MUMBAI: Cruising along to Goa is set to become a reality soon for Mumbaikars. The first sea trial of the Mumbai- Goa vessel started on Wednes- day. The cruise, which set sail from Mumbai on Wednesday is slated to reach Goa on Thursday.
However, no date has been specified as to when the voyage will begin. Director of Sea Eagle Crui- ses, the company which will run the service, Siddharth Ne- walkar, said, “We have received permission from the direc- tor general of shipping for the sea trial. The trial commenced on Wednesday.”
Chairman of
Mumbai Port Trust, Sanjay Bhatia, said that the date of the service will be announced by the operator, depending on the trials. “Cruise services can be operated on- ly when the weather is fair. So, it will be between October and May,” said Bhatia. The ship can ferry 400 passengers.
Newalkar said that the vessel will take almost 15 hours to complete the voyage between Mumbai and Goa. The Mumbai Port Trust already has in place the infrast- ructure to commence the ser- vice from the domestic cruise terminal at Victoria Dock, Mazgaon.
En route, the ship will not halt at any place. The cruise will depart on alternate days at 5 pm from both destinations. There will be seven categories of bookings. The minimum fa- re is pegged at Rs 7,500 per person. The fare for other categories has not yet been decided. Newalkar said, “The fare is in- clusive of meals and brunch.”
The name of the ship to be used for cruise service is An- griya.It was built in 1997 in Japan. The last passenger sailing service between Mumbai and Goa last operated in 1991 when two ships—Konkan Shakti and Konkan Sevak—were in operation. The journey then took almost 24 hours.
Cruise