Prayers, no booze on Muslim cruise

BIRYANI, prayers on the pool deck and no casinos — that is what awaits passengers on board South Africa’s first halaal cruise.

Entrepreneurs Fahim Jamadar and Faheem Mohamed are hoping the lure of non-alcoholic cocktails, prayers and home-style curry will prove enough to turn the “overwhelming” number of queries about the cruise into bookings before the May 31 deadline.

“We have only until then to sell 700 cabins,” said Jamadar. Their company has partnered with a local operator to offer the November cruise to the

Trip will offer non-alcoholic cocktails and home-style curry

Portuguese Island on board the MSC Opera, provided they meet their deadline.

“I’ve been on quite a few cruises and I used to think it would be different if we had a halaal cruise to cater for the Muslim community. Not all Muslims want to go on a normal cruise where there’s alcohol, music, gambling and so on.”

For food that packs a Durban curry punch, they decided to turn to local caterer Solly Manjras. “We’ve got them on board, and they cater for many weddings in the country. People know their food and they are one of the best in the country.”

There will be prayers five times a day, and Muslim music artists, a weight-loss guru and Muslim comedians have been organised, according to their halaalcruise.co.za website.