Mombasa is playing host to over 2,000 tourists who arrived at the coastal city aboard the iconic Norwegian Dawn.
The ultramodern Bahamas vessel docked at the Mombasa port on Sunday morning, February 23.
Kenya's Tourism Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano noted that the vessel was the hugest to have ever docked in Kenya in the last decade.
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President William Ruto was at the port leading the government dignitaries in welcoming the vessel.
At the time of anchoring in Mombasa, the luxury cruise ship had 3,000 people on board, suggesting its likeness to an average Kenyan township.
Of the 3,000, 2,200 were tourists, and 800 crew members.
The number of occupants spoke to the vastness of the Norwegian Dawn, a mid-sized vessel in the history of cruise ships in the world.
Built in 2002, the vessel boasts futuristic amenities for the comfort and safety of passengers and crew members in the course of long-haul voyages.
The president toured the ship up to the captain's navigation bridge on the highest deck of the vessel, this while giving a glimpse of it.
The interior seems to have a semblance of a state-of-the-art shopping mall in a Nairobi upmarket.
White-tiled walkways lead to a sleek atrium and a restaurant-like setup fitted with blue accents, aesthetic glasses, mezzanines and lit gypsum ceilings.
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Complementing the view are huge windows and balconies spread around.
The ship has an upper deck for the dining area, under which ritzy chandelier lightings hang.
It is commonplace for cruise ships to have hotel setups serviced by hospitality staff.
One of the restaurants in the Norwegian Dawn is the Los Lobos Cantina, a complex Mexican dining place.
Besides the dining areas, the ship hosts other amenities such as shops, casual cafes, lounges and bars, fitness centres, and sporting facilities, among other recreational amenities.
The Cellars is the popular wine-tasting setup within the ship.
Also therein is a ship Casino, swimming pools, jogging tracks, accommodations and staterooms.
The ship is operated by Norwegian Cruise Line, a Bahamas company headquartered in Miami, Florida, the United States.
The Norwegian Dawn was refurbished to its futuristic state in 2021, after 19 years of operation.
