(Fun)Cruising in the sea and rivers in Goa

BHARATI PAWASKAR  

Goa offers many things and tourists who visit this tiny island state have lot of fun activities including yacht and boat cruising in the sea as well as rivers. People come to Goa to spend a memorable holiday and take back those memories to cherish. One can choose from a wide selection of yachts ranging from luxury motor yachts to compact speed boats and enjoy cruising with family or friends. There are also custom boat cruise experiences depending on the requirement of the occasion – birthday party or wedding anniversary or pre-wedding shoots or just a carefree bonding with family or friends.  

Here’s one such company that offers a world of luxury boat cruising experiences and pleasures of yachting in the Arabian Sea and rivers, with breath-taking views, delicious variety of food, even live barbeque.

Run by Priya Gupta, the CEO of Fun Cruises Goa. She absolutely adores the sea. That’s one important thing that she chose to be in this business which is otherwise known to be a man’s bastion. As a CEO she is in yacht rentals since 2017. Probably the only women entrepreneur in this line of business, at least in Goa, Priya is currently equipped with three luxurious yachts and offers one-of-a kind experience of yachting to people coming to Goa from outside as also those who reside in Goa.  

Fun Cruises has in its fleet, ‘Speedboat 232’ and ‘Searay 330’, both internationally renowned brands purchased from overseas. The third ‘Luxury Catamaran’ is customised to allow complete ease to the guests to have great fun and comfort. It was custom built in Sri Lanka. The reasons why these yachts are hired are parties, pre-wedding shoots, celebrations or just fun bonding event or sometimes even a corporate event.  

“There are various players in the state but we are the only ones in the luxury segment with absolute luxurious yachts. They are fully equipped with inbuilt barbecue and AC lounge with a microwave etc. We are the only ones who do a fantastic barbecue live for the client on the yacht, which adds to the great experience,” maintains the CEO. The yachts are basically customised over and above everything to give ease of comfort and a fun experience.  

But one may wonder who would prefer to be on a yacht for a pleasure ride in the monsoons, but the business is on – rain or shine. “During non-monsoon periods, the yachts sail in the sea and during the monsoons, we prefer to be in the rivers,” states Priya. Of course, there’s insurance cover and her team is present on the yacht all the time. “I have two captains and six crew members plus maintenance people and our yachts are completely imported.”  

“Britonna goes towards the sea from September to May. We are in the river from June to mid-September. Our peak season is from November to March,” she briefs. Other states in India that are into yacht rentals, are handful. Only Mumbai has this service, apart from Goa. “The bookings are done online and there’s no risk in online bookings,” claims Priya, adding, “Some approach us through TripAdvisor ratings.”  

Asked if the journey or ride is full-proof or there happened to be any mishaps or accidents in the past two years, Priya claims that so far there have not been any accidents - none at all. “We are very highly rated on safety standards as we have all life jackets safety ropes and lifeguard on board,” she mentions.  

How does this business operate? “There are two important licences, certificates required for yacht - the boats need to be registered under the national maritime board authority of India or equivalent in the state to get a registration number. Secondly, every year we have to get a survey certificate from the inland water authority to certify that our boats are safe and in good physical condition that certificate of survey has to be endorsed by captain of ports Goa if the survey is from outside the state, we have all this to ensure safety and be absolutely compliant by law. There is insurance cover. It is compulsory to have insurance for the boat and its passengers, without that you won’t get survey certificate,” informs Priya.  

Is the business profitable? “If you run it as business, it is not profitable as the yachts are very expensive and you will never get the desired return but we are able to recover the maintenance cost and running costs so that’s enough. The yachts are privately owned,” says Priya, who has done masters in finance from Delhi University and who has worked as a fund manager at the head office of the Unit Trust of India (UTI).  

Married and settled in Goa this 12 STD topper at district level who graduated in commerce from Ladies Sri Ram College, got married and has settled in Goa. “I initially worked in the family business and in 2016 started my first venture called EazyGrill that specialises in fresh homemade marinated food, barbecue parties and live grills. It was in 2017 that I started my second venture, Fun Cruises Goa that organises luxury yacht cruises. It’s been two years that I am running this business and expect to take it to newer heights,” she expresses.