SeaDream calls at Dwejra during maiden voyage

The luxurious yacht MY SeaDream 1 with 110 passengers on board on November 3 called at Dwejra Bay. The yacht was making her maiden trip from Syracuse to La Goulette, Tunisia.

Passengers were entertained with folklore displays and served traditional food, an initiative organised by the Gozo Ministry Secretariat's Joe Micallef and Mifsud Brothers Ltd.

The yacht entered Valletta harbour last Thursday week at 9 a.m. An evening of entertainment included performances by Lynne and Antoine Fauré during pre-dinner cocktails. Guests were treated to Maltese bread, Gozo olive oil and Gozo limoncello to accompany their meal on deck.

SeaDream 1 left for Xlendi the following morning, sailing past the tuna pens off St Paul's Islands, and via the Gozo channel past the Blue Lagoon. Due to the sea swell and the lack of a fixed mooring, the ship's captain Bjarne Smorawski decided to anchor at the next bay at Dwejra Point, which offered more shelter.

An agreement was reached with the fishermen at Dwejra to offer continuous tendering service from 12.30 to 8.30 p.m. Folklore shows were held on board the SeaDream 1: 15 people aged seven to 70 dressed in elaborate folk costumes took part. The performance was offered with the compliments of the Ministry for Gozo in collaboration with the Gozo Culture department and the MTA. 

Ivan Mifsud, managing director of MBL, has carried out a detailed study in conjunction with the harbour master on the potential of Gozo as an anchoring and marina day stop for the smaller cruise ships, which generally carry passengers who spend more, and is optimistic that if an investment is made in Gozo's cruise infrastructure, it will not be too long before Gozo will start attracting numerous ships just as Santorini has managed to do.