The vessel is also the biggest cruise liner to reach the Vizhinjam harbour
VIZHINJAM: The 44,656-tonne, 1,200-passenger cruise ship MS Artania, a floating five-star luxury hotel, is the first vessel with all outside rooms. It is also the first to secure standard cabins with balconies.
The vessel is also the biggest cruise liner to reach the Vizhinjam harbour since the State made it into the world tourism map, reports The Hindu.
Carrying an Italian flag, the vessel reached here as part of the Singapore-Dubai stretch of the world tour, which it began on December 22, 2015. After covering five continents, the 130-day cruise tour will conclude on May 10.
Artania is chartered by Phoenix Reisen, a Germany-based travel company. The ship cost USD 165 million to build and was last refurbished two years ago.
The company began operating cruises under its own brand in 1988. Artania was built in 1984 (in Helsinki) for Princess Cruises. It was then named MS Royal Princess by Lady Diana.
In 2005, she was transferred to be part of P&O Cruises fleet and renamed Artemis. Phoenix Reisen got her in 2011, and named her Artania.
When launched, Artania was the most innovative vessel introducing public space on the lower decks with blocks of staterooms over them. The vessel is child-free.
Artania has eight passenger decks named as Neptune, Salon, Sun, Saturn, Orion, Apollo, Jupiter and Lido. The 600 cabins are graded into 27 categories, including 152 balcony rooms.
All rooms are equipped with individually controlled air-conditioning, satellite TV, radio, telephone, safe and fridge/mini-bar.
‘Four Seasons’ and ‘Artania’ are the two dining rooms onboard the vessel. Lunch is served in buffet style and dinner is a-la-carte.
Though built in 1984, Artenia still retains her style and poise.
Her popular features are her classic stern with calm shielded places to sit and the promenade deck.
The only language used officially on Artania is German and most of the passengers are from German-speaking countries. There are personnel who can speak in English, but no services in English are provided.
The entertainment options for those undertaking the cruise include wellness area, fitness centre, beauty salon, spa, sauna, steam bath, table tennis, shuffleboard, sport deck, whirlpool, cinema, theatre, disco and photo gallery.
