with 2,030 passengers and 945 crew onboard.
As this is the maiden call of luxury cruise ‘Mein Schiff 5’ to the Port of Colombo, there will be a ceremonious event to exchange the plaques between the Captain with crew and the port officials.
Due to the size of the “Mein Schiff 5” it anchored at the East Container Terminal instead of the passenger terminal.
This is also the first time a cruise ship has anchored the East Container Terminal.
Minister of Tourism Harin Fernando said the majority of the passengers onboard the vessel is from Europe.
The arrival of “Mein Schiff 5” will be a major boost for the tourism industry which has taken a toll during the past three years.
Sri Lanka will also benefit from the arrival of the ship as the country is struggling with the forex crisis.
Meanwhile, the cruise ship will call at the Port of Hambantota tomorrow, and will become the first large passenger ship to call and stay overnight at the Hambantota Port.
This is the second back-to-back passenger cruise ship to arrive in the country after Norwegian ship “Vikingmas” carrying 700 passengers and 450 crew members arrived at the Colombo Port about 10 days ago marking herself as the first cruise ship to call on Sri Lanka post-COVID.
