MOMBASA, Kenya, Jan 14 – The Port of Mombasa on Sunday received the largest cruise ship to ever dock at the facility in the recent years.
MV Norwegian Dawn, operated by the Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL), docked at the Port of Mombasa had a record 2,300 passengers from 54 nationalities on board.
It also had 1,014 crew members from 51 nationalities across the world.
The last port of call was Seychelles.
The vessel was skillfully guided to berth number one by Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) Managing Director Captain William Ruto.
The over 2,000 passengers who disembarked Sunday morning will enjoy a series of captivating excursions along the Kenyan coast, exploring pristine white sandy beaches and national parks.
Captain Ruto highlighted KPA’s commitment to fostering cruise tourism through strategic infrastructure investments, aimed at establishing the Port of Mombasa as a pivotal hub for cruise enthusiasts.
“This is just the beginning, we expect more vessels to call Mombasa Port. I want to assure all cruise lines that the port of Mombasa is safe,” said Ruto.
Last December, the MV Bollete, a cruise liner with over 900 passengers, docked in Mombasa.
Captain Ruto confirmed that the anticipation is already building for the arrival of yet another cruise ship next month, solidifying Mombasa’s growing importance in the global cruise tourism landscape.
The KPA boss confirmed that the Port of Mombasa will receive another cruise ship next month.
KPA chairman Benjamin Tayari warmly welcomed the Norwegian Dawn, viewing its arrival as a testament to Kenya’s standing as a premier tourism hub in Africa.
Other present to receive the guest were Kenya Tourism Board officials and Mombasa County government department of tourism.
