India Flags Off Its 1st International Cruise Vessel From Chennai To Sri Lanka
NDTV
The MV Empress cruise has a capacity to accommodate 3,000 passengers, was flagged off from Chennai port that will connect three ports--- Triconmalle, Hambantota and Jaffna---in Sri Lanka.
Around 750 passengers sailed on a cruise from Chennai to Sri Lanka on a five day voyage after Union Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal flagged off India's first international cruise vessel on Monday. The MV Empress cruise has a capacity to accommodate 3,000 passengers, was flagged off from Chennai port that will connect three ports--- Triconmalle, Hambantota and Jaffna---in Sri Lanka.
"We are aiming to turn Chennai into a hub for cruise tourism" the Minister told NDTV.
Besides several attractions, the ship offers casino games, playing which passengers can win or lose money. Although the game is illegal in India but the operators say that it would be played only in international waters.
Justifying this, Sarbanamda Sonowal said "casino is required for a modern outlook and for cruiseliners to prosper". Last year, the Puducherry government denied entry to this ship objecting to casinos among others when the same vessel offered Chennai - Puducherry - Vishakapatnam cruise.