Mumbai Port Trust (MbPT) and Sea Eagles Cruise will be operating a luxury cruise to Goa from Mumbai from 11 October, The Hindustan Times has reported. The ship, ‘Angriya’, has been named after the Maratha Navy’s first Admiral Kanhoji Angre and Angria coral bank reef near Vijaydurg. It has a capacity of 400 passengers and will operate every alternate day from both locations.
“Cruise tourism is a booming industry, with many international cruises coming to Mumbai. It is only expected to grow further, so we are upgrading our infrastructure and encouraging private players in India to start cruises, as it is also an employment generator,” a senior MbPT official told Hindustan Times.
The service is part of the government’s plan to boost cruise tourism in India. Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation and an Italian cruise line coaster named Costa Cruises have started services from Mumbai to Kochi and Kochi to the Maldives.