DRMumbai: Jalesh Cruises, India’s first multi-destination cruise line catering to the domestic and international cruise business, christened its first ship as ‘Karnika’ in an official naming ceremony held in Mumbai on April 19. Shreyasi Punit Goenka took on the mantle of the Godmother of the ship and showered blessings of good luck, success and safety on the magnificent liner. A special postal stamp of Rs. 5 was also released on the occasion to commemorate the historic occasion on Indian waters. The National Flag was hoisted and the National Anthem sung onboard the ship at the event.
The ship will undertake its first international sail from Mumbai to Dubai on May 24, where it will port until mid-September
Karnika’s launch also marked the occasion for celebrating the achievements of five Indians who are credited with bringing international fame to the country. They included Milkha Singh, first Indian athlete to win a gold at Commonwealth Games (1958); Subhash Chandra, Chairman, ZEE & Essel Group, the first Indian to launch a private satellite TV channel (1992); Actor Sushmita Sen, the first Indian Miss Universe (1994); Mahesh Bhupati, first Indian to win Grand Slam Tournament (1997) and Mary Kom, the first Indian woman boxer to win Asian Games (2014) gold.
Chandra was the chief guest of the occasion. Punit Goenka, MD & CEO, ZEEL and Amit Goenka, CEO, International Broadcast Business & Z5 Global were also present on the occasion. Karnika has been named after a celestial nymph, who according to legend, emerged when gods and demons churned the ocean for Amrit, the elixir for life. The name also reflects a true Indian identity drawing inspiration from the first Indian ghat, Manikarnika, in Varanasi, which is considered as one of the oldest Indian cities.
The christening ceremony began with a group of priests chanting hymns as the head priest broke the traditional coconut. This was followed by the age-old maritime ritual of the Godmother naming the ship by stating, “I name this ship Karnika. May God bless her, her officers, her staff, her crew and all who sail on her.” The traditional cracking of a champagne bottle on the bow of the ship followed the blessing. The naming ceremony is a maritime practice and considered a good luck charm for the captain, crew and passengers sailing the ship.
Jurgen Bailom, President & CEO, Jalesh Cruises, said, “Jalesh Cruises is immensely proud to give India its first premium ship Karnika, which has been curated to indulge and entertain you in the true Indian style. She is a beautiful ship designed to enthrall both domestic and international guests with the famed Indian hospitality. Our ship will make it possible for Indians to experience cruise vacations closer home with high level of customization that touches the sensibilities of people here.” The naming ceremony saw an electrifying performance by singer Aakriti Kakkar who sang “Never Enough”, the electric track from the musical drama ‘The Greatest Showman’ for the audience and a special act by stand-up comedian Papa C J. An after-party was held on board with performances by several artists and celebrity DJ Bally Sagoo.
Details of Karnika
The 70,285-tonne ship sailed on its maiden voyage from Mumbai to Goa on April 17. Karnika will undertake 15 sailings for Mumbai-Goa-Mumbai and Mumbai-High Seas-Mumbai between April and mid-May 2019. The ship will undertake its first international sail from Mumbai to Dubai on May 24, where it will port until mid-September before coming back to Mumbai.
On board the ship, the passengers will have a variety of cuisines, entertainment, adventure and relaxation to choose from. Additionally, the cruise offers land-based excursions at different ports for passengers.
The ship has three fine dining restaurants, which includes Indian cuisine at Waterfront and Chef’s Table, and Thai, Malay, Korean, Mongolian, Taiwanese and Japanese cuisines at Chopstix. The ship also hosts nine different buffet and food stations offering a variety of delicacies ranging from street food, barbeque, international grill to patisserie and frozen desserts. The ship also has a dedicated facility serving cuisines for Jain passengers.
There are nine bars on board the ship to offer a full range of bar menu and international premium spirits. Karnika provides a host of on-board entertainment for children as well as adults. The ship will offer Broadway shows, burlesque performances, casino, music and dance nights, movie screenings and adventure activities, among others. The ship has features that make it convenient and easy for senior citizens and differently abled passengers to enjoy the cruise. Karnika is also the first Indian ship to provide therapeutic relaxation facilities on the high seas. The on-board Spa offers a host of aromatic and natural techniques for relaxation. A state-of-the-art fitness studio and multi-purpose salon facilities are also available to passengers. Karnika is also equipped with state-of-the-art venues, modern technology and 24×7 Wi-Fi access. Jalesh Cruises has initiated bookings for its 2019 itineraries on its website www.jaleshcruises.com or directly through its holiday advisors at 1800 266 8927 in addition to its Sales Business Partners.
