India’s first homegrown luxury cruise line will finally set sail on October 1.
The maiden voyage will depart from Mumbai to Goa, said union shipping minister Nitin Gadkari.
"The first cruise line will set sail from Mumbai on October 1 to Goa," he said.
The start date was pushed back after previously being announced for August.
The ship is named Angriya and can accommodate 500 passengers on the direct 15-hour overnight voyage which will run every two days.
Built in 1997, the Angriya was previously known as Orgasawara Maru during deployment in Japan and also sailed around the Pacific Islands.
Fares start at INR7,500 per passenger.
Gadkari said the government will provide funds to Shipping Corporation of India to purchase more vessels in order to boost domestic cruise tourism.
To assist growth the ministry has earmarked funds for the development of a dedicated cruise terminal at Mumbai port.
Gadkari said the country welcomes just 80 cruise liners a year but there is demand for several times that, with more than 100,000 Indians taking fly-cruises from Singapore last year.
That represents 25% annual growth compared to 2016.
