The Uruguayan port of Montevideo is preparing to welcome the large-sized vessels Azamara Quest, Seabourn Quest, MSC Musica, and Norwegian Star on Monday, February 19th, bringing with them 6700+ tourists.
This marks a continuation of the cruise activity that occurred on February 7th and is expected to repeat on March 7th, according to local authorities. These ships are arriving from the Bahamas, Malta, and Panama.
Juan Curbelo (President of the Uruguayan National Ports Administration/ANP), emphasized the efforts made to attract more cruise ships for the current season. He noted that these efforts have resulted in favorable conditions for an increasing number of vessels to arrive simultaneously, necessitating significant operational coordination.
The Azamara Quest, originating from Malta, measures 181 meters (594 feet) in length and 25 meters (82 feet) in width, boasting 11 decks and accommodating 690 passengers and 408 crew members. Similarly, the Seabourn Quest, arriving from the Bahamas, spans 198 meters (649 feet) in length and 26 meters (85 feet) in width, with 11 decks hosting 458 passengers and 335 crew.
The MSC Musica, arriving from Panama, is 294 meters (965 feet) long and 32 meters (105 feet) wide, featuring 13 decks and accommodating 3223 passengers and 1014 crew. Likewise, the Norwegian Star, also from the Bahamas, measures 294 meters (965 feet) in length and 38 meters (125 feet) in width, with 14 decks hosting 2348 passengers and 1031 crew.
Curbelo highlighted the policies implemented during this administration, including specialization of areas, commercial promotion, promotion of Montevideo as a cruise destination, and organization of public docks. These policies have facilitated the reception of large cruise ships and enhanced loading and unloading operations.
Furthermore, ANP forecasts a 10% increase in both the number of cruise ship calls and passengers compared to the previous season.