Luxury cruise services connecting smaller ports will soon be introduced
in Kerala. The service will establish connectivity between the ports like
Beypore, Azheekal, Vizhinjam, Kollam, as well as Kochi.
The Mumbai-based cruise company
SSR Marine Services Private Limited will be responsible for operating the
service. The proposal was discussed in a meeting of the
Kerala Maritime Board, chaired by chairman NS Pillai, and has been forwarded
for government approval. Once approved, the ship will be operated under the
supervision of the Kerala Maritime Board, following the monsoon season.
The Kerala Maritime Board will
receive five per cent of the revenue generated from the cruise services. Currently, the state has only one luxury ship, ‘Nefertiti,’ operated by
the Kerala Inland Navigation Corporation at Kochi port. The introduction of
cruise services connecting smaller ports will be highly advantageous for
tourists.
The luxury ship has a capacity of 280 passengers and offers all the
amenities one would expect from a five-star hotel.