First Cruise ship docks at Port of Mombasa after four years

By Tobby Otum

The Kenya Ports Authority [KPA] cruise terminal has hosted the first cruise vessel with 800 passengers on board since the onset of Covid 19 pandemic.

Tourism Cabinet Secretary Penina Malonza was at hand to receive the passengers on MV World Odyssey at KPA cruise terminal which was commissioned in 2016.

Speaking after making an extensive tour of the vessel while accompanied by KPA acting Managing Director Amb. John Mwangemi she described the arrival of the vessel as a big day in the tourism sector since President William Ruto’s administration took over from former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s administration after the August 9 general election.

She insisted the arrival of the ship is a good jumpstart for the Kenya Kwanza administration in the promotion of the tourism sector.

“The port facility is expected to receive more vessels from next year as assured by KPA management,” she pointed out.

Penina disclosed the vessel has a mix of passengers across the globe with students also on board.

The CS told journalists the vessel, on its circuit across the world, had called at the port of Aqaba before arriving at the port of Mombasa.

Penina added after spending five days in the county the next port will be Mobani in India.

Tourism Cabinet Secretary Penina Malonza cracks jokes with one of the 800 passengers of a cruise ship MV World Odyssey at port of Mombasa after dismarking along berth number one in Mombasa county. The CS announced the vessel made its maiden visit four years after the COVID pandemic.

She disclosed she had an interaction with the passengers and ship crew inside the vessel before they disembarked.

“The government is optimistic to see the sector growing and recovering from the deadly covid 19 outbreak,” she said.

In his welcome remarks the KPA acting MD told the media the vessel is a post pandemic arrival into the country and the facility is in line with international standards.

Mwangemi reiterated the facility is well equiped in line with international arrivals requirements.