<p>One of the world's biggest cruise liners, Royal Caribbean International's Mariner of the Seas, Friday arrived at Mormugao port in Goa, which has plans of promoting the state as a destination for lucrative ocean cruise market.<br /><br /></p>.<p>En route from Dubai, the vessel was received by Deputy Chief Minister Francisco D'Souza at Goa's only major port.<br /><br />Speaking to the media here, Captain Rajesh Saigal, senior general manager of J.M. Baxi and Company, which manages the logistics of this cruise in India, said: "There are 2,947 passengers from different countries and about 1,197 crew members with 1,500 cabins in this 311-metre long ship."<br /><br />Tourism minister Dilip Parulekar, who has been agruing for broadbasing Goa's tourism profile, said that efforts were being made to ensure that more cruise vessels dock at Goa.<br />"We welcome this cruise and we will work on bringing-in more cruises and tourists in Goa," Parulekar said.<br /><br />The swanky Mariner of the Seas is the largest cruise ship home-porting in Asia and is en route to Singapore from Dubai. It is expected to dock at Kochi May 26 followed by Penang and Port Klang, both in Malaysia.<br /><br />The ship offers cruisers the renowned Voyager Class activities and entertainment such as the ice-skating rink, a boulevard of shops and cafes, a full-sized sports court, in-line skating track, rock-climbing wall and mini-golf course.<br /><br />In addition, there is a three-tier theatre, theme bars and lounges as well as a mezzanine split level nightclub.</p>
<p>One of the world's biggest cruise liners, Royal Caribbean International's Mariner of the Seas, Friday arrived at Mormugao port in Goa, which has plans of promoting the state as a destination for lucrative ocean cruise market.<br /><br /></p>.<p>En route from Dubai, the vessel was received by Deputy Chief Minister Francisco D'Souza at Goa's only major port.<br /><br />Speaking to the media here, Captain Rajesh Saigal, senior general manager of J.M. Baxi and Company, which manages the logistics of this cruise in India, said: "There are 2,947 passengers from different countries and about 1,197 crew members with 1,500 cabins in this 311-metre long ship."<br /><br />Tourism minister Dilip Parulekar, who has been agruing for broadbasing Goa's tourism profile, said that efforts were being made to ensure that more cruise vessels dock at Goa.<br />"We welcome this cruise and we will work on bringing-in more cruises and tourists in Goa," Parulekar said.<br /><br />The swanky Mariner of the Seas is the largest cruise ship home-porting in Asia and is en route to Singapore from Dubai. It is expected to dock at Kochi May 26 followed by Penang and Port Klang, both in Malaysia.<br /><br />The ship offers cruisers the renowned Voyager Class activities and entertainment such as the ice-skating rink, a boulevard of shops and cafes, a full-sized sports court, in-line skating track, rock-climbing wall and mini-golf course.<br /><br />In addition, there is a three-tier theatre, theme bars and lounges as well as a mezzanine split level nightclub.</p>