More than 1500 passengers from MV Arcadia, the fourth largest of eight ships currently in service with P&O Cruises (a British cruise line based at Carnival House in Southampton, England) fleet, visited Laksala at Thummulla on 23rd this month from 9.30 am to 5.30pm on a shuttle bus service operated from the Port of Colombo. Passengers visited were welcomed by a Kandyan troupe of traditional dancers and drummers. Laksala presented various traditional dancing events to entertain visitors. Whenever this giant vessel reaches Sri Lanka, tourists on board visit Laksala at Thummulla.
Two craftsmen who were on the Laksala premises demonstrated how to carve wooden masks and elephants and these tourists were pleased to see their carvings. In order to support local handicraftsmen working with Laksala, they purchased Gem & Jewellery, Brass, Textile (Handloom and Batik), Tea, Wood Carving, SPA, Spices, Ceramic, Leather, Rush & Reed related products.
MV Arcadia costs almost $400m and was built by
Fincantieri at their shipyard in
Marghera,
Italy. At over 84,000 tonnes, the ship officially entered service with the company in April 2005. This ship measures 289.90m in length. The approx. 869 crew members take good care of the maximal 2,388 passengers. This is the fourth P&O ship to be named Arcadia. The first Arcadia sailed from 1887 to 1915 and carries 410 passengers. The second Arcadia sailed form 1954 to 1979 and carried a total of 1,405 passengers. The third Arcadia sailed from 1989 to 2003 and carried 1,458 passengers.
