KOCHI: On Wednesday morning, when M V Empress, a luxury cruise liner from Mumbai, called at Kochi, Manzoori from Gujarat and 11 other relatives were the first to disembark. The 12-member group made a houseboat trip to Alappuzha before MV Empress left for Lakshadweep with around 1,200 including them.
The tourism department had not arranged a houseboat trip for passengers considering the fact that the vessel would be leaving for Lakshadweep by 4pm. “But Manzoori and team insisted that a houseboat trip be arranged for them. They were so fascinated by the houseboat cruise,” said Sanjeev Kumar of Voyages Kerala, the agency which facilitated the tour.
In order to explore the possibilities for associating with the cruise service in Mumbai-Kochi-Lakshadweep sector in the future, representatives of a few tour agencies were also there in the vessel in its maiden journey. Cordelia, the operators of M V Empress, plans to conduct voyages in the sector twice a month for the next 12 months. “It was a very comfortable voyage. Food and other facilities, including casino in the vessel, are on a par with international standards,” said Melvin, an official with Osaka Travels, Angamaly.
Of the 300 travellers who deboarded in Kochi, 127 passengers went for on-shore sightseeing for a few hours. Others went to various destinations on their own by ending the cruise in Kochi.
The state tourism department accorded a warm welcome to the guests with a performance by Velakali dancers and women in traditional Kerala kasavu saris greeting them. The Cochin Port wore a festive look as Velakali performers holding sword and shield swayed with graceful vigour in two rows. The guests were received by Kerala tourism joint director K Radhakrishnan and deputy director T G Abhilash besides top officials with Cochin Port.
