CRUISES

HIRE OF BOATS
The boat cruises are a must for every tourist’s itinerary in Goa. Enjoyment guaranteed to every man, woman and child of any age. You can sit and enjoy the different rhythms of the music, the boat, the drumming of the dancers’ feet and the rhythm of the Mandovi River as old as Time itself flowing beneath you. Drink in the beautiful vistas of the open Arabian Sea with the capital city of Panaji flowing prettily past, further up river past the velvety green island of Chorao.

Swing to the rhythm of the music, the waves and dance on board our luxury launches Santa Monica and Shantadurga. The Santa Monica is a luxury launch built on a twin hull and used for daily evening cruises on river Mandovi. The sunset and sundown cruises along the River Mandovi are an experience to remember. The boats take you either west to see the sunset or east to the island of Chorao. To add that extra zing to the evening a live band plays on board and folk dances are performed for passengers. One of the best times to take the evening boat cruise is during the Christmas-New Year season when Panjim’s entire riverfront with its beautiful heritage buildings and trees are outlined in fairy lights.

The early evening cruise is an experience that never leaves you, especially if you get a seat in the front of the boat and watch the banks of the River Mandovi slip smoothly by. You would understand why the Portuguese, who sailed down the same route, were so fascinated by this lovely smiling land that they had to have and hold Goa for the next 500 years.

Departure from Santa Monica jetty

Hire of Santa Monica between 9.00 am to 5.00 pm = Rs 5000/- per hour (both decks).

Hire of Shantadurga between 9.00 am to 5.00 pm = Rs 3000/- per hour (both decks) detention Rs 800/- per hour

Poseidon launch – 24 seater – charter hire: Rs 16,000/- for 8 hours

Rowing/Pedal Boats (4-seater) at MayemLake: Rs 120/- per hr. Rs 80/- per ½hr

Sunset Cruise
•Dep 6.00 pm (1 hr duration)
•Rs 150/- per head
This cruise is generally included in the North Goa Tours arranged by the GTDC. This is an hour long cruise on the Santa Monica which takes guests out on a leisurely sail down the River Mandovi from the Santa Monica jetty in Panaji. While the vessel sails serenly down the river past the beautiful Adil Shah Palace that was once the first building in Panjim City. This was the summer palace of the Sultan which was then used by the Viceroy of Portugal and finally by the government of Goa as its Secretariat. Now that a new Secretariat is in use on Porvorim Hill across the river Mandovi, the Adil Shah Palace wil be turned into a cultural centre with art galleries and concert halls, etc.

While you sail down the river local boys and girls treat you to some Goa's best known folk dances, the dekhni and the fugdi. They sing mandos and finally give over centrestage to live musicians or a DJ and the guest can then sing and dance and generally make merry. This cruise is a huge success with people of all ages, men, women and children.

The Santa Monica then takes you past the Panjim riverfront past the jetty and old colonial buildings on past the Promenade with its lovely tree lined avenues past Miramar where you sit and watch one of Goa's spectacular sunsets. You can see the spread of the Mormugao Port and the mass of the Aguada Fort and as the shadows lengthen you find yourself transported back in history to the time when all visitors who landed on these shores loved Goa so much they wanted to possess her.

The Santa Monica then turns around and sails back to her jetty along the silent Mandovi, past the pretty cottages of Betim. The cruise is an hour long.

Sundown Cruise
•Dep 7.15 pm (1 hr duration)
•Rs 150/- per head
This wonderful hour long cruise is after sunset. Panjim by night is a sight you will not easily forget with dancing fairy lights twinkling at you from the riverfront. The Santa Monica takes you along the Mandovi River from the Santa Monica jetty in Panaji.

While the vessel sails serenly down the river past the beautiful Adil Shah Palace that was once the first building in Panjim City, there is a lot of entertainment on board with young people of Goa, dancing local folk dances, singing mandos and other folk song. After that live or DJ music is played and guests can join in the revelry, singing, dancing or making merry. Men, women and children regardless of age enjoy themselves hugely.

The Adil Shah Palace was the summer palace of the Sultan which was then used by the Viceroy of Portugal and finally by the government of Goa as its Secretariat. Now that a new Secretariat is in use on Porvorim Hill across the river Mandovi, the Adil Shah Palace wil be turned into a cultural centre with art galleries and concert halls, etc.

The Santa Monica then takes you past the Panjim riverfront past the jetty and old colonial buildings on past the Promenade with lighted tree lined avenues past Miramar and you look at the city lit up in a glorious comign together of the old and the new. You can see the lights of the huge oceanliners anchored at Mormugao Port and the dark mass of the Aguada Fort. You find yourself transported back in history to the time when all visitors who landed on these shores loved Goa so much they wanted to possess her.

The Santa Monica then turns around and sails back to her jetty along the silent Mandovi, past the pretty cottages of Betim. The cruise is an hour long.

