Tourists arrive in Mombasa after battling two-day sea storm

Tourists who docked at the Mombasa Port on Wednesday morning described their journey as challenging after they endured a two-day sea storm.

The cruise ship MS Insignia arrived at the Port of Mombasa with 357 passengers and 396 crew members from Mahe, Seychelles, marking the end of a difficult voyage through stormy seas. Despite the rough conditions, the ship docked safely and on schedule.

Masha, a tourist from the United States, reflected on the unexpected turn their trip had taken. "The journey to Kenya has been wonderful, it was an unexpected surprise. We were supposed to go to the Mediterranean but instead, we came to Africa. It is my very first time in Kenya and on the continent of Africa," she said.

According to Masha, they were initially to go to the Suez Canal. "At first, I was disappointed we weren't going to the Suez Canal. The weather was a little rough yesterday, there was a storm, but I'm excited to see what Kenya has to offer."

Another tourist onboard, Julie, also from the United States, recounted the measures taken onboard to ensure safety during the storm.

"It was an incredible journey, but we faced some rough seas on Tuesday. They ended up taking children on the deck and tying them down for safety. They tagged down all the dining chairs, and we were urged to wear flat shoes for better balance. Many people stayed in their cabins and on their beds. Despite the rough weather, I'm very excited to be here and am enjoying it," she said.

The ship’s General Manager, Laurence Badasse, thanked the Kenyan team for the warm reception at the port.

"It is a great pleasure to be here. It's good to be back in Kenya. I was here with a sister ship, Nautica, for Christmas a year and a half ago. We came from Dubai on May 13 and will be completing our journey in Cape Town on June 22," he said.

He said they embarked on the world tour on January 14, 2024. "The ship is not at full capacity because initially, it was supposed to pass through the Suez Canal, but the itinerary changed in February due to safety concerns, requiring us to sail around Africa to reach Europe. Some guests were given the option to disembark if they did not prefer the new route.”

“We were determined to reach Kenya, enduring a storm while travelling between Madagascar and the Kenyan coast. It was a rough two days at sea before arriving in Kenya, but we are pleased we made it on time and safely.”

The Managing Director of the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA), Captain William Ruto thanked the captain of the ship for making the maiden trip to Mombasa.

"As KPA, we are happy that cruise ship tourism is picking up. This is not the first vessel to call here, and we encourage them to make Mombasa their home port," he said.

Captain Ruto says the port welcomes tourists, and all facilities here are set up to invite investors to invest in cruise tourism.

“Even though this is just a one-day stay, we request that next time they make it two days so they can enjoy the nightlife of Mombasa."

A cruise ship MS Insignia docks at the Port of Mombasa. (Photo: Farhiya Hussein)

CEO of the Tourism Board June Chepkemei applauded the positive impact of the ship's arrival.

"We are happy to see cruise tourism has recovered following the challenges the world and the country faced during the pandemic. We are working closely with KPA and players within the cruise sector to ensure we fully recover to the levels of the years back in 2000 when we received over 19,000 tourists at this port," she stated.

"We want to make Kenya the home of cruise tourism and ensure that visitors experience the best of what Kenya has to offer, from safaris to Swahili culture."

The MS Insignia is expected to depart for Zanzibar at 8:00 PM on Wednesday before continuing its journey to Mozambique, Durban, and finally Cape Town.

The ship's itinerary, initially planned to pass through the Suez Canal, was altered due to safety concerns, leading to its current route around Africa.

Despite these changes, the passengers and crew have remained resilient and are looking forward to the upcoming destinations on their voyage.

The ship’s GM Badasse applauded KPA for the smooth clearance procedures for the ship, noting it was a marked improvement from the more lengthy processes experienced shortly after the pandemic.

"The facilities here are very nice, and we are happy to report nobody is sick," Badasse added, underscoring the importance of health and safety during these travels.