Legend arrives, depositing Broome guests

Loaded with 1750 affluent passengers with deep pockets, 70,000 tonne megaliner Legend of the Seas docked in Broome a few days ago as a successful annual cruise ship campaign nears its end.

Its inhabitants spilled off the vessel last Wednesday to partake in camel rides on Cable Beach, buy an iconic Broome pearl and inject welcome revenue into the local economy.

Part of the Royal Caribbean International’s burgeoning fleet, Legend of the Seas arrived in Broome on its 14-day itinerary from Singapore to Perth – stopping in the Kimberley town for the first time.

Kimberley Ports Authority harbour master and operations manager Vikas Bangia toldThe Broome Advertiser that the latest arrival was one of 15 large passenger liners of more than 1000 guests to visit Broome in 2015.

The final arrival will be the Sun Princess, which is scheduled to arrive on November 4, while 2015’s contingent has been significantly more than the six large passenger liners that docked last year.

“Large passenger vessels play a very important role for the port and bring a lot of revenue to the town,” Mr Bangia said.

“Thirteen are booked in for next year – this will keep increasing as itineraries get sorted out and we are seeing new companies come in, so hopefully we should pick up more.”

The Broome Advertiser hopped aboard Legend of the Seas last week to take a sneak peak at how the other half live.

Following a $50 million facelift in 2013, the huge vessel offers an array of top-notch facilities to keep passengers suitably entertained, fed and watered over the course of their stay.

A host of culinary options are backed up with an 800-seat theatre with nightly live entertainment, a spa and fitness centre, beauty salon, shopping arcade and outdoor movie screen.

Other notable facilities include two swimming pools, a rock-climbing wall and a nine-hole miniature golf course.

Norwegian captain Kjell Nordmo said that most of the current passengers were Australian.