Dinner Cruises
(Wednesday/Saturday)
•Dep 8.30 pm Arr. 10.30 pm
•Rs 400/- per head with dinner
The Dinner cruise leaves the Santa Monica Jetty at 8.30 pm. This is a two-hour cruise which takes you along the Rvier Mandovi from the jetty in the Santa Monica. There is lots of entertainment on board with young boys and girls dancing Goa's famous folk dances of dekhni and fugdi. There is live music or DJ music and all are invited to sing and dance and have a jolly good time, while the boat sails down the river.

You can take part in the merriment or you can look at the beauty of one of the most beautiful cities in India slipping gently past the Adil Shah Palace which was the first building in Panjim, being the summer palace of the Sultan. The boat sails past the beautiful colonial buildings, past the Promenade with its trees festooned in fairy lights, past the Miramar beach and then slowly back past the gentle shoreline of Verem and Betim on Mandovi River's northern bank and back to Santa Monica Jetty.

Refreshments and dinner is served on board with delicious fare of vegetarian and non-vegetarian culinary deltights.

Since this cruise begins late in the evening and ends late at night, guests are picked up and dropped back to their GTDC residencies.


DOLPHIN CRUISE (Wed, Sat, Sun)
● Dep: 8.30 am – 10.30 am
● Rs 250/- per head (Includes Refreshment)

Sight closely the migratory and resident birds along the riverine tip of Dr Salim Ali’s Bird Sanctuary at Chorao Island. Venture deep into the sea in cruise boats to secluded places where the graceful river and sea dolphins play. Watch as these smiling beauties teasingly swim alongside the boats

TOURS

NORTH GOA TOUR
TOUR: NORTH GOA TOUR (Ex- Panaji)
DAY: Daily
TIMINGS: Dep: 9.30 am – Arr: 6.00 pm
RATE: Rs 150/- Non AC
Rs 200/- AC

This tour takes you to visit one of the most significant temples of this land of churches and temples – Saptakoteshwar temple at Narva. The deity of Lord Saptakoteshwar was hidden and buried and spirited away whenever Goa was under attack. One could say Lord Saptakoteshwar’s fortunes rose and fell with those of Goa. This temple was the final shrine built for the deity which has been worshipped for more than a thousand years by Goans and the crumbling temple was renovated by none other than Maharaj Chhatrapati Shivaji himself in 1688.
Next comes the exquisite Mayem Lake which nestles sparkling silver among low forested hills. The tour halts for lunch here. Then on via Mapusa town to beaches of Vagator, Anjuna, Calangute, Fort Aguada and a final stop at the Panjim Handicrafts Emporium.

IMPORTANT POINTS TO REMEMBER

? Always wear a hat/cap when you are outdoors.
? Sunscreen is a must.
? Carry mineral water; make certain you buy it from a genuine dealer. Drink often.
? Refuse plastic carrybags when you go shopping. Take your own carrybag. Keep Goa litter free and care for the environment.
? Venture into the sea ONLY if you are a good swimmer, and only at beaches manned by life guards. Drinking and swimming is more dangerous than drinking and driving.
? Seek information and assistance only from genuine Tourist Information Centres. Do not deal with touts and middlemen.

SOUTH GOA TOUR

TOUR: SOUTH GOA TOUR (Ex- Panaji)
DAY: Daily
TIMINGS: Dep: 9.30 am – Arr: 6.00 pm
RATE: Rs 150/- Non AC

Old Goa used to be one of the five most developed cities in the world when she was the Rome of the East, presiding over the most important world trade route between the East and the West, the North and the South. The Churches of Goa are all that are left and a look at them will give you a good idea of the beautiful Indo-Portuguese architecture that was prevalent during the time of the Portuguese. Indian artisans built these structures and their unmistakable stamp can be seen everywhere one looks. The tour takes you to the Basilica of Bom Jesus, Se Cathedral, WAX WORLD MUSEUM and the Museum of Christian Art. The tour continues to the temples of Shri Manguesh at Priol and Shri Shantadurga at Kavlem, Ancestral Goa at Loutolim, (lunch halt) Margao/ Colva Beach, Dona Paula Bay and Miramar Beach.

NIGHT TOUR
TOUR: GOA BY NIGHT (Ex-Santa Monica Jetty, Panaji)
DAY: Wednesdays & Sundays only (Minimum 10 pax) TIMINGS: Dep: 6.30 pm – Arr: 9.30 pm
RATE: Rs 200/- Non AC Rs 300 AC

This extremely popular cruise is an experience you will never want to let go off.
The Santa Monica launch takes you gently down the river to the Dona Paula Bay, past the Adil Shah Palace which was the first building of Panjim built by the Sultan as his summer palace and which housed the Goa Secretariat until a few years ago. The tour also takes you by road to see the Mae de Deus Church of Saligao, the Immaculate Conception Church, you can absorb a panoramic view of Panaji city from Altinho hill-top and then visit the Maruti temple at Panaji.