Kenya: The Port of Mombasa celebrated the arrival of cruise ship MS Crystal Symphony which docked early this morning and signalled a boost in the port of Mombasa connectivity.
Reportedly, MS Crystal Symphony made its inaugural visit to Mombasa, as it sailed in from Mahe in Seychelles with 373 tourists along with 475 crew members onboard. The cruise ship spent two days in Mombasa and is expected to depart for Zanzibar.
MS Crystal Symphony is a luxurious cruise liner. Approx. 300 tourists from the ship took the chance to explore the city of Mombasa earlier and nearby national parks.
Considering this, General Manager of Finance and Commercial Services – Geoffrey Kavate emphasised the commitment of the authority to enhance the cruise tourism during a brief reception ceremony at the cruise terminal.
Kavate highlighted that the importance of ongoing infrastructural development and collaboration with various agencies to create effective marketing strategies aims to attract ore cruise ships, which noted that the future looks bright for cruise tourism.
Also, at the arrival ceremony, Captain Tonci Hladilo of the MS Crystal Symphony was honoured with the first certificate of call and was presented with a plaque to commemorate the visit of the ship to the Port of Mombasa.
Capt. Hladilo further expressed his appreciation for the warm welcome describing Mombasa as an essential stop in the cruise tourism circuit which promised that the ship would return to Mombasa next year.
The welcome ceremony was observed for the arrival of MS Crystal Symphony. The event was attended by various delegates such as the County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Tourism, Culture and Trade in Mombasa County – Mohammed Osman Ali, representatives from Inchcape Shipping Services, senior Government officials and industry representatives from the tourism sector.
Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) stated, “We welcome MV Crystal Symphony to the Port of Mombasa on a maiden visit.” It is a luxurious cruise ship that measures 238 meters in length and arrived this morning from Mahe in Seychelles.
It is the seventh cruise liner that has arrived in Mombasa this season. It began in September 2024 and was brought along 373 tourists with 475 crew members. KPA confirmed that the vessel docked in the port for two days and gave its guests an opportunity to explore the amazing attractions and sites.