From songs being penned about to it, to entire movies being made around it – Mumbai to Goa is a legendary trip that is almost like a rite of passage for every 20-something. Some fly to Goa, while others do a road trip. Some even take an overnight train to get to their favourite destination.
Now, however, your Mumbai-Goa plans can be even more exciting, as you can travel to the state of sand and sunshine by sea!
Yes! A Mumbai to Goa ferry service is being flagged off in the first week of December. Union minister Nitin Gadkari announced, "While cruise lines will reduce pollution, tourists will enjoy the experience (of travelling by inland waterways).”
Many cruise ships have been operating between these routes through the years. One was a Scandinavian-built vessel that took holidayers between Mumbai and Panjim (Goa) from 1994 to 2004. But this was the last of them. There hasn't been any sea travel between the two cities since 2004.
But now, it seems that travellers will get this opportunity again. The new ferry service is expected to take seven hours between Mumbai and Goa, and will have stops in Ratnagiri district and Malvan, before docking in Panjim. It is expected to be an air-conditioned luxury liner with a capacity of 200 to 300 passengers.
And once you reach Goa, all tanned and relaxed, this is all that you can do there!