Cruise ships returning to Visakhapatnam, Cordelia and MSC meet with the port

Visakhapatnam will again host two major cruise ships as reputable firms prepare to offer services from the city’s port. MSC and Cordelia companies would each operate three-day cruise ships from Visakhapatnam to various cities in southern India, starting in May and June respectively. The cruise terminal at the port is also under construction at a cost of Rs 72.26 crore and is due to be completed by May.

Representatives from the MSC and Cordelia companies recently held consultations with Visakhapatnam port authorities, who have agreed to provide berths for the cruise ships, which operate every three days. The spacious berth under construction is 330 meters long, 15 meters wide and has a dredging depth of 9.50 meters and can accommodate cruise and cargo ships. The terminal building, covering an area of ​​2,000 square meters, will provide amenities such as immigration and customs offices, currency exchange offices, restaurants, lounges, entertainment, shopping malls and tourism service counters.

The cruises will each have 11 floors and accommodate 1,500 to 2,000 people each. There will be an array of amenities including food courts, specialty restaurants, bars, spas, salons, theaters, nightclubs, swimming pools, fitness centers, DJ entertainment, live bands, adventure activities, shopping malls and live shows. Special entertainment programs are also organized for children. Ticket holders have free entry to the ship’s Casino World, while additional fees apply for other services.

The new cruise services and terminals are expected to attract tourists from all over the world to the city and give the tourism sector a much-needed boost. Port officials expect the terminal, when operational, will allow uninterrupted cruise services from Visakhapatnam with a maximum capacity of 2,500 tourists.