Bernhard Schulte cruises into India

The 70,285t Crown Princess-class MS Karnika (formerly Pacific Jewel) is currently undergoing refurbishment at Sembcorp Marine Admiralty Yard in Singapore prior to entering service from Mumbai in India in mid-April. The 2,000 seater cruise ship will operate cruises from India and Dubai throughout 2019.

BSCS managing director, Les Royle, and deputy managing director, Martin Springer, worked closely with Jalesh Cruises on the new partnership. “We are very proud and excited to welcome this fine vessel into BSCS’s management and being part of the first decided, domestic cruise operation on the India sub-continent and the Middle East.”

Jalesh Cruises is promoted by Amit Goenka of Essel Group, an Indian conglomerate with interests in media, entertainment and tourism, and has recently received a US$10m investment from a subsidiary of Delta Corp Ltd, India’s largest casino gaming company.

The Indian cruise business is the brainchild of cruise veteran Jurgen Bailom who has spent the past 12 months developing the onboard experience that includes unique entertainment formats, itineraries and shore excursion programmes.

BSCS will be exhibiting at the upcoming Seatrade Cruise Convention in Miami in April.