For tourism purposes a Pakistani company has bought a 14- story Italian cruise ship. It has been anchored at Gadani port.
Celestyal Experience, formerly known as Costa Romantica, is a 1990s vintage ship built for Costa Cruises. A Pakistani company, New Choice Enterprises, bought it for breaking but found it in a “good condition” later and decided to convert it into a hotel or cruise. The cruise ship underwent a significant modernization and overhaul in 2011 as part of a life extension program. The 14-storey ship has the following features: 1,411 rooms, a seven-star hotel, a shopping mall, a gaming zone, a swimming pool and three ballrooms.
The company says it had sought permission to anchor the cruise ship near Karachi Port Grand but the request was denied due to its massive size. The ship has now been anchored at Gadani Ship Breaking Yard.
