By Jane Meza
Mombasa County, Kenya: In a significant development for Mombasa, the Port welcomed its inaugural cruise ship of the year, the Norwegian Dawn from the Seychelles, carrying 3225 passengers of diverse nationalities.
The Norwegian Cruise Lines vessel, known for its modern amenities, smoothly docked at Port’s berth number 1 and facilitated passengers’ embarkation for game safaris and city tours.
Expressing delight, Capt. William Ruto, Managing Director of Kenya Ports Authority, emphasized the commitment to supporting cruise tourism’s growth and sustainability, envisioning more cruise lines calling at the port.
“The Port city has lots to offer in terms of tourist attractions,” remarked Capt. Ruto, flanked by Mr. Benjamin Tayari, KPA Board Chairman.
Mr. Tayari highlighted KPA’s substantial investment in infrastructure, fostering confidence in attracting more cruise lines.
“We are working to ensure that cruise ships spend more than a day at the Port, allowing passengers and crew to explore the Kenyan Coast,” Stated Tayari
Captain Asen Gyuruv, the vessel master, expressed his satisfaction with the warm reception in Kenyan waters and looked forward to more return port calls.
Inchcape Shipping Limited, the local handling agent, sees Mombasa gaining traction as an international cruise ship port of call.
“We hope to break the ceiling and receive many more cruisers here,” stated Mr. Walid Timimi, Marine Service Manager at Inchcape Shipping Limited.
After a 12-hour stopover, the Norwegian Dawn is set to sail to Zanzibar, carrying a diverse international community of 54 passenger nationalities and 51 nationalities among the ship’s crew.
Representing Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Shariff Nassir, Mr. Mohamed Osman, Mombasa County Executive Committee Member for Tourism and Trade, reiterated the commitment to make Mombasa a premier cruise ship destination.
Underlining their efforts, Ms. Betty Ichan from the Kenya Tourism Board affirmed their dedication to promoting cruise tourism, aiming to attract more tourists to the destination. It’s noteworthy that in December, the tourist industry received over 300 tourists of all nationalities, marking a significant boost to Kenya’s tourism.
