KOCHI: Signalling the beginning of cruise season in Kerala, Bahamas-based luxury cruise ship 'MV Boudicca', packed with international tourists, berthed at Cochin Port on Sunday morning.The cruise ship, with 506 international tourists and 389 crew members on board, touched the port at 6.30am. The ship, which began its journey from Abu Dhabi on October 4, docked at Mumbai Port prior to its arrival in Goa where it berthed for a night. From Goa, it sailed to Cochin Port."Arrival of the first cruise ship after the recent floods will be a boost to the government's efforts to attract more foreign and domestic tourists to Kerala. It also sends out a message to tourists from far and wide that Kerala is open and safe," said tourism department secretary Rani George."The tourists' inflow has already started. We are expecting arrival of more cruise ships in the coming days," said tourism department director P Bala Kiran.The tourists will visit different destinations, including Fort Kochi, Mattancherry and Alappuzha , before leaving for Vizhinjam Port on Monday.

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