This archive report was first published on 2 August 2019.
Kenya's Growing Love for Cruise Holidays ¶
Friday, August 2, 2019
By SONI KANAKE
As Kenyans warm up to the idea of vacationing on water for days, enterprising travel fixers are paving an easier path to book cruise holidays.
According to Nishma Shah, director of Holiday Bazaar & Cruise and Travel Planners, there has been a steady rise of local cruise holiday bookings lately.
"We have noticed a steady rise of local cruise holiday bookings lately," says Nishma, who has been selling cruise packages for the last two decades.
She attributes this growth to the increasing popularity of cruise holidays among Kenyans, with many opting to go sailing to exotic destinations like Seychelles, Mauritius, Zanzibar, and Lamu.
"We have girl trips, investment clubs, couples celebrating anniversaries or birthdays, and corporates that offer cruises as incentives for good performance at work," Nishma explains.
For Peter Njeru and his wife Dr. Dorcas Njagi, cruise holidays have become an annual tradition. Every August for the last three years, they have been boarding a ship and cruising on it for weeks.
"It is an exciting adventure and you get to holiday in a relaxed manner," says Dorcas. "You don’t have to keep packing and unpacking as all your luggage is in your room yet you get to experience the joys of visiting different cities!"
The couple's first cruise was to the Caribbean, where they spent 14 days and nights on a massive ship with a capacity of 6,000 guests and 2,500 crew members.
"We are looking forward to our next cruise on the ‘Celebrity’ this August when we will explore Europe," says Dorcas.
For Eric Mwanzia and his wife Debra Musembi, their maiden voyage on board the ‘Symphony of the Sea’ in September last year was a memorable experience.
"The experience is one of those things every person should have on their bucket list!" exclaims Debra.
With the growing popularity of cruise holidays, travel fixers like Nishma and Jinal Shah are setting up cruise shops in Kenya to make it easier for locals to book their dream vacations.
"We encourage people to book in advance, which enables us to freeze the cheapest cruise for them," explains Nishma.
For those looking for a luxurious sea experience, Crystal Cruises offers a range of options, including six-star all-suite enclaves and yacht charters.
"Crystal Cruises is a luxury cruise line popular with European and American clients but we are expecting to have more Africans on board and discover some of the seven exotic islands on the Indian Ocean," said Helen Beck, vice president, international sales and marketing of Crystal.
