QUEEN MARY 2 GRACIOUSLY GLIDES BACK TO THE FRIENDLY CITY

15 April 2015, Nelson Mandela Bay (NMB) was ready to welcome back RMS Queen Mary 2 into port at Port Elizabeth Harbour for the second time since her maiden call in 2013. After two years the large cruise liner carrying 2620 passengers and 1200 crew members has made her way back to the friendly city where Nelson Mandela Bay Tourism (NMBT) provided the beat of the African Drum and dancers as visitors stepped on to the shores of Nelson Mandela Bay.

Nelson Mandela Bay Tourism CEO, Ms Mandlakazi Skefile confirmed, “To welcome RMS Queen Mary 2 is a great honour and we are privileged to have a port which facilitates stops for cruise liner tourism enabling passengers from around the globe to disembark and discover the destinations attractions adding to the tourism spin off for the local economy.”

NMBT provided a hospitality desk on board to assist passengers who were disembarking with any destination queries and to market attractions for passengers to visit. Alongside this there were a number of tour guides and vehicles to transport passengers to attractions and activities of their choice.

NMBT staff confirmed queries ranged from Shopping malls, Boardwalk Entertainment Complex, Arts and Crafts, wildlife experiences at nearby game farms as well as Addo Elephant National Park. In addition City orientation tours are very popular alongside visits to the Donkin Reserve where Nelson Mandela Bay Tourism officers shared information about Route 67 and the essence of Nelson Mandela Bay being known as the “Home of Freedom”.

“NMBT ensured that the engagement with the passengers and cruise liner crew was a positive and warm experience in order for them to rate Nelson Mandela Bay as an ideal destination for the hopes they return to Algoa Bay in the future in addition to attracting more world class cruise liners to Nelson Mandela Bay.”, confirmed Ms Skefile