Season’s first cruise ship arrives with 2,000 passengers

The first cruise ship of this year’s tourism season arrived in Maldives on Monday, which just a few days left before the season truly kicks in.

The Maldives Association of Yacht Agents (MATA)’s president Mohamed Nasheed told Sun that the Italian cruise ship MS AIDAbella arrived in Male’ at around 10:00 am Monday.

The ship carries 2,008 passengers and 600 crews, and will stay in Male’ for two days.

Nasheed said passengers disembarked from the ship went inland into Male’ on Monday and Tuesday.

The ship will next travel to Colombo, before making its last stop in Dubai.

MAYA expects more cruise ships to travel to Maldives during the tourist season.

Maldives topped 1.5 tourist arrivals last October, and expect to reach 1.8 million arrivals by the end of the year.