The next cruise ship to visit the Isle of Man, the ‘Azamara Quest’, will have a Manxman at the helm when it visits tomorrow (Saturday).
Captain Carl Smith was born in the Isle of Man and lived in Peel before beginning his career at sea. He is the only Manxman who is currently the master of a modern cruise vessel.
The Azamara Quest is one of 18 cruise liners booked to visit the island in 2013, an increase of 50 per cent on 2012.
The Department of Economic Development, which promotes tourism, says that it has been working hard to develop the cruise market. There are already 11 cruise liner visits booked for 2014.
A number of shore excursions have been scheduled for the passengers, some of which will in part be accompanied by Captain Smith as he introduces his passengers to his former home.
The cruise is being marketed by Azamara Club Cruises as ‘Captain Carl’s Homecoming Cruise’.
The DED says it hopes that Western Vikings Rugby Club will row a Viking boat out to the vessel when it arrives in Douglas bay.
Captain Smith and some of his crew members will be taking part in the World Tin Bath Championships in Castletown as well as the Snake Race cheered on by a party of passengers from the cruise ship.
They are being taken down to Castletown by on a chartered steam train.
The vessel’s previous port of call on the cruise before Douglas was the Icelandic capital. Reykjavik. After Douglas it will head for Dublin.