Visakhapatnam International Cruise Terminal (VICT) is fast establishing itself as a key driver of cruise tourism on India’s eastern seaboard, having handled close to 10,000 cruise passengers so far this year.
Since its inauguration in September 2023, the ₹93-crore state-of-the-art terminal has positioned Visakhapatnam as a premier cruise destination, with operational performance exceeding initial expectations. M. Angamuthu, Chairperson of the Visakhapatnam Port Authority (VPA), said the terminal is fully operational and has begun generating strong interest from cruise operators.
“The terminal is equipped to support a wide range of tourist- and passenger-centric economic activities. We are receiving positive responses from cruise liners, and traffic is expected to increase further in the coming days,” Angamuthu said.
A major milestone was achieved in April 2024 with the maiden call of MV The World, one of the world’s most prestigious luxury residential cruise ships. Additionally, VICT handled three consecutive voyages of the MV Empress, operated by Cordelia Cruises, which collectively carried approximately 8,100 passengers during FY2025-26.
“This validates the terminal’s capability to manage high-volume cruise operations seamlessly,” Angamuthu said, adding that the facility’s strategic location in the Outer Harbour, strong connectivity to regional tourist attractions and world-class infrastructure have helped attract multiple stakeholders.
The terminal is compliant with the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code and features modern security systems manned by the Central Industrial Security Force.
At the Indian Maritime Week 2025, Jurgen Bailom, President and CEO of Waterways Leisure Tourism and Cordelia Cruises, said Visakhapatnam Port Authority was poised to become the next home port on the eastern coast for premier cruise services.
Looking ahead, VICT is projected to double its passenger throughput to 20,000 by 2029, in line with the objectives of the Cruise Bharat Mission, reinforcing Visakhapatnam’s role as a rising cruise tourism hub on the East Coast.
