Mumbai (Bombay, India)

Mumbai (aka Bombay) is a major Indian Ocean port and capital city of India's Maharashtra state (country's most populous and world's 9th most populous). The city covers a total area of approx 603 km2 (233 mi2) and has urban population over 12,4 million (metro over 18,4 million).

Mumbai City is located on India's west coast and features a deepwater natural harbour. The city is also the country's wealthiest and currently ranked world's 37th by metro GDP. Mumbai also has India's highest number of millionaires and billionaires. The city is India's commercial, financial and entertainment capital, and among the world's top 10 in terms of financial flow (generates over 6% of India's GDP), accounting for 25% of India's industrial output, 70% of its maritime shipping trade and 70% of all capital transactions.

During British Raj (British India period 1858-1947), most of the buildings were constructed in Gothic Revival style - with Dutch roofs, German gables, Swiss facade timbering, casements, arches, plus the traditional for India elements.

Port Mumbai

Mumbai City is served by two main seaports - Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) and Mumbai Port Trust (MbPT). The port features one of the world's best natural harbors, as well as extensive wetdock and drydock facilities.

Commissioned on May 26, 1989, Jawaharlal Nehru Port is India's busiest seaport. It handles around 60% of the country's total containerised cargo.

Ferries (leaving from Ferry Wharf, Mazagaon) link the city with all neighbouring islands. Port Mumbai has also an important naval base (to the southeast of the city). In-port water transportation is via hovercrafts, catamarans and ferries. Services are regularly scheduled and provided via both government and private companies. Since December 2018, the ports Mumbai and Mormugao are linked via regularly scheduled cruiseferry line.

Port Mumbai serves major cruise ship companies, including P&O, Crystal, Costa, Holland America. To attract major international brands, in 2016, Mumbai Port Trust started offering cruise ship concessions, including cancellation of ousting charges (when the port had to move berthed cargo vessel) and a berth / docking certainty. Before 2016, cargo vessels were given preference over cruise liners, and the ship's operator had to book berthing 6 months in advance.

Until 2008, Port Mumbai had numerous cruise ship calls annually, but its high taxes forced most of the shipowners / operators to shift to Singapore. For season 2014-2015, the cruise port had scheduled a total of 37 ship calls (at Ballard Pier). During season 2015-2016 were handled 59 ship calls. Of those, 44 were visiting Mumbai as port of call, the other 15 ‘were roundtrips. For season 2016-2017, the cruise port handled 55 ship calls with around 60,000 passengers.

On February 17, 2018, India's Prime Minister inaugurated Fourth Container Terminal (FCT), which is managed by Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust. The new containership terminal nearly doubled port's TEU capacity. After completion of the construction project's Phase 2 (in 2022), the port's annual capacity will be 5 times bigger (100 lakh containers annually). FCT is managed under 30-year concession deal. Construction works started in October 2015.

• The new terminal has India's deepest berths allowing docking of the world's largest boxships. The facility has total quay length of 1 km. Its gantry cranes reach 22 rows wide or greater. The terminal's handling capacity is 3 boxships simultaneously.
• The new terminal is linked to a dedicated railroad freight corridor with capacity about 350 TEUs (containers) per rake. Its rail facilities are the country's largest, with capacity to handle 1,5 km / 1 ml long TEU container trains. There is also a storage facility for 1600 reefers (refrigerated containers) used for shipping of agricultural and horticulture produce.

In 2018, APM Terminals Mumbai (commissioned in 2006) became India's first container terminal to handle over 2 million TEUs in a calendar year.

In the period November 2019 through February 2020, in Mumbay was homeported the operated by Costa Cruises (shipowner Carnival Corporation) Costa Victoria. In season 2019-2020, the liner had scheduled a total of 259 port calls (booked berthings) in Mumbai Port Trust (compared to only 40 visits in season 2015-2016).

Among India's 5 main cruise ports (Chennai, Goa, Cochin, Mangalore, Mumbai) that receive foreign cruise vessels, Mumbai receives the biggest number of ship calls. To handle the growing passenger traffic, the old passenger terminal building was replaced by a new cruise terminal that is 10 times bigger than the old one.

Mumbai cruise terminal

Mumbai tours, shore excursions, hotels

City Tours and Shore Excursions

• Gateway of India: the most popular monument in Mumbai. The Gateway of India dates from 1924 and commemorates the King George V and Queen Mary visit. The monument is a British Raj era symbol. Located in walking distance from Mumbai cruise terminal, opposite of the Tower Hotel and Taj Palace.
• Mahalaxmi Dhobi Ghat: discover the city inside with the most popular laundry at open air. It is located next to railway station Mahalaxmi.
• Haji Ali: dates from 1431 and is both tomb and a mosque. Located in the central area of the city.
• Bollywood: Mumbai is the home of Bollywood. The film center is located in the western suburbs, in Goregaon.
• Kala Ghoda Art Precinct: the Black horse statue indicates the cultural center of Mumbai. The area includes the best museums and art galleries of the city. Interesting event in February is the Kala Ghoda Arts Festival. Located in the south part of the city, between Colaba and the Fort.
• Heritage Buildings: visit some of the most captivating architectural marvels like Prince of Wales Museum, the Bombay High Court, Victoria Terminus railway station and the Horniman Circle buildings. There is an open deck bus tour possibility.