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www.khaleejtimes.com The Gulf Dream Cruise, with 240 passengers on board, arrived in Dubai from Karachi last week amid celebrations.
The Consul-General of Pakistan, Abdul Hamid, said the luxury cruise liner would give a boost to tourism ties between both the countries.
The passengers included both Indians and Pakistanis who travelled to Karachi by air just to enjoy the sea journey.
Raghu Katria, an Indian, said, “I flew to Karachi so that I could take the cruise which I enjoyed immensely. They must serve Pakistani cuisine though,” he said. “I go cruising every year and I must recommend this cruise to all people.”
Also present on the cruise were Pakistani singer Shehzad Roy and pop group Bombay Vikings.
However, several families with children said the delay in receiving visas upon arrival was the only hitch during the two-day journey.
Rizwan Mohiuddin, President of the Gulf Dream Cruise, said the company was the first to be granted a licence by the Pakistani government. The ferry does not offer regular transportation, but a fun-filled journey including on board entertainment such as theatre, games and restaurants, he added.
“We are hoping to promote tourism between the two countries and give people in Pakistan and the UAE an opportunity to sail across the Gulf waters and the Arabian Sea.”
Pakistani passenger Toufiq Hamdani said, “The cruise is much cheaper compared to the costs of international cruises. We enjoyed it.”
The Gulf Dream Cruise will run a weekly ferry service between Dubai and Karachi.
Upon arrival in Dubai, passengers will be taken on a tour of the city and vice versa.
However, tourists travelling from Dubai to Karachi will have to arrange for their own visas if they are not residents of Pakistan. The round fare for a trip starts at $559. Executive class costs $775 while one has to pay $850 for First Class. Passengers can take a one-way trip too.
The 196m long vessel weighs 23,000 tonnes and has 540 rooms. It can accommodate up to 1,250 passengers and 400 crew members.
The cruise offers seasonal trips starting from November this year to February 2007 with six to seven cruises each month. The next season will start in November 2007. | 
