The Kenyan Coast started the year 2024 on a positive note as Luxury cruise liner Norwegian Dawn called the Port of Mombasa early Sunday 14 January, 2024 morning, carrying 2,300 passengers and 1,100 crew aboard, becoming the first cruise vessel of the year to dock in Mombasa.
Sailing to Mombasa from Seychelles, Norwegian Dawn, with an Length Overall (LOA) of 294 meters brought the over 2000 passengers from 54 nationalities to the Kenyan coast for excursions, to explore the pristine white sandy beaches and game drives in iconic national parks.
Kenya Ports Authority Managing Director Captain William Ruto who piloted the vessel to berth number one, appreciated the call reiterating KPA’s support for cruise tourism in the country through investment in infrastructure to position the Port of Mombasa as a cruise tourism hub.
Chairman Benjamin Tayari welcomed the call noting the visit is an affirmation of Kenya as a tourism hub in Africa.
The maiden call to Mombasa comes a few days after another cargo vessel docked at the port on maiden voyage. Last year December, the port once again received MV Bollete, a cruise liner with over 900 passengers, with Captain Ruto confirming that the Port of Mombasa will receive another cruise ship next month.
Last year, another cruise ship SH Diana called at at the Mombasa Port and later making maiden call at the Port of Lamu giving the players and key stakeholders in the tourism industry every reasons to smile given the positive way the sector is shaping up after industry was slowed down in the last few years by the Covid-19 pandemic coupled with prevailing global economic dynamic.
Cruise Vessel MV SH Diana made a maiden call to the Port of Lamu since the operationalization of the second commercial port.
The vessel had on board 57 passengers who were treated to a warm reception at the KPA Lamu Jetty by H.E the Governor of Lamu Hon IssaTimamy and KPA General Manager Lamu Port Eng Vincent Sidai among other officials.
The tourists also had an opportunity to tour the Lamu Island which is one of UNESCO world heritage site. The cruise visit to Lamu comes after a nine-year hiatus.
Lamu anchorage is a critical piece of infrastructure that has the potential to strategically benefit the country and the region if fully utilised.
The Lamu call by this vessel was a very encouraging endeavour, both crew and passengers were impressed by the hospitality shown as they were received by the County leadership. An indication of the importance of the port that can be put to beneficial use
