While many of us have grown up all our lives in Karachi, a port city, it is difficult to find Karachiites who have ever been out to the sea on a boat. At the most you will be able to find people who have traveled to Keemari and the Manora Island. Somehow the port-city residents do not seem to have access to the sea-going vessels.
Well, that is expected to change now, at least for the financially privileged group. Gulf Dream Cruise, ocean going luxury liner, has reached the Karachi port and is set to launch on its first Karachi-to-Dubai trip on November 7th. This will be the first such trip for Karachi in decades. Several other licenses to other port-destinations have also been issued, including Bahrain, Oman and Qatar.
The luxury liner weighs about 23000 tons, is approx 196 m long, has 540 rooms and with a crew of 400 it can carry approx 1250 passengers. According to its marketers, the Gulf Dream Cruise provides:
a time to relax and be pampered. First time ever in Pakistan, a complete luxury 5 day Cruise trip Karachi-Dubai-Karachi. Take a Gulf Dream Cruise and set sail on a dream.
This cruise ship promises a lot to the vacationing Pakistanis. Many of the items on the menu of offerings will appear quite familiar to the luxury seeking Pakistanis: Halal meals, gourmet dinners, five-star dining, day-care for children, live music, magic shows, card-tables, ping-pong, Karoke, sheesha lounge, teen-parties, 24-hr salon, 24-hr fitness center, and of course not to forget the duty free shopping.
And the prices? An inside facing 3rd floor room starts at Rs 33,000 and the price for a 7th floor suite is Rs 52,000. Frankly, that desn’t sound over-priced compared to what vacationers pay to travel to Middle East and Europe and stay in hotels etc.
I am sure many readers will be wondering how this opulence for the rich compares to the average monthly income of a Pakistani. It is hard for me to be a judge on that? It is an unfortunate reality that most Pakistanis would not be able to afford a luxury ocean liner cruise vacation, and hence the sea is still unaccessible to them. However, there is something to be said for developing an entertainment sector that at least makes options available to the public, especially our youth. And if this helps provide employment at the ports, even better.
Personally, I am waiting for a boat tour to start that will take me to the different islands and communities along the Pakistani coastline. Now that will be a cruise worth remembering!
The latest is that the “Dream Cruise” has been “temporarily” suspended. It seems, as some of us had expected, the dream has turned sour. For details look up the link here.
Personally, I am not sure I wanna go out like that. or even go near the water again
I think the people should not try to disgrace the country,by bring an convicted felon from texas usa,and an indian/ameican to start this kind of things,Govt of Pakistan should have invistigated before issuing the permit,
Sometimes it is very sad that people are so intimidated by Pakistani Americans……all the bad talk and cruel judgements that you have made about the owners was harsh and unnecessary. This was something that Pakstanis had to expirience. Not all of us can afford to go out to the carribeans like yourself. Jealousy is such a poor characteristic that shows so much about yourself. This goes for all the people who have responded to this site, you dont realize to go on a five star cruise sweetheart cost around $700 American Dollars. Be happy with the opportunity that has been given to the Pakistanis and be proud that many jobs were given to many Pakistanis. There will always be negative feedback from people such as yourself. Go check yourself before you comment on someone who actually wanted good for the Pakistani economy. If the owners wanted money they wouldnt have ventured into Pakistan waters..but instead sailed from Goa to Dubai where people have more money to offer………….think about it! Oh btw all the negativity towards the appearance of the ship…..do u know of any Pakistani that actually owns a cruiseliner….u should feel proud !
This is such a shame. I had some hope sfor it, thinking that like most big projects in Pakistan today, it had foreign investors involved who would want to maintain some quality to recoup their investments.
Reading the account on the BBC website, I don’t know if I should blame the management, the government for not working out the details in time, or the people thesmelves, such as the VIPs listed in the article.
With no words minced, it pisses me off how the military people in Pakistan (even low rank officers) consider theselves to be the big cahunas over the general public. As they say, latoun key bhoot, baatoun sey naheen maantey. They need a good whipping, noting short of it. Vice admiral or not.