Italy’s Costa Cruises launches first domestic Indian luxury cruise
Italian luxury cruise liner Costa Cruises in collaboration with Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation and Mumbai Port Trust announced the launch of India’s first domestic luxury cruise on the Mumbai-Kochi sector starting from November, officials said.
The launch comes a year after Carnival Asia – which operates Costa Cruises – brought the first luxury cruise to India by launching a Mumbai-Maldives cruise on its Costa NeoClassica ship.
Speaking at the launch, Maharashtra Tourism Minister Jaykumar Raval said that Indians are increasingly embracing luxury and leisure lifestyles and the domestic cruise tourism industry is estimated to grow to 1.50 million by 2031. The Mumbai-Kochi cruise will take four nights, the Cochin-Maldives cruise will be three nights, besides the existing option of Mumbai-Maldives via Kochi for seven nights.
The Costa NeoClassic has a total of 654 cabins including sea-view and suites with private balconies, a casino, theatre, discotheque, ballroom grand bar, gym with treatment rooms, sauna, jacuzzi and steam, an outdoor jogging track and two swimming pools, besides a huge duty free shopping arcade, said Carnival Asia President Buhdy Bok.
Enhancing the cruising experience for Indians will be a library, Italian regional gastronomical experiences with vegetarian, non-vegetarian cuisine and even a Jain menu, besides the original famous Neapolitan Pizzas at Pizzeria ‘Pummid’Oro’
Top government officials including MTDC MD Vijay Waghmare, MbPT Chairman Sanjay Bhatia, Costa Cruises representative and MD of Lotus Destinations Nalini Gupta, and Valsa Nair-Singh, Principal Secretary, GAD, Maharashtra government were present.
News Source: IANS
You might also like
Start the Year with Big Savings: Expedia TAAP’s January Sale Offers 25%+ Off Hotels Worldwide
What: Expedia Travel Agent Affiliate Program (TAAP) kicks off its January Sale, giving travel advisors access to hotel discounts of at least 25% off across thousands of properties worldwide. When:
Etihad Airways launches ‘fly now pay later’ scheme
The UAE’s flag carrier Etihad Airways has launched a ‘fly now and pay later’ scheme which provides people an option of paying the ticket fare in monthly installments, the airline
Where Spirituality Meets Serenity: A New Approach to Hospitality in Rishikesh
With deep insights into experiential travel and destination-led hospitality, Abhishek Bhattacharya shares how WelcomHeritage Arka is redefining stays in Rishikesh. From blending spirituality and adventure to offering immersive, culturally rooted
