Visakhapatnam Port to hold roadshow in Mumbai to promote cruise tourism

After an encouraging response to regular service offered by MV Empress (owned Cordelia Cruises) from Visakhapatnam to Chennai and Puducherry, Visakhapatnam Port Authority (VPA) has decided to hold a roadshow in Mumbai shortly to promote this industrial city as a hub for cruise tourism.

VPA Chairman Dr. M. Angamuthu told Bizz Buzz on Thursday that "they are in talks to hold a cruise stakeholders dialogue in the financial capital of India Mumbai to bring together regional partners, cruise operators, and tourism bodies to align strategies, bridge infrastructure gaps, and market the Bay of Bengal as a unified cruise destination.

The newly developed cruise terminal built at a cost of nearly Rs.100 crore and inaugurated by Union Minister for Ports, Shipping & Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal is spread over 12,600 sq. meters with a world-class terminal building area of 4,580 sq. meters.The terminal has modern facilities such as immigration counters, customs offices, VIP lounges, security infrastructure, food and retail spaces, and separate arrival and departure lounges, ensuring international standards for passenger and crew comfort. The berth is 180 meters long with mooring dolphins, allowing the accommodation of vessels with LOA up to 331 meters, a beam of 43 meters, and a draft up to 8.8 meters.

The terminal can handle up to 2,000 passengers and offers well-organized parking space for 10 luxury buses, 100 cars, and 25 two-wheelers. The terminal is located advantageously, with connectivity to Visakhapatnam International Airport (13.7 km), railway stations, and city bus terminals, ensuring seamless access for domestic and international visitors.

Operational history shows growing interest in Visakhapatnam as a cruise destination. During 2018–19, the port handled three Cordelia Cruise voyages, and by 2022, this increased to 15 voyages on the Visakhapatnam–Puducherry–Chennai route, with more than 22,000 passengers embarking or disembarking. Notably, in April 2024, the terminal hosted its first international cruise vessel, The World, which has several condos owned by High Net Worth Individuals (HNIs) carrying 84 passengers and 300 crew members. The successful handling of the ship, along with excellent passenger feedback, brought into focus the port’s readiness to handle international cruise traffic.

The potential to transform Visakhapatnam into a cruise hub figured during the discussions at the BIMSTEC Ports Conclave hosted in the city by VPA in the first week of July. VPA authorities are in touch with several cruise operators and AP Tourism Development Corporation (APTDC) to launch domestic as well as international cruise services as part of Cruise Bharat Mission.