 "Genting Dream")
Equipped to accommodate 3,400 guests, attended by a crew of 2,000 -- the highest crew-to-guest ratio in Asia-based cruising -- the Genting Dream arrived at Mumbai Port for the first time on its relocation voyage on Saturday.
The largest passenger ship ever to be anchored at Mumbai Port, the ship is geared up to ferry its first set of 1,900 passengers from India on a voyage to Singapore via Colombo. Incidentally, the Mumbai Port Trust has a dedicated berth for cruise tourism.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Union Minister for Shipping and Road Transportm Nitin Gadkari, were among the dignitaries who attended the inaugural cruise ceremony on Saturday.
Speaking on the occasion, Gadkari said, "We have taken a decision to have passenger terminals at all major ports to cater to cruise tourists. There are over 200 private and minor ports in the country and I would also request them to have such facilities."
He added that the government is keen to promote cruise tourism, and is investing over Rs 200 crore to build a modern international cruise terminal in Mumbai.
A senior official of Dream Cruises clained that the company has been serving the luxury cruise segment for the past decade, and saw a 36 per cent rise in Indian tourists in fiscal 2015-16, to over 125,000 passengers.
The 18-deck luxury vessel is 335 metres long, almost 40 metres wide, and has a top speed of over 23 knots. According to a press release issued by Dream Cruises, which owns Genting Dreams, over 70 per cent of the accommodation on the vessel consists of staterooms with private balconies and over 100 connecting rooms catering to extended families and groups.
The ship also has what it calls a 'Dream Palace' -- a ship within a ship -- with suites featuring European-style butler service. She comes with as many as 35 restaurants and bars offering a spectrum of cuisines, swimming pools, six water slides, rock climbing and a mini gold course.
