Summer rush fuels cruise demand

Kochi: With the onset of summer vacation, cruise services operated by the Kerala State Inland Navigation Corporation (KSINC) in Kochi backwaters are witnessing a strong surge in tourist interest. All services are currently running at full capacity, with advance bookings fully reserved for the next two weeks. "In response to the high demand, operators have added extra weekend trips on Saturdays and Sundays, according to a KSINC source.

KSINC currently runs four cruise services in Kochi: The luxury vessel ‘Nefertiti', the solar-powered ‘Suryamshu' AC cruise, ‘Sagararani', and ‘Michelle'. Around 700 passengers have been travelling on these services daily over the past week, with consistent demand since April 1.

Among them, ‘Nefertiti' and ‘Sagararani' remain the most popular, each typically offering two cruises per day. ‘Sagararani', which saw a spike in demand, operated four trips on Sunday.

The three-deck ‘Nefertiti' features a restaurant, auditorium, 3D theatre, children's play area, and spaces for events such as receptions, corporate functions, and private parties.

‘Suryamshu' connects key city destinations like Fort Kochi and Mattancherry and is part of KSINC's sightseeing package. The AC cruise includes a DJ floor and conference hall on the first deck and a cafeteria and dining space on the upper deck.