In 1341 AD, the floods in river Periyar silted the mouth of the harbour at Kodungallur and blocked it, but they also prised open a gap that became the natural seaport of Cochin. This opened up the floodgates of change, and the seaport brought in trade and cosmopolitanism. Today, Cochin Port is also a popular port of call for cruise liners. It receives the maximum number of luxury passenger ships in the country. In 2017-2018, beginning April, the port received 42 luxury passenger ships, bringing in 47,000 tourists plus crew. This year, 2018-19, it is midway in receiving 50 luxury liners that will cater to 80,000 guests and additional crew.
Kochi, Kerala, 13-04-2013: An interior view of Royal Caribbean International's luxury Cruise liner, 'Legend of the Seas', that called at Kochi port on Friday. The ship can accommodate about 2,000 passengers and has 11 decks. It offers entertainment, fine dining and state rooms. Photo: Thulasi Kakkat
“Cruise liners make a city its port of call based on positive passenger feedback,” says Traffic Manager Gautam Gupta, the man who controls the massive logistics of coordinating the arrival, stay and departure of a liner. It is his unenviable task of co-ordinating all the activities so that the process of guest facilitation is seamless. In order to do this, he and his team go all out to provide the best to the passengers within a 10-hour schedule that the ship berths there.
“Generally, a luxury ship arrives by 8 am and departs by 6 pm in the evening. We have only 10 hours to showcase Kerala to them,” says Juby Mathew, GM, Cox and Kings.
In this photograph taken December 29, 2006 tourists enjoy a ride aboard a houseboat in the backwaters of Alappuzha, some 150 kms north of Thiruvananthapuram, capital of India's southern state of Kerala. Authorities in Kerala have announced a ban on alcohol August 22, 2014 to tackle a growing abuse problem in the southern Indian state, a popular tourist destination. AFP PHOTO/Christophe ARCHAMBAULT/FILES
Some of the popular packages that tourists choose from include the famed backwater trip in Alappuzha, where they are served traditional cuisine on a boat, the village tour to Vaikom that showcases rural livelihoods, the heritage trail of Fort Kochi and Mattancherry, along with a visit to the 450-year-old synagogue and the ancient Chinese nets. There are also offbeat packages like Kochi by tuk-tuk, by ferry and a walking tour of the heritage zone.
Currently, Samudrika, an 18,000 sq m facility, at BTP berth that can host 260m ships, is the disembarkation point, while bigger ships are berthed at Ernakulam Wharf. With increased luxury liner traffic, a swankier cruise terminal is being built, to be ready by 2020.
KOCHI, KERALA, 27/03/2015: Cruise liner 'Celebrity Century' that called at Kochi on Friday with 2000 passengers and 800 crew members. The vessel is on its Singapore-Dubai journey. Photo : Thulasi Kakkat
“In the interim period, for bigger ships, we put up a 3,000 sq ft air-conditioned tent at Ernakulam Wharf and this has served well. We received good reports about it from guests,” says Gupta. A free Wi-fi facility was recently introduced, and the opening up of 30 immigration counters has resulted in more efficient service.
One of the most interesting fallouts of the increased cruise traffic has been the sprouting of a temporary market, (on the lines of Dilli Haat), at the terminal itself. Almost 20-25 kiosks selling the best of Indian wares set up shop every time a passenger ship arrives. The terminal turns into a colourful market place. “Most of the kiosks are branches of the Jew Street and Fort Kochi stores and I understand that they do good business,” says Gupta. The Kerala Government store Kairali, showcasing ethnic handicrafts, and a tender coconut water kiosk have also recently opened shop here.
Kochi / Kerala, 13/11/18:(For Metro Plus) Temporary stalls selling antiques, clothes, handicrafts etc in a mini bazaar at Samudrika Convention Centre in Cochin Port for cruise passengers who arrive at the port. Photo: H.Vibhu/ The Hindu.
There are plans to start a helicopter service to Munnar and the Jatayu Earth’s Centre in Kollam, besides a steam locomotive ride at Vallarpadam over the backwaters. The steam locomotive service is likely to begin by mid-December.
Despite the relaxation of Standard Operating Procedures for cruise ships across ports in the country, which has clearly had good results, much remains to be done, says a shipping agent. “Customs duty on liquor and provisions has come as a big jolt for the industry; also, e-landing cards being made mandatory by the Bureau of Immigration is cumbersome.”
As these glitches iron themselves out in the wake of this new route to tourism, that brings in beauties like the Sapphire Princess , AIDAvita , Boudicca , and Queen Mary 2 , to name a few, ‘Kerala in 10 hours’ is winning votes from cruise line passengers.
