MSC Poesia, a luxury cruise liner from the Mediterranean Shipping Company, docked at the port of Mombasa on Friday, February 2, with 2,500 passengers on board.
According to Kenya Ports Authority, the luxury cruise also had 1,000 crew members, 20 of whom are Kenyans.
The MSC Poesia is the second cruise vessel to arrive in Kenya in 2024 after the Norwegian Dawn carrying 2,300 passengers docked last month.
"With a length overall of 294 metres, MSC Poesia is one of the biggest cruise vessels to have docked at the Port, barely a month since we hosted another luxury liner, Norwegian Dawn," KPA stated.
"To be able to add value and support Cruise Tourism, KPA has invested in the requisite infrastructure, including the state-of-the-art cruise terminal to cement Kenya’s status as a hub not only in cargo operations but also cruise tourism in Africa."
The stopover at Mombasa Port is part of the liner's 112-night world cruise around the world in a journey which began in Barcelona, Spain on January 7 and is expected to end on April 28.
The tour is expected to enrich the country's tourism sector which generates 8.8 per cent of Kenya's Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
According to data from the Ministry of Tourism, foreign travel increased by 70.45 per cent in 2022 compared to 2021.
After a brief stay in Kenya, the ship will depart for Italy, Malta, Cyprus, Greece, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Tanzania, Madagascar and Seychelles.
A spot check by Kenyans.co.ke, revealed that the cost per trip for the cruise is Ksh2.3 million per person.
The cruise liner has state-of-the-art features including 16 decks, 13 of which are accessible to passengers.
It also offers 16 lounges, three swimming pools, eight jacuzzis and 20 elevators.
