Kenya today received another luxurious cruise ship with 3,500 passengers and crew on board that docked at the port of Mombasa.
The port of Mombasa welcomed MSC Poesia, a luxury cruise liner from the Mediterranean Shipping Company.
Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) said the cruise ship is carrying 2,500 passengers from different nationalities and 1,000 crew members of which 20 are Kenyans.
KPA also said MSC Poesia is one of the biggest cruise vessels to have ever docked at the Port of Mombasa.
"With a length overall of 294 metres, MSC Poesia is one of the biggest cruise vessels to have docked at the Port.
"To be able to add value and support Cruise Tourism, KPA has invested in the requisite infrastructure, including the state-of-the-art cruise terminal to cement Kenya’s status as a hub not only in cargo operations but also cruise tourism in Africa," KPA said in a statement.
MSC Poesia's arrival in Mombasa comes barely a month after another luxury liner Norwegian Dawn berthed at the Kenyan coast.
Norwegian Dawn called at the Port of Mombasa on January 14, 2024, carrying 2,300 passengers and 1,100 crew aboard.
Kenya Ports Authority Managing Director Captain William Ruto who piloted the vessel to berth number one, appreciated the call, reiterating the Authority’s support for cruise tourism in the country through investment in infrastructure to position the Port of Mombasa as a cruise tourism hub.
“This is just the beginning; we expect more vessels to call at the port. As KPA management and board we have put up infrastructure to support cruise tourism. I want to assure all cruise lines that Port Mombasa is safe,” he said.
Benjamin Tayari, KPA board chairman said the visit is an affirmation of Kenya as a tourism hub in Africa.
Just a week ago, the world’s largest cruise ship set sail.
Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas set sail from Miami in Florida on Saturday, January 27, 2024, with a capacity for up to 7,600 passengers and 2,350 crew members.
