Bangalore, Aug 04: The Ministry of Shipping plans to start a domestic "cruise shipping" service along the west coast on the lines of "Palace on Wheels" to cater to foreign and upmarket domestic tourists. "We want to start domestic cruise shipping, something on the pattern of Palace on Wheels," Union Minister for Shipping Shatrughan Sinha said here.
According to initial plans, the cruise liners would link the Mumbai Port Trust, Goa, and Kerala, besides Tuticorn.
Besides the Ministry of Shipping, Ministry of Tourism, various state governments and private sector enterprises were involved in developing cruise tourism in the country, which had already attracted attention of private investors.

A review meeting was held in Bangalore yesterday with the heads of various ports in West and Eastern coast.
According to Secretary, Shipping D T Joseph, several international cruise liners were already docking at Indian ports and the potential of the "Golden Sea Chain" in the east and west coast could be harnessed. Bureau Report