MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Buenos Aires invaded by over 5.000 cruise visitors

Infinity calling Bs. Aires port

Early Sunday, over 5.000 tourists from three large cruise vessels will be landing in Buenos Aires, one of the peak days of the 2007/08 cruise season.

Infinity, Symphony and Norwegian Dream, three grand vessels of the industry are scheduled to arrive between 07:00 and 10:00 in the morning with 1.980, 1.600 and 1.500 tourists. Infinity from Celebrity Cruises is 294 meters long; Norwegian Cruises Norwegian Dream 230 meters and Mediterranean Shipping cruises, 251 meters. Although the official cruise season started last October 15 and is scheduled to extend until next April, Sunday December 9 is considered the big starting day for the Buenos Aires industry. Infinity and Norwegian Dream normally involve 12 day cruises traveling between Valparaiso, Chile and Buenos Aires, Argentina including Puerto Madryn, Falkland Islands and Chilean fiords. Symphony tours are nine days and run mostly along the Brazilian coast. Last year's cruise season attracted an estimated 130.000 tourists to Buenos Aires good food and drink, shows and shopping plus touring the traditional neighborhoods of the Argentine capital. This year the number is forecasted to jump to 140.000 cruise visitors.