This June, set sail on luxury cruise 'Empress' from Vizag to Chennai

Visakhapatnam: With the onset of summer and to attract tourists to the city, Vizag Port Trust is launching a luxury cruise. The cruise will be in the city on 8, 15, and 22 June. As it is the only cruise ship on the Indian coast, almost all the tourists on board are Indians.

The ship, named Empress, will sail from Visakhapatnam via Puducherry to Chennai and will return to Visakhapatnam. It can accommodate up to 1,500-1,800 people. Tickets for the cruise are currently on sale. JM Baxi and Co. is operating the cruise.

Passport not required

The first service will arrive with passengers on 8 June, and the travellers can spend an evening in Visakhapatnam. The ship will depart from Visakhapatnam at 8 p.m and sail across the sea on 9 June. It will reach Puducherry at 7 a.m on 10 June. The ship will leave Puducherry at 7 p.m and reach Chennai the next day (the fourth day). Although the Empress is a foreign cruise, it is currently licensed to operate only in India. It neither requires a passport nor Customs checks.

Facilities

The ship will have food courts, restaurants, a swimming pool, and a fitness centre. Special programmes will be organised for children. There are also spa services, sports facilities, and a casino. The ship offers four types of accommodation: interior standard room, ocean view standard room, mini suite room, and suite room.