Starting August 16, a new cruise ship called 'Sivaganga' will begin regular trips between Nagapattinam in Tamil Nadu, India, and Kankesanturai in Sri Lanka. This ferry service, run by Ind Shree Ferry Services from Andaman, is designed to provide a reliable sea route people have requested.

According to reports, the Sivaganga cruise ship has 133 seats in the ordinary class and 27 in the premium class. If you want to book a ticket, the prices are INR 5,000 for an ordinary class and INR 7,500 for a premium class for a one-way trip. You can bring up to 60 kg of luggage and 5 kg of handbags.

You can now buy tickets online as well as offline. Offline passengers can get their tickets at Nagapattinam Port. Originally, the service was supposed to start on May 13 and run between Karaikal and Kankesanthurai, but now it’s launching from Nagapattinam instead. The Nagapattinam port has been expressly set up to handle passenger services, complete with lounges for health, security checks, and baggage scanning.

This new ferry service is an upgrade from last year’s service, where tickets were a bit more expensive at INR 7,670. The Sivaganga is expected to strengthen the connection between India and Sri Lanka while offering a more affordable and efficient way to travel.

If you plan to visit Sri Lanka, you’ll need a visa. Indian passport holders can get a visa on arrival, but you must apply for an online Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA). The ETA is a short-term visa valid for 30 days but can be extended for up to six months. Once you get your ETA, just keep a copy with you during your trip to show when needed.

(With inputs from multiple reports)