Record cruise passengers in Gozo visit

The MV Noordam, an 82,000-tonne, 285-metre-long Holland America-owned cruise liner, anchored off Gozo, yesterday with more than 800 crew and 2,100 passengers on board – the largest cruise ship to do so to date.

The ship dropped anchor just outside the port of Mġarr and more than 1,700 passengers disembarked, making it the largest single disembarkation on Gozo by cruise passengers on record.

The Noordam is the third Holland America cruise liner to call at Gozo, after the Rotterdam and Prinsendam called last year.

Mifsud Brothers Ltd handled the ship’s call. The local agent for Holland America Line is O.F. Gollcher and Sons Ltd.

Gozo Minister Giovanna Debono was at the quayside in Mġarr as the passengers disembarked.

The vessel left Gozo for Naples at 7 p.m.