MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Bs As. received 185.000 cruise visitors this season

Royal Caribbean “Splendour of the Seas” with 800 passengers and a crew of 760 left Buenos Aires this week officially ending another successful cruise season which attracted 185.000 visitors who spent an estimated 110 million US dollars in Argentina's capital.

The 2007/08 season, according to Argentine official reports represented a 35% increase over 2006/07 with 100 vessel calls, ten more than expected. For the coming 2008/09 season 134 cruise calls have been booked, among which the 311 meters long "Mariner of the Seas", said Buenos Aires port authority Captain Carlos Villareal. In 2005/06, Buenos Aires port registered 54 calls, in 2006/07, 74. The first vessel of the season just ended visited Buenos Aires on November 13 last year. The largest vessel to call in Buenos Aires this season was the Infinity with 3-600 visitors. A report from the Buenos Aires City Tourism Office shows that less than half of cruise visitors stayed overnight in Buenos Aires. The majority come from North America, neighboring countries (mainly Brazil), Europe and a growing percentage of Argentines. The usual agenda for cruise visitors is a tour of Buenos Aires, privately contracted tours, tango shows, gastronomy and shopping. Most cruise itineraries include Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina and some end in Valparaiso along the Pacific Ocean. A few sail on to Antarctica. Buenos Aires port facilities have been expanded to handle up to five cruise vessels at the time, as happened on several occasions this last summer.