Despite the moderate success of cruise line operators in Indian waters, another group has waded into the business. AMET Cruises — allied to the Academy of Maritime Education and Training (AMET) University — is today taking the wraps off m.v. AMET Majesty, a refurbished four-engine ship that years ago sailed under the banner of Star Cruises, in a special ceremony at the Chennai Port.
J. Ramachandran, chairman of the AMET University, believes the cruise liner industry in India is bound to grow exponentially. He produces facts to buttress his argument. “Indians, numbering a whopping 90,000, flock to Singapore every year for holidays on cruises,” he says. “With a multiplicity of ports, India has a huge advantage over Singapore. To beat the two monsoons — North-East and the South-West — an Indian cruise line operator can shift bases between the country's East and West coasts.” AMET Cruises has an extra advantage. As it will also serve as a sea-time training ship for cadets, AMET Majesty is expected to have work throughout the year — even during times when ‘at-sea tourism' hits a low ebb.
“Considering the difficulty cadets face in getting sea-time lessons, we dived into this novel experiment,” says Ramachandran. AMET Majesty's primary role is, however, that of a cruise-liner. The nine-deck, 267 cabin vessel, which can take in 700 passengers, will start with cruises centred around the East Coast. They include Chennai-Andaman-Phuket-Chennai, Chennai-Trincomalee-Karaikal-Chennai, Chennai-Vizag-Chennai, Chennai-High Seas-Chennai and Vizag-High Seas-Vizag.
These cruises come at a cost of Rs. 3,500 to Rs. 8,000 per person per night. The package includes four complimentary meals a day, usage of swimming pool, jaccuzi and gymnasium, shows at the moonlight lounge, the moonlight disco, exclusive entertainment and cabins with attached spa facilities.
AMET cruises also appear to be working hard on attracting orders for chartered trips from communities that thrive on trade and business. An exclusive Jain restaurant is in operation.
For details, call 26161438/ 32217887 or log in to >ametcruises.com .
