MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Intense cruise activity in Montevideo.

Three cruise vessels called in Montevideo on Monday. They are: “Crystal Symphony” with 900 passengers on her way to Antarctica; “Saga Pearl” on her return trip from the Southern seas and the more modest “Andrea” which will be involved in brief Antarctic incursions.

"Crystal Symphony" is a major eight decks vessel, 51,000 gross tons, 203 meters long which first visited Montevideo in 2003. She was launched in 1995, refurbished in 1999 and carries a crew of 545.

Italian built, Bahamas flagged "Saga Pearl" is 133 meters long and 12,500 tons. Originally the "Minerva" it has six decks, with a crew of 157 and a passenger capacity of 474. She's sailing for Rio do Janeiro.

"Andrea" belongs to Elegant Cruises and left La Spezia, Italy with eleven passengers calling at Las Palmas, Cape Verde Islands, Salvador and Montevideo. From the Uruguayan capital the 87 meters long vessel sails for Puerto Madryn and Ushuaia where she will complete 120 passengers for an 11 days cruise including Beagle Channel, Drake Passage and Antarctica. The 11 days cruise in the "Andrea" costs an average 300 US dollars full board per day plus Zodiac sightseeing tours. She operates during the season from Ushuaia and Montevideo and March 9 will be the 2004/05 season last's cruise, before returning to the Mediterranean.

Meanwhile the Q2 with her 1,671 passengers arrived in Port William, Falkland Islands. She left Montevideo Saturday midday where she spent almost 37 hours. During her stay in Montevideo 38 coaches with 45 seat capacity were contracted for city tours and some venturing further to the Atlantic resort of Punta del Este. Two chartered Boeing 737 left for Argentina. One of them for the Iguazu falls in the border next to Brazil and a second to Buenos Aires. Although Buenos Aires was scheduled as a call port, shallow waters and insufficient berth length prevented Q2 from crossing the River Plate.