Cruise to operate between Vizag, Puducherry and Chennai ports

Cruise ships are planned to depart from Visakhapatnam in the near future. The cruise liner ‘Empress’ will travel from Visakhapatnam to Puducherry, stopping in Chennai along the way, before returning to Visakhapatnam. The rates would be determined by the passengers’ preferred class of travel.

According to Visakhapatnam Port Chairman K. Rama Mohana Rao, authorities from the Visakhapatnam Port approached the JM Baxi group about operating the service, and representatives from the company accepted.

This cruise liner can carry between 1,500 and 1,800 travellers. The first service will come to Visakhapatnam on June 8 and the travellers will go for sightseeing in the city till the evening. The ship will leave Visakhapatnam for Puducherry at 8 p.m. on the same day and reach its destination on the morning of June 10. Travellers can go for sightseeing till the evening in Puducherry. The ship will sail from Puducherry at 7 p.m. and reach Chennai the next morning.

Though ‘Empress’ is a foreign cruise liner, the authorities have obtained permission to operate it only in Indian waters for some time. Hence, travellers are not required to carry a passport. The ship has a host of attractions like food courts, restaurants, a swimming pool and fitness centre. Casino, spa and liquor would be available on board but they would be charged extra.