On Saturday 9th May, the MS Marco Polo (pictured) will make its inaugural call to the Island. It is also the first of the cruise ships to grace the Island's summer season and will be given a warm welcome by the Department of Tourism and Lesiure.
The ship is currently on a 'British Isles Highlights' cruise and her previous port of call on the itinerary was Portree on the Isle of Skye. In addition to the 356 crew on board, it is anticipated she will have some 800 passengers. Although currently on charter to Transocean Tours in Bremen, this cruise, which commenced in Tilbury, was mainly marketed in the UK by their UK Agents and will have mainly British passengers on board.
This former Baltic Shipping Company, thereafter Orient Lines and NCL vessel, is a 'traditional ocean liner' much admired by aficionados of the passenger liners of the past. Most of these vessels have succumbed to strenuous SOLAS (Safety at Sea) regulations in addition to escalating fuel costs.
The Ms Marco Polo attracts a high proportion of returning passengers and is well known to many people from the Isle of Man.
Geoff Corkish MBE, MHK, and Political member for the Department of Tourism and Leisure, is amongst those who have previously travelled on the vessel. He said ‘Having enjoyed holidaying on the splendid MS Marco Polo, I am aware that it is a great choice for anyone wanting a high-quality traditional cruise experience.
'I am looking forward to personally greeting the vessel on her inaugural visit, which will bring a welcome boost to the Island’s economy.’
He went on to say ‘This is a new cruise liner discovering the Isle of Man and we will do all we can to encourage all her passengers, who are predominantly British, to return to our Island for a longer visit in the future.’
Based on her size, the MS Marco Polo is able to reach those ports not accessible to the mega-liners which currently are emerging from the world's shipbuilders. In addition, her strengthened hull allows her safer passage in the Antarctic cruising region.
This is the first of many cruise visits scheduled to visit the Island this year. The MS Marco Polo will leave Douglas Bay at 5pm, bound for Dublin.
