Iranian cruise ship Sunny, which previously only operated in Iranian waters, has commenced trips between the ports of Iran's Bandar Abbas and UAE's Sharjah.
According to Allah-Morad Afifipour, director general of Hormozgan Province, Ports and Maritime Organization, the ocean-liner made its maiden voyage from Bahonar Port in Bandar Abbas to Sharjah Port on the evening of the first day of the current Iranian month (started Sept. 23) with 91 passengers.
The ship, made in Sweden, was purchased on the back of openings created by the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, Iran's nuclear deal with world powers, and in March 2017 became the first Iran-owned ocean liner to touch the waters of the Persian Gulf since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
"The Sunny cruise ship can carry 418 passengers across five classes," the official said as reported by the official website of the Ministry of Roads and Urban Development.
"It provides many services to passengers in international voyages, including fully equipped rooms, coffee shops, cinema, sauna, shops and a playing room for children".
Afifipour noted that the ship can carry export products in refrigerated containers from Hormozgan and other adjacent provinces.
Sunny is a 176-meter-long, 23-meter-wide liner with seven floors and 130 cabins that can carry up to 250 passenger vehicles.
The official added that the Bandar Abbas-Sharjah cruise will end up cheaper than taking a plane since Sunny's return tickets will cost between 3.8 million rials (about $23) and 10 million rials ($6) depending on the class chosen by passengers.
The ship is now ready to transport passengers from Bahonar Port to Sharjah Port on Saturdays and Tuesdays, and back to Bandar Abbas on Mondays and Wednesdays. Each trip is estimated to take about 11 hours.
"I hope the activation of the Sunny cruise ship on this route can both herald a new chapter in the Persian Gulf maritime transport industry and make services more diverse, leading to increased customer satisfaction," Afifipour said.
Sunny made its maiden voyage in Iran on April 12, 2017, carrying 400 passengers and crew members from Kish Island to Qeshm, the largest Iranian island in the Persian Gulf.
According to Ashkan Mokhtari, director general of Hormozgan's division of Iran Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization, the new cruise route has been established solely through private sector investments.
> Bandar Abbas-Khasab Route to Be Revived
Mokhtari also announced that the route between Bandar Abbas and Oman's Khasab, which operated last year but was discontinued after a short period, will be revived in the foreseeable future.
"Based on our plans, we can also employ the capacities of the Sunny cruise ship to establish this route," he said, pointing out that the final coordination is being undertaken with Hormozgan's local ports and maritime authority.
Hormozgan is planning to boost its local tourism sector, an important area of which is marine tourism since it boasts 14 islands in the Persian Gulf waters.
In the same vein, Mokhtari said private sector investors wishing to purchase cruise liners can refer to the province's office of ports and maritime affairs to obtain related facilities.
"Many marine tourism infrastructures are currently being completed in the coastal areas of Hormozgan and the Persian Gulf. They include recreational piers and cruises, maritime sports facilities, high-standard beaches and swimming areas, and marine and beach stays and restaurants," he said.
Plans have also been put forward by local and national tourism authorities for better tapping into the potential of southern seas, namely the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman that have been largely overlooked in contrast to many plans implemented for tourism development in the northern Caspian Sea.
As Mokhtari said, plans also include establishing marine tours in the waters of Hormozgan.
"These marine tours will mostly be established between the islands of the province, especially the islands of Hormuz, Hengam, Lark, Abu Musa and Kish," he said, pointing out that the tours will become operational in late October.
According to the official, marine tours are scheduled to be held at least once a week, but can be increased if there is demand. He reassured that passengers will be carried on safe vessels each with a capacity of 60 people.
Tourists will also be able to enjoy diving tours along the coastal waters of Hormuz Island.
"Swimming and diving near the shores, watching sea turtles, beautiful beaches, untouched nature and the only crocodile park in the entire country are among the attractions of Hengam Island," he said.
Mokhtari noted that the island also has an extensive traditional bazaar that sells local handicrafts, among other things